It all started with an idea. Karan Mulkey found in her work as an interior decorator that many of her clients had pieces of furniture or home accessories that needed a new home. The items were often too few or too high quality for a yard sale and in 2001, Facebook Marketplace wasn’t a thing!
Karan, with help of friends and family, flexed her entrepreneurial muscles and started planning one of Hampton Roads first consignment shops, where she could also incorporate her other businesses of special event florals and interior decorating consulting.
Rooms, Blooms and More opened its doors in the 10300 block of Hilton Village on June 5th of 2002, in the space currently occupied by the Bead Store. After 4 years of rapid growth and success, the opportunity to move to a bigger space in the 10200 block arose and the current location opened in January of 2006. That’s when Karan’s daughter, Allison joined the business.
Over the years, with a talented team of women, Rooms, Blooms has handled hundreds of thousands of pieces of inventory from the Hampton Roads area and has built a reputation as a creative and well-curated selection of upscale items. Visitors frequently marvel over the rapid turnover, remarking on the constant change of displays and seemingly endless supply of “good stuff.” The shop stocks candles, high end faux flowers, furniture care products and ribbon and Fusion Mineral Paint. Everything else is brought in on consignment.
Being a community leader is an important part of the mission of the shop. Donating to charities and fundraisers and assisting organizations that are serving others is a routine part of their operations. Additionally, the staff have a way of providing a friendly place to pop by and check in, even if there isn’t a need to purchase something.
The shop has been recognized over the years by local publications as a destination and was included in Southern Living Magazine as a place to shop in Virginia. In 2017, Rooms, Blooms & More was awarded “Retailer of the Year".
When Covid changed much of how businesses operate, the shop got creative in reaching customers. Social media became a lifeline for showcasing inventory in a changed retail shopping environment. Allison continues to do Facebook Live “shop strolls” where people can see what’s in the store from anywhere in the world.
The community of Hilton Village is at the heart of it all. Karan, Allison, and all the shop workers either currently live or have lived within a mile of the storefront and feel passionately about having a destination business in the community.
Comments