French Quarter Founder's Blog

Customer Service HUH?

2010-01-05T11:11:00.000-08:00

HUH? : An Occasional Serious on Unbelievable Customer Service.

I tell my staff regularly that it is not difficult to excel at retail customer service, because most of what's out there is so mediocre, if not downright horrible

As a retailer, I shop to experience how my customers might feel in various situations.

This afternoon. Gray, cold and rainy. Pearl District. Corporate retail store selling very specialized casual and workout clothing made of Merino wool. The store has been there for a couple of years and I'd never been in.

I was greeted promptly by both the salespeople. I was the only customer in the store which, I think most of you would agree, can be uncomfortable. I asked to hear the company story and it was thoroughly explained.

I was encouraged to try things on and as soon as I reached for a sweater, the salesperson left the area saying that he was going to let me browse.

HUH? Retail Apparel 101: Get the clothes on the customer and do whatever it takes to make it easy!

Several minutes later, I headed for the fitting room with some tee shirts, again selecting my own sizes off the rack. In mid-trying-on, the salesperson said through the fitting room curtain that he was going on break and that the other salespeople could help me.

HUH? Retail 102: Be available to answer questions and help with sizes; a salesperson's job is to facilitate the sale of product!

I didn't make a purchase because the product fit too snugly against my holiday belly padding, so I left the fitting room and hung up the three items in their respective places. I left the store without either of the two remaining salespeople acknowledging my presence or my departure.

HUH? Retail 103: Treat every customer as a guest that you want to come back for a visit; getting customers in the door is too difficult to not pave the way for a future interaction.

What do you think? Am I being too harsh? Similar experiences to share?

If It's August, It's Sultry

2009-07-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

All hands are on deck at French Quarter preparing for our biggest sale of the year.

Our annual Sizzling Summer Sultry Sales starts August 1 and run the entire sultry month of August!

Insider tip: because we've got so much work to do, we're marking things down daily and now is your chance to get first dibs on many one-of-a-kind items.

One Cool Lady

2009-04-27T08:21:00.000-07:00

Just the other day I got to chat with one of my retail inspirations.

I was engrossed in a computer project when the commanding energy field from a trim and sharply dressed customer caught my eye.

It was Judith Hofer, former president of Meier & Frank (now....eeek....Macy's), former president of Filene's, Famous-Barr and May Merchandising.

She hails from Portland but has lived all over the country. Where she now resides in retirement, I don't know, but she was window shopping with a couple of friends when she strolled into French Quarter.

I was a buyer at Meier & Frank (a division of May Company) under Ms. Hofer and I have to credit her with my departure from corporate life after six years. I began as a management trainee out of college and worked as a store department manager and assistant buyer before being promoted to a high-volume and fashion-forward buyer for junior girl's knits and activewear (sounds soooooo department store, right?!).

Being young (I was 28 when I left M&F) and independent, I wasn't really cut out for the constraints and rigidity of my position. And these were the days (the '80's) when department stores were struggling for survival and towing the corporate line was de riguer or la mort.

So, back to chatting with Ms. Hofer in the store the other day. I was able to remind her of two things she said that have remained etched in my memory.

The first etching was her speech to buyers assembled in the now defunct 10th floor Georgian Room in the downtown Portland building where our offices were located. She was rallying the forces around markdowns and store presentation and spoke about a silk blouse she had recently bought from a markdown rack at Nordstrom.

When she got that blouse home it was a brand new blouse and an exciting addition to her wardrobe. To staff in most stores, however, markdown merchandise is treated as third class merchandise and relegated to the back of the store and to unruly racks. The lesson was to treat markdown merchandise with the same respect and care as newly arrived product.

And these are words we live by at French Quarter: our markdown product is always organized, tagged and signed to make it as easy as possible to shop.

The second "etching" I got to share with Ms. Hofer the other day, were the words she spoke in my ear at a corporate meeting. While she didn't actually fire me, my bosses had never heard her speak to a buyer that way and I knew that I had better move on, which I did a few months later.

May Company buying staff from around the country were assembled for a few days in upstate New York to sort out the private label program. I wasn't being a team player and my commitments to this important May Company program were weak and therefore glaringly stood out during the president's meeting.

Ms. Hofer took me aside with my two bosses (DMM Norine Metzger and GMM Mark Blankenship for you department store folks!), lowered her reading glasses and quietly growled into my ear, "Who in the hell do you think you are?"

I think I'm still trying to figure that out, but it was the kick I needed to get out and move on!

After I reminded her of these two memories, she left the store telling her two companions that she was too hard on us and that we all hated her.

Not true! We loved and respected her.

Meet the Flock

2009-04-25T14:17:00.000-07:00

Chicks are patently unrelated to luxury linens.

But they are so damned cute they trump almost any other subject!

My son Henry and I celebrated Earth Day on Wednesday by catching an afternoon showing of Disney's new Earth.

Still feeling celebratory on the way home we made the mistake (or good fortune.... this is still to be determined!) of stopping by Urban Farm Store just to see what city chicks look like. Proprietor Robert was friendly, patient and encouraging and two hours later, Henry and I were zipping home with four chicks, a heat lamp, 25 pounds of chick feed and miscellaneous livestock paraphernalia.

The first night went well and our pet chinchilla Lucky is thrilled to be getting more attention by being in the vicinity of our chirping chicks.

If you look carefully at this picture, however, you'll see not four chicks, but rather five. And that's only because I cropped one of the six (!) out of the picture.

