Scout Design Studio has given its brick-and mortar startup in Dallas’ Design District a worldwide reach with the rise of its online sales.
[Photo: Scout Design Studio]
Founder Tiffany Taylor (aka the “Scout Master”) had a passion for all things vintage. The designer began traveling the world finding unique pieces and began refurbishing them. Running out of space for her treasures, she acquired a 15,000-square-foot space in the Design District to display and restore them. “Scout Pack Leader” Flann Harris came to Taylor’s side to help run the business.
Four years later, the pair has grown Taylor’s passion into a business that has clientele all over the world, according to Studio Director Kristin Ammon.
The company’s tagline of “We Scout. We Design. We Paint. We Sew. We Ship,” offers a hint of Scout’s brand personality as well as its multiple service lines that include in-house upholstery, carpentry, and refinishing.
Now, Scout Design is capitalizing on the popularity of online furniture sales to directly reach consumers. Through an e-commerce website, the business has gone beyond Dallas’ borders with “more than 50 percent of their sales coming from places all over the world,” Ammon told Dallas Innovates.
Online furniture sales are outperforming their traditional brick-and-mortar competitors, according to research firm IBIS World. Consumers are seeking out the convenience and discounted prices on websites such as Wayfair and Williams-Sonoma, whose brands include Pottery Barn and West Elm.
Eye candy: Scout Design Studio shows off its vintage finds, the Scout Label collection, and some clever word play on Instagram. The company aims for a curated audience declaring,”We’re not for everyone. Neither are you.” [Photos: Scout Design Studio]
Scout Design Studio’s e-commerce site offers a variety of accessories, lighting, and furniture with prices that range from $30 for a candle to nearly $5,000 for a dining room table.
It houses its offerings in a 15,000-square-foot showroom in the Design District and a new second location for chip-and-dent, called Scoutlet, that opened in August.
The studio sources unique finds from around the globe and a couple of years ago introduced its own furniture collection, Scout Label, which owners Harris and Taylor describe as a modern take on vintage with its own whimsical flavor.
The release of its latest collection will be unveiled Wednesday at the Scout Secret Soirée. The event is free and includes signature cocktails, bites, drag queens, nail art, fortune tellers, and works from Hong Kong artist Jen Lin and Dallas artist Blake Wright. The pieces will be featured and available for purchase with proceeds from the evening to benefit Dallas Contemporary.
Kerry Curry contributed to this report.
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