Bobbi Ogle has her hands full. She's getting used to a new location, figuring out a new clientele, building her Facebook presence and looking for new sources. Welcome to retail, right?

Ogle owns Interior Motives, an interior design business in Nevada, Mo., a city  of about 13,000 located between Kansas City, Kansas, and Joplin, Mo.  In February, she moved her studio and store from a historic area to a building she bought on the square downtown.

The increased visibility has meant a new clientele, one that seeks gifts. In response, Ogle has added more cash-and-carry items. While shoppers might find a design showroom intimidating, they aren't shy about browsing in a retail store, she said.

Ogle has bought so many gifts and accessories, she says she has boxes to open every day. She doesn't buy deep in any line, however. Ogle shops the gift and furniture markets in Overland Park, Kansas (Kansas City) and Dallas. Ogle also finds sources on her travels to visit family in Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota. She found Miche bags on one of her trips, and they have proven to be popular. "I never expected I'd be selling purses," she said.

The gift and home décor section of Interior Motives accounts for about half of the 4,000-square-foot store, and threatens to spill into the fabric room and studio where she makes window treatments and bedding, she said.

Facebook, e-mail messages and in-store events are the primary marketing tactics. She created a fan page on Facebook, and e-mails an offer about every three weeks. Word-of-mouth from loyal customers helps, too. Though she runs print and broadcast advertising, she's not a fan of those media. Ogle received radio time in trade for redecorating the radio station. Ogle also supports the local television station and newspaper.

Last year, she spoke about interior design trends to a Red Hat Society club. This year, she is hosting a different Red Hat chapter in her store, where she'll serve Gypsy Tea, a new line she took on.

Ogle added a bridal registry because she feels young couples need "nice things" in their new home. Instead of china and appliances, bride register for lamps, artwork, bookends, throws and gift certificates.

Ogle's design customers are loyal. One client moved to North Carolina and asked Ogle to work on their new house. Ogle created window treatments and bedding after taking an online virtual tour of the house.

That virtual tour helped Ogle save some time, because she didn't have to travel. With the start of the holiday season just weeks away, she and her staff of four part-timers will find themselves juggling more activities.

That's it for this week.

Bye-bye and Buy-buy.

Jim Carper

Keep up with the latest in gift and home décor at my Gift and Home Today blog, where there is a new product every day.