Yes, we went back two days later and got two more because, well, they are so damed cute!

Our menagerie consists of one each of the following: a Buff Orpington, a Barred Plymouth Rock, a Welsummer, a Black Sex Link, an Ameraucana and a Gold Laced Wyandotte.

Our next project is getting a coop and henhouse, which will need to be super secure as we have very aggressive raccoons in our midst.

Oh, do we live on a farm, you ask? No. Seven minutes from downtown Portland!

And what will we do with three dozen eggs a week? I'm open to your suggestions.

A full video presentation of our new pets can be seen here.

Cheese, Please. And Eggs.

2009-04-23T10:53:00.000-07:00

Oregon is home to a great purveyor of luxury linens, but our state is perhaps better known for its bounties of the earth.

Wine, hazelnuts, cranberries, Christmas trees, strawberries and Tillamook cheese just scratch the surface of this vast subject.

I met Chrissy of Kookoolan Farms last year at our Hillsdale Farmers' Market and bought a couple dozen eggs and a fresh chicken.

Since my son is on Spring Break this week (his French immersion school follows the vacation schedule of France!) and the weather in Portland was fine, we decided to stay home for the week and make day trips. Tuesday was country day and we headed out to beautiful and rural Yamhill to visit Chrissy, the farm and the farm store.

Since my cheese making kit had just arrived, I was on the hunt for farm-fresh raw milk to begin my new hobby as a cheese maker. Since Kookoolan Farms has three lactating cows, I found my source for milk. And fresh eggs. And a freshly killed chicken. And more supplies for making cheese.

Chrissy was welcoming and gave us a quick tour of the henhouse and more detailed tour of her hyper-clean and constantly monitored milking parlor. This is important, of course, when dealing with raw milk. We also learned how the self-service farm store works: you pick up the goods, write your own receipt, leave cash or a check or run your own credit card, and be on your way. You've gotta love Oregon!

With our two gallons of milk and assorted dairy treats all on ice, we headed back to sunny Portland so I could begin making some cheese.

After measuring, mixing, heating, agitating, stirring, draining, heating again and kneading, I made myself a pound of delicious mozzarella cheese and half a pound of ricotta cheese.

Not white like store bought varieties, my fresh cheeses carry both the flavor and color of the pasture to the table. Crazy, huh?

Is all press good press?

2009-04-19T10:12:00.000-07:00

Gosh, is it any wonder that newspapers are going the way of dinosaurs?

Thanks to our friends at The Oregonian, we've already received several phone calls asking if we're still in business.

Settled down at home with a double latte this morning, I was looking forward to skimming the Sunday Oregonian. When I saw a pair of articles under the headline "Landlords take their lumps" in the business section I was immediately interested in reading the fine print.

One of the articles had the heading "Recession spares no place, not trendy Northwest 23rd, not suburban Kruse Way". I was really intrigued because, hey, I'm a retailer and I used to have a store near NW 23rd.

Imagine my surprise when in the fourth paragraph, French Quarter on NW 23rd is reported as "Gone" as a victim of the recession. Later in the article French Quarter is mentioned as having papered over windows.

Note to the fact checkers at The Oregonian: French Quarter on NW Westover (one block off NW 23rd) had its last day of business on February 28, 2006.

Yes, 2006. More than three years ago! And the windows have been papered over ever since.

Oh yeah, fact checkers: it has been documented that the current recession began in November 2007.

I closed the NW store at the end of the lease knowing that my store at Bridgeport Village store was going to be opening a few months later. (That's another story!)

From my perspective, it's another example of what The Oregonian considers journalism: time-pressured, lazy and hollow reporting; any hints of something that works for a story is latched onto and made part of the pedestrian coverage.

We're alive and well in the Pearl District. The current economic times are challenging, but we're working on all sorts of new projects and ideas.

With friends like The Oregonian, who needs enemies?

Not Gleeful

2009-04-11T14:17:00.000-07:00

Competition is good, right?

It keeps you focused on your game. It challenges you. It keeps you on your toes. It forces creative thinking and problem solving.

And in the world of high-end quality products, competitors help justify the validity of such products in customers' minds.

Everybody wins.

After catching wind of my main competitor's store closing, I dialed the phone and had a long chat with the owner.

Holly Heidebrecht, owner of The Compleat Bed & Breakfast started the company with her mother, Judy, over 20 years ago. Their store on NW 23rd is closing next month.

Over the years we've had our differences and challenges, but I wanted to let Holly know that none of us at French Quarter is happy about the closing and we offer our sincere regret and best wishes to Holly and her mom.

Meanwhile, please drop by Holly's store at 615 NW 23rd Ave (Phone: 503-221-0193) and check out their final offerings.

Holly is moving forward in the business world with her own line of loungewear which you can preview and shop at www.becompleat.com

Holly and Judy: we wish you both well and we congratulate you on your 20+ years in the rewarding and challenging business of fine bedding!

Your email address, please!

2009-03-05T11:53:00.000-08:00

Having earned my retail stripes in the promotion-driven world of May Company (Meier & Frank, here in Portland, before the days of ubiquitous Macy's) I'm not a big fan of markdowns unless they are taken on slow sellers and discontinued items (which we do a lot of here!).

Times are tough all around, however, and we're trying to do our part here at French Quarter by offering some tantalizing markdowns on much of our best selling merchandise. In the following weeks we'll be taking temporary markdowns on sheets, cases, duvet covers, shams, down pillows & duvets, towels, rugs, robes and personal care items.

Because of pricing agreements we have with our vendors, we're not allowed to advertise these markdowns publicly or on our website, so we have to do it by email.

Soooooooo....... you have to give us your email address and you have to open the email we send you every Tuesday.

Also, the temporary markdown will only be available, well, temporarily, from Wednesday through Tuesday of each week.

Join Our Mailing List

For Email Marketing you can trust

The Old Guard, part 1

2009-02-23T15:29:00.001-08:00

Meet Umberto Bagni, proprietor of Bagni Volpi Noemi, located north of Florence in the small town of Casalguidi.

Umberto reports for work everyday at his factory, where he has for most of his life. His mother started the company and in Umberto's younger years he expanded it by buying other factories and producing some of Italy's finest lace bedding and table linens. As the popularity of lace has decreased and the cost of labor to produce it has increased, his small team of expert sewers now focus on creating highly detailed bedding of exceptional quality, the way bedding used to be made all over Italy.

Bagni Volpi Noemi produces bedding for French Quarter and for the American market with the design influence, and label, of N. C. Souther (a real person named Nancy!) based in Seattle. The focus is on superb fabrics, meticulous sewing and fine embroidery.

I've known Umberto and his family for many years, but this was the first time I got to see their home turf. I had the opportunity to spend part of the day with Umberto at the factory, have lunch with him and take videos of the talented ladies in the factory (see posting of videos below).

Back in the good old days of department stores (the 50's and 60's), many had textile buying offices in Florence and BVN used to produce many of the private label programs for these stores. Check out this archive of framed labels by clicking on it to enlarge and see if you can recognize any of the players; most are now closed:

Like many European businesses, the reins get slowly turned over to the next generation. Umberto and his wife Laura have a daughter, Christiana and she and her husband Nicola run most of the day to day operations.

Meet Christiana:

And meet Nicola:

The Old Guard, part 2

2009-02-22T15:51:00.000-08:00

I have always believed that the bedding that comes from BVN / N. C. Souther is the finest quality we sell at French Quarter. And now I know why!

My first impression when I arrived at the factory was that it was as clean and neat as a hospital. After looking around I understood why they need to be so well organized, as every order is put in to production as it is ordered from retailers like myself.

Here are some videos of the masters at work:

Start of Carnevale di Venezia

2009-02-14T05:13:00.000-08:00

It is a crisp and gorgeous Saturday in Venice.

Not only is this the day of San Valentino, but it is the start of Carnevale. It has been a quiet week, but today there are throngs of mask- and costume-wearing people.

I spent the morning at the Doge's Palace on Piazza San Marco, and when I came out about 1 pm, I shot these several short videos.

Better than CNN, right?

Enjoy.

Words to live by.... 1

2009-02-11T09:10:00.000-08:00

While in Florence / Tuscany, I had the opportunity to share many restaurant meals with Francesco Cappelletti, owner of Signoria di Firenze (see posting below).

As a gourmand and frequent restaurant visitor, Francesco shared these words of wisdom regarding restaurants:

"The staff must either be professional or they must be warm, friendly and welcoming. If they are neither, the restaurant is no good."

Francesco, me, and Michael Pappas, US Director of Signoria

The remains of our delicious Tuscan lunch where the staff is warm, friendly and welcoming!

Not much to look at from the outside, this favorite of Francesco's is just a five-minute walk from the factory. It serves down-home Tuscan food and their specialty is ribollita a white Tuscan bean soup poured over sliced bread.

Renaissance Man

2009-02-10T16:05:00.000-08:00

How fitting that I should call Francesco Cappelletti, owner of Signoria di Firenze a Renaissance man. Florence (Signoria's home base is thirty minutes outside Florence), Italy is where the Renaissance started in about 1,400 before spreading to Rome, Venice and the rest of Europe, and changed the course of history.

My Mac dictionary defines Renaissance man as such: a person with many talents or interests, esp. in the humanities.

I will be forever grateful for the hospitality that Francesco, his wife Carmen, his family and his staff showed me during my five days in Florence. Nothing was too much trouble and every night was a new food and wine experience, highlighting the simple and traditional cuisine of Tuscany. Francesco is a host, par excellence. (I don't know how to say that in Italian!)

Francesco and the gang devoted an entire day to showing me the factory (and allowing the taking of the videos in the next blog entry) and touring the Tuscan countryside. These are memories I will cherish forever.

Back to the Renaissance man part of the story.... Francesco transformed his father's small table linen company into the studied, professional, fashionable and unique company that it is today. While rooted in the rich traditions of Tuscan hill towns, it is also a beacon of modernity. Much time and money go into the research that enables Signoria, in Francesco's words, to provide a raison d'être for the simple and ancient process of weaving threads into fabric.

Francesco's vast knowledge of European history, music and literature (and practically everything else related to his home region!) is not only interesting for a Tuscan first-timer like me, but is evident in the design and business philosophies of his company.

Please meet Francesco by having a quick look at the two following videos. I think they'll give you a sense of the man.

Here he is in the top-secret design laboratory:

Here he is in the showroom at headquarters:

And finally, have I emphasized how he enjoys hosting at the lunch and dinner tables? I've never eaten so well, so simply, and so much in my life!

Grazie per tutti, Francesco!

The Signoria Factory

2009-02-10T10:32:00.000-08:00

I spent yesterday in the Tuscan countryside yesterday, in the small town of San Casciano where Signoria has its headquarters.

Join Signoria owner, Francesco (he's the one with the Italian accent!) and me in a video tour of several different elements of factory production.

Il Duomo Ringing under the Moon

2009-02-08T22:45:00.000-08:00

Good timing, good spot, beautiful moon and no rain.

Sorry the video is on its side, but you get the idea!

Saturday Nght in Tuscany

2009-02-08T22:34:00.000-08:00

You know it has to revolve around food and wine. And it did!

Hosts: Francesco & Carmen, owners of Signoria Firenze

Place: a roadside trattoria in the Tuscan hills, 20 minutes from Florence.

Attendees: Three Americans, two poles, four Italians and one Cuban.

The food and wine lineup:

Prosecco, pitted olives, bread.

Prosecco, crostini (toasted over wood fire) in four versions: spinach, white beans, chicken livers, and a meat- bean- tomato sauce combo.

Local red wine. Pasta al dente, infused with tomatoes, pumpkin and carrots. Pecorino cheese.

Local Chianti Classicco. Grilled Florentine Steak (about three inches thick, dry aged and cooked rare over a wood fire), roasted free-range chicken, deep fried artichokes, cauliflower and fries, radicchio salad.

Aged and new Pecorino cheese served with local honey and mustard-pear preserves.

Vino Santo served with house made biscotti (slightly soft in the middle).

Panna Cotte with forest berries.

Espresso.

Limoncello.

Delizioso!

Basta!!

Vanity, Vizi e Vertu

2009-02-06T09:18:00.000-08:00

Or, as we say in English, Vanity, Vice & Virtue.

This is the title of the part of the trade show in Florence, Italy that is for luxury intimate apparel and lingerie. While it isn't what we sell at French Quarter, it doesn't take a genius to know that where there is lingerie, there are lingerie models.

And even better, there is a twice daily runway lingerie show, complete with strutting Italian models and loud, hip music.

So........ I set my camera on video and let it roll. Here are the results!

First video is of the Calvin Klein collection and is the only clip that features a male model. (If the male part is what you're into, he debuts at 1:07 and gives his swan song at 2:17)

NOTE: This is Italy and firm, swaying breasts and unbridled bums are de rigeur.

Below are more clips representing other Tuscan producers of luxury lingerie, all featuring female models. Enjoy, and remember that the same caveats apply regarding breasts and tushes.

Made in Italy

2009-02-06T08:25:00.001-08:00

You haven't lived until you've sat through an hour-long press conference in Italian!

After arriving in Italy yesterday morning and sleeping most of the day and night, I was ready for excitement this morning. But no, there were obligations to fulfill for my complimentary trip to Florence--the press conference.

So, the reason I and 39 other international buyers are here is to be exposed to the artisanal textile production that comes from this part of Italy. And, because a lot of money was spent to get us all here, they wanted to show us off. And showing us off meant having us attend a press conference, with five speakers, that none of us understood. There were a hand full of translators, but not translating was done.

As I just read in one of my guide books, Italy is organized like a bowl of spaghetti noodles--there is order, it's just not obvious!

The recurring phrase that I understood (because it was said about 100 times in accented English amidst the Italian) was "Made in Italy" and that is the brand that they want the world to know about. With lower priced competition from emerging economies in the world, they are on a mission to enhance the values of this part of Italy's textile heritage, craftsmanship, fashion and quality.

And after spending a day looking at the finest textiles in the world, I have to agree with their point of view.

While photography at the show is strictly forbidden, I may be able to snap some pictures of those products made by people we already do business with. Stay tuned.

Headed to the Motherland of Luxury Linens

2009-01-26T09:58:00.000-08:00

I thought someone was playing a cruel joke on me.

Last week I received an email asking if I would like an all-expense paid trip to Florence, Italy to attend an industry trade show.

After months of gloom and doom, I shouted "yes" to myself, while at the same time preparing myself for something that sounded better than it actually would be.

But a fine offer it has turned out to be!

My friends at Signoria Firenze graciously submitted my name to the folks at Immagine Italia & Co who are sponsoring the trip and making all the arrangements. For those of you in the know, the trade show is Pitti Casa and for years I've heard how chic and glamorous it is.

My hotel for four nights is the Grand Hotel Baglioni and I even get picked up at the airport!

I'm extending my trip by nearly a week in order to visit the factory and showroom of Signoria which is south of Florence and then I'll trek north of Florence to visit the factory of Bagni Volpi Noemi which creates all the product for N.C. Souther Fine Linens, which is based in Seattle.

Then, because I've never been and it's a top-ranked on my to-do-before-I-die list, I'm heading to Venice for a few days. And hopefully I won't have to buy rubber boots!

I'll be eating and photographing my way through the Linen Motherland.

Stay tuned!

2009: New Year, New Start.

2009-01-17T13:23:00.000-08:00

January, 2009 is month of big changes for all of us. We're days away from an exciting transition of national leadership that is providing hope for many of us.

On a much, much smaller level, the company I founded in 1995, French Quarter Linens, is also going through an exciting transition that is making my staff and me hopeful!

For those of you who follow these things, I closed both our Eugene and Bridgeport Village stores (see blog posts below) within the past 10 days and all of our operations will be conducted out of our flagship Pearl District store, near downtown Portland.

The economy definitely played a role in the decision to consolidate. While there had been a general erosion of sales volume and profitability starting in late 2007 as folks began ratcheting in their spending, the real coup de grâce came toward the end of September shortly after Lehman Brothers declared bankruptcy and the stock market began its downward spiral; many customers just stopped spending.

Our sales neither worsened nor improved through the holiday season, which is for us, like most other retailers, a key time for sales and profits. Additionally, there was a coup de grâce to the coup de grâce: exactly 11 days before Christmas, Portland was blanketed by record snowfall and frigid temperatures that lasted for two weeks and hampered all pre-Christmas festivities, chores and shopping. The plus side? We did have a white Christmas!

Rather than continuing to hope that the business climate will improve (which, inevitably, over the long term it will) I decided to make tough decisions about store closures rather than risk sinking the entire company.

Again, for those of you that follow these things, there are many retailers who waited too long, or were too hopeful, and they're now in the throes of liquidation. Many predict that the months ahead will see many other retailers, large and small, close their doors forever.

Meanwhile, it's back to work at French Quarter. Our 4,500 square foot Pearl District store is stuffed to the rafters with desirable merchandise and our seasoned staff is working like crazy to get it all merchandised properly. The phone numbers from both our Eugene and Bridgeport stores now ring to the Pearl, so it's a busy and chaotic place these days!

Our website is also beginning to see some consistent activity and we're finding that many web customers like the ability to ring through directly to the store to get expert advice and profound linen wisdom.

We've gotten smaller quickly, in order to get stronger.

We're still standing and we're here to stay.

Farewell, Bridgeport Village

2009-01-15T17:51:00.000-08:00

Regretfully, I've got more news on the store closure front.

Our Bridgeport Village store closed today and we wish it didn't have to happen after nearly four years in that location.

A victim of a hemorrhaging economy, it simply didn't make sense to continue operations.

We're happy to report, however, that our Pearl District store is bucking the dismal retail trends and we are consolidating all our operations under one successful roof.

We hope that our dedicated customers will be willing to spend a few more minutes on the freeway and agree to circle the block looking for parking in order to visit us in our flagship Pearl District store.

For those that haven't been to our Pearl store, we're certain you'll be impressed with our 14 display beds and 4,500 square feet of nooks, crannies and dedication to the finest night's sleep.

We hope to see you soon.

To Our Eugene Customers & Fans

2009-01-08T13:24:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry to announce that our Eugene store closed today.

We've been at Fifth St. Public Market so long that it feels feels like we've left family.

2008 was a rough year for the economy and it was a challenging time for retailers like us.

Additionally, my mother Susan, who has run the store for twelve years, is on the brink of a significant birthday that is above the traditional age of retirement. She wants to spend a little less time folding towels and making beds, and more time with her three grandsons who are all under the age of 10 and live in Portland.

We're happy to report that our flagship store in Portland's vivacious Pearl District will now serve as the French Quarter mother ship for all our business, including our newly launched, full-service website.

If you haven't seen our Pearl store, we believe it's worth the effort. With nearly 5,000 square feet of showroom space, we're able to how amazing bedding options and collections on our 14 display beds.

We hope to see you soon. Or, 24/7 you can find us on our website.

We're open..... sort of!

2008-12-23T09:47:00.000-08:00

Yes, our stores are open. Hearty thanks go out to our staff who have braved unseasonable and unpredictable winter weather.

Somewhere, somehow the Portland Deity of Retail has been perturbed.

If the breakdown in our national (and world!) economy hasn't been enough bad news to dampen consumers' enthusiasm, the past ten days of frigid temperatures, snow and ice in Portland have kept them home and all but dealt a death knell to most small retailers.

You've heard how important November and December are to retailers; how Black Friday signifies the first day of the year that retailers operate in the black rather than the red; how inventory has to be purchased months in advance for the holiday season. Well, it's all true, even for small retailers.

And the last ten days before Christmas are the gravy and the cream that fuel staff bonuses and allow a retailer to store a little cash for the lean months ahead. No gravy and cream this year; the city of Portland, home to our two largest stores, has been virtually shut down since December 7. Portlanders love a good snowstorm because it's an unusual event. We simply aren't prepared, however, for this kind of onslaught. Hundreds of miles of roads remain unplowed and inaccessible and a third of all city buses are out of commission.

While we won't see any more snow today on top of the 12-14 inches we already have on the ground, another storm is rolling in and will deliver a few more inches on Christmas eve day. We're definitely going to have a white Christmas.

Our hearts go out to those less fortunate than us; to those who are stranded in airports, bus stations and in cities they don't know; to those who are still without power; to those who are hungry; to those kids who won't be getting much, if anything, for Christmas; to those in the world who don't know freedom like we do.

It has been a difficult year for all of us and tough times are ahead.

Hope is like a road in the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence. ~Lin Yutang

The New Frugality

2008-11-12T09:39:00.000-08:00

It's in the news and it's on our minds.

We're consuming less.

While this new mindset is definitely affecting us at French Quarter Linens, it's a way of life that we've always tried to encourage.

This may sound incongruous for a retailer that sells the finest of the fine for your bedroom and bathroom, but I founded the company on one simple principal based on my year as an exchange student in France: consuming more isn't the answer to a fulfilling life; consuming less but of the highest quality you can afford is the sanest strategy over time.

I'm certain this philosophy of frugality in Europe is borne of two world wars being fought on their soil as well as the sharing that happens in much closer inter-generational relationships than we Americans typically experience.

I experienced this careful consuming in many different ways in France involving utilities, food, vacations, restaurant meals and consumer goods.

The best example was my host mother Françoise and the purchase of her spring wardrobe. She had a plan, she had a budget and she had an appointment when she visited the small boutique in our town, Tourcoing. She returned home with four skirts and four blouses, all of which fit her perfectly, all of which were finest quality she could afford, and all of which coordinated with the other pieces. And those were the eight pieces she wore or several months! There were no impulse purchases, no unplanned expenditures; it was all very thought out and practical. Very European!

Which brings us back to French Quarter. No one needs to have dozens of sets of sheets, duvet covers and pillow shams. But we do think that rather than buying new sheets every year, it makes more sense to buy the best sheets you can afford, and do it only every few years. And while it might be tempting to buy an attractive new duvet cover and shams on impulse while you're shopping at the mall, we suggest that a more classic, higher quality bedding ensemble will serve you better over the years and ultimately cost you less money because you won't tire of its looks and it won't wear out as quickly.

To get you started in your quest of less is more, have a look at our Top Ten Lists.

Top 10 Essentials - These are the items that stand the test of time at French Quarter and that our customers keep coming back to.

Top 10 Ensembles - These are the duvet covers and shams that have color, design and quality longevity.

Top 10 Sheets - You can't go wrong with any of these tried and true sheets. Sometimes a new set of sheets is all you need for a satisfying bedroom makeover.

And don't forget to pay a visit to our friend (ok, it's me) The Frugal Hedonist. While this area of the website is still in the construction phase, you'll see that we have many ideas for you to consider.

Super Super Pile Towels

2008-11-09T09:19:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update on the last posting involving my new Super Pile Towel.

As I mentioned, I hadn't purchased new towels in five years and the ones I used during that time were from one of my favorite vendors, Leitner. A blend of cotton and linen, they were beautiful and utilitarian.

But now that I'm back to using Super Pile Towel, I'm back for good! These towels are amazing. They are a perfect blend of soft and lightweight. Even though they're considered a heavy towel at a 700 gram weight, their long and fluffy loops make them seem as light at a feather.

So here goes: just as I put my personal guarantee on Legna sheets being the softest sheet you've ever experienced, I will put my personal guarantee on Super Pile Towel. I'm almost certain that this towel will be the best you've ever used!

Funny customer story related to this: Last week we sent several swatches of different colors of Super Pile towels to a customer in Southern Oregon. She returned the swatches and said she didn't think the towel was fluffy enough. We, of course, were stunned as we have NEVER had a single complaint about this towel. I think it also confirms that towels have to be washed and dried several times before the reach their peak.

Newest towel tip I've heard and tried: The first washing of new towels should be in hot water to allow the fibers to tighten and to get rid of any chemical sizing. It seems to have worked with my new towels.

It's about time!

2008-11-04T10:06:00.000-08:00

After five years, I thought it was time for new towels and rugs!

People think I have all the latest, finest and best bedding and towels at my house, but it's something like the cobbler's kids having no shoes. Since I'm surrounded with all of our beautiful product on a daily basis, I can never decide what to order, so, I never order!

So, here's how my latest purchase has shaped up. To the right, you see my bathroom. Fluffy new Super Pile Towels in Peppermint complement my my wallpaper and stand out against a custom sized Reversible Rug in Ivory -- look how nicely the rug fits into the space in front of my sinks!

Once my son saw the vibrant color Hawaii from the swatches I brought home, he was hooked. Here's his bathroom with the Super Pile Towel in Hawaii, a standard sized Reversible Rug in Ivory and, over the tub, the Double Mat in Ivory

And just to show that our rugs just aren't for bathrooms, check out this custom sized Reversible Rug in Lion that I had made for my kitchen. Durable, washable, reversible and in a dirt-hiding color.

Shop Abyss - Habidecor on the web, or visit one of our stores.

Bedding Stimulus Package

2008-10-31T11:29:00.000-07:00

Feel like staying in bed these days with the covers pulled up over your head? Yeah, me too.

Seems like bailouts and stimulus packages are everywhere these days, so we've decided to do our own stimulus package as a way to ease the financial burden of creating the perfect cocoon in your bedroom.

Here's how it works: through November 15, we're offering a 20% discount on any single component of your bed that is of the same fabric.

It could be 20% off a set of sheets & cases of the same color and fabric; or a duvet cover & shams of the same color and fabric; or a set of shams & a bedskirt of the same color and fabric.

Make sense?

If you shop in our stores just mention the "Bedding Stimulus Package" for your discount and if you shop online, simply write the word stimulus in the comment box at checkout and we'll apply the 20% discount to the most expensive component of your purchase.

And, please, one discount per customer. Thanks!

Transition Time.

2008-10-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

Today was a perfect fall day in Portland, Oregon.

The morning started off chilly and foggy and, by noon it was bright and the air had a choice of crispness or warmth, depending on which side of the street you were standing. Leaves are beginning to morph into vibrant colors and sweaters are now acceptable gear!

Our French Quarter stores are also going through a period of change as we get ready for the holiday decorating and shopping season.The professional and hard-working staffs in our stores have been extremely busy the past couple of weeks unpacking new merchandise, organizing shelves and rearranging the stores.

Maddie and Syslee joined me for our holiday buying spree in September and they're proud of their fresh and exciting choices.

And so am I! I'm always reassured when I walk into one of my own stores and feel like shopping in them, because it takes a lot of excite me!

Here's a link to photos of both Portland stores so you can see the results of all the hard work!

Priming the Pump

2008-10-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

As an incentive to explore our website, we're offering a 15% discount and free shipping on any internet order placed through October 19, 2008

If you're on our email list, you received this offer yesterday.

Here's the secret code to input at checkout: blog15

Coupon Fine Print
· Coupon code blog15 must be entered at checkout ·
· Discount applies to orders processed through our website only, thru Oct 19, 2008; coupon not valid in our stores ·
· Free shipping is valid on UPS ground shipments to addresses in contiguous 48 states ·
· Priority shipping and shipments to Alaska and Hawaii will be quoted for your approval ·
· Your credit card will never be charged until merchandise ships ·

So we can keep you informed of future goings-on, please make sure you provide us your email address by scrolling to the bottom of our website.

The Future of Marketing

2008-10-13T16:29:00.000-07:00

The day is bound to come when us old-fashioned merchants stop sending beautiful announcements to our customers via US snail mail.

It might even be before newspapers stop printing on paper and offer daily delivery!

Did you know..... that response rates for mailed cards is about 2-3% and that's considered good?
Did you know..... that a full-color mailer with printing, creative, sorting and postage is nearly $1 per card?
Did you know..... that French Quarter has a mailing list of about 25,000 addresses?

Soooooo, French Quarter Linens, like many businesses, is trying to communicate with customers by email as much as possible.

Email is fast, cheap and flexible.

So, click on over to our homepage, scroll to the bottom and input your email address.

And hey, we'll make it worth your while. There are promotions that we'll be doing only on our website.

It's up!

2008-10-06T08:26:00.000-07:00

And it has been a long summer.

Our new website was just launched this morning and it represents an incredible amount of work.

While normally I like to enjoy long summer days by working short days (or not at all if I can get away with it!), this summer was spent in my dining room, merely peering out into the sunny weather while I worked away on the site.

The goal has been to create a website that is beautiful, logical, well-organized and functional. This may not seem like such a huge task, but considering the number of vendors we represent and the range of product, sizes, colors and permutations, the project becomes larger on a daily basis.

Please consider that our website is work in progress and presently there is only about 20% of what we will ultimately offer. I'm proud to say, however, that our most popular brands, items and categories are fully represented now. Fine tuning will occur over time.

Enjoy, and please shoot me an email if you have questions, discover any typos or have ideas about making the website better.

Drop on Down

2008-10-01T09:27:00.000-07:00

October is down and feather month at French Quarter.

This is the only time that we offer a 20% savings on anything in this category: duvets, down blankets, pillows, stuffers and feather beds.

Because of agreements with our vendors we are not able to offer this discount on our website, but only in our stores.

Come on in and get the goods for wintertime snuggling!

Markdowns are everyone's best friend.....

2008-05-22T14:17:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we get trigger happy with the purchase orders, sometimes we make mistakes, and sometimes our customers change their minds!

In any case, every retailer needs to clean out the closets every once in a while.... which is what we've done in our Pearl and Bridgeport locations.

We're having an Overstock sale in both stores, and this stuff is new, current merchandise.

Check it out: it's all at 25% off.

Bedding Options Galore!

2008-05-22T14:09:00.000-07:00

Check out this video -- it's kind of long at 9 minutes -- which shows you 89 different bedding options that we can show you in our stores!

Quick Video Tour of Pearl District

2008-05-22T12:41:00.000-07:00

Join me in a three-minute video tour of our Pearl District store.

Linen or Legna?

2008-05-21T07:07:00.000-07:00

Be it global warming or the natural cycles of Mother Nature, we've had some strange weather in Portland, Oregon over the past year. It was bad enough not having a real summer in 2007 to dry things out, but insult was added to injury by having the longest, wettest, grayest winter in memory.

And then bang, last week all records were shattered as the mercury reached 96 degrees.

And this week? Back to the normal 60's. And needing to fire up the furnace in the mornings to take the chill off.

And this wreaks havoc with one's bedding wardrobe!

Warm silky Legna (you know, the sheets spun from beech wood fiber) or pure linen (you know, the kind of scratchy sheets woven from the flax fiber)?

Dunno. Still trying to figure it out. I've presently got the linen sheets on the bed as I needed the cool hand and breathability for the three nights last week that were toasty. Last night, though, they were too cool and clammy to feel luxurious and I'm thinking about switching back to Legna.

Who knew your sheets would require as much thought as your clothing wardrobe?

Question about linen sheets.

2008-01-30T11:26:00.000-08:00

We are considering buying sheets from you. Our choice is between all linen and 50% linen/50% cotton. How do they compare? What are the strengths and weaknesses of either?

That's a tough question!

I like pure linen in the summer as it has a cool hand; this is a classic in Europe, but a challenge for Americans as there is the wrinkle factor and the crisp factor. Linen sheets do get softer with time, but it does take some time. I'm not crazy about sleeping in pure linen in the winter.

I like a 50/50 blend because it has the unusual feel and heft of linen, but also the softness of cotton. This fabric tends to be thicker, heavier. This is a better year-round fabric.

I hope this helps.

I'll show you mine....

2007-05-11T08:19:00.000-07:00

We've been given the opportunity to do the bedrooms and bathrooms in one of the most spectacular penthouses in the Pearl District -- for the second time! The orginal owners of The Henry unit are among our best and favorite customers, and when they recently sold, they sent the new owners to us for bedding style and expertise.

Another of our favorite customers leads an intriguing life of weekends in a Pearl District loft and week days in a contemporary Eastside home just 1.8 miles away from the loft! We've helped him with both master bedrooms and the results are stunning and sophisticated.

Another of our customers is in the process of "doing" four bedrooms in her river front home that sits on 1,000 acres and through which the explorers Lewis and Clark traveled.

Essentially, our customers get to live out my bedding fantasies by choosing our finest textiles with their great taste and working them into their own, exquisite personal spaces. Even though I own the joint, there is a limit to how much luxury bedding and towels I can accumulate.

I'd like to start an online scrapbook of our customers' bed. If you're so inclined, please email me photos of what you've been able to create using French Quarter products (and if you have a before picture, all the better). I won't divulge any personal details. Please email photos to: timo@frenchquarterlinens.com

Ok, so here's mine, wrinkles and all:
I just made my bed last night and decided to pull off the Legna (this was a difficult decision!) and put on my second favorite sheets and shams which are a 460 threadcount Italian percale with three lines of embroidery. My duvet cover and shams are Leitner's pure-linen Istanbul in a faint blue. I also threw the Leitner geometric top sheet over my ancient Peacock Alley matlasse coverlet.

And how about that wallpaper? Just put up and it's from Cole & Son, a pattern they pulled from their 1950's archives. www.cole-and-son.com

Ok, now... show me yours!

It only took us 12 years!

2007-04-14T21:02:00.000-07:00

Meet Cindy. Meet Eileen.

And meet our Dream Bed, debuting the month of our 12th anniversary!

Cindy and Eileen are genuine customers right off the street and they're lounging in our real life tester bed. We should have thought of this before because our customers are loving it. And we love coaxing the occasional reticent customer to hop into bed in broad daylight.

The handmade RoyalPedic mattress sports a three-inch wool and latex pad, which sports a French washable-wool mattress pad, which sports our favorite ultra-soft sheets (good 'ole Legna, the wood fiber gems). The bed is also decked out with a premier duvet and sleeping pillows from Scandia Down. And all of this is tucked away in a far corner of the store where you can have a little fun. (Shoes must be off and clothes must stay on!)

What are you waiting for?

Cindy and Eileen had a blast this afternoon.

Adieu to a Friend, Mentor and Leader.

2006-09-25T14:54:00.000-07:00

Ray Gabler of Peacock Alley, 1928 - 2006

Those of us at French Quarter Linens are saddened by the news of Ray's passing last week, in Dallas, at the age of 78. Ray is survived by his wife, Mary Ella, who is the founder and creative design force behind the successful brand of luxury linens. Ray worked closely with the company and his years of experience in dealing with retailers allowed him to serve as a mentor to many of us. Ray is also survived by an extended family of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as friends and a dedicated team at Peacock Alley in Dallas.

Ray has visited all the French Quarter Linens stores and has spent many hours working with me on building a strong business and personal relationship. Peacock Alley and French Quarter Linens go back to 1995 when, on this day 11 years ago, I opened the first store. Our companies have always had a strong personal and business partnership. Ray represents the end of an era of the old guard, and the old way of conducting business, which is refreshing these days.

Ray's wife and family are in our thoughts and prayers.

Escargot moments...

2006-07-21T01:27:00.000-07:00

We've known our friends Curt, Todd and Landon for what seems like forever. Portland's a small town, after all, and they are also our Pearl retail next door neighbors. What with JD Madison, Studio G11, and Madison-Millinger Rugs, they are busy!

We invaded their rustic and removed French territory (The Aveyron for those of you Francophiles) for a week of our French excursion and rented a 14th century Mas not far from them. Imagine our surprise when we discovered these guys really living the country life! With fancy Portland and Seattle stores and a fancy Portland house, we got to know their other side....

Curt and the boys hunting snails by candlelight, after a leisurely dinner on their terrace. A leaky water faucet is the bait!

These snails were NOT being hunted for eating!

Me, lounging on their terrace after several bottles of rose wine (not drunk all by myself!) and a delicious dinner of duck confit, salad, haricots verts, and a local specialty called Aligote. This dish is basically mashed potatoes but they are whipped with huge quantities of local cheese.

Oh, and the quarry of the hunt in the glass jar!

Todd, putting the finishing touches on our evening. Note the vivid umbrella that provides a beacon to all visitors to their small (and we mean small!) town of Peyrusse le Roc.

L'Art de Vivre

2006-07-07T02:16:00.000-07:00

Meet Jacqueline and Andre. I've known them most of my adult life and they became friends of my Great Aunt and Uncle in the early 1950's. They've lived in their 12 Arrondissement apartment since 1961 and at 89 and 85 years old respectively, are still active, interested and productive. Andre is a well-know artist who recently had a sold-out show in the Latin Quarter.

They invited us to lunch yesterday at 12:30 and we left about 6pm! We started with Champagne and crackers and then spent a few hours at the table with a delicious meal of cold meats, charcuterie and salads--and a bottle of Alsatian Riesling and a bottle of Bordeaux.

No French meal is complete without cheese and I just had to share a picture of what we savored. The cheeses were fresh and delicious and come from a neighborhood cheese shop that represents 400 different cheeses from Europe that are delivered direct from the producers.

"Comment voulez-vous gouverner un pays qui a deux cent quarante-six variétés de fromage?"
("How can you govern a country which has two hundred and forty-six varieties of cheese?")
Charles de Gaulle (from Les Mots du Général, Ernest Mignon (1962))
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_French_cheeses"

When in Paris.....

2006-07-05T13:41:00.000-07:00

and it's 92 degrees, you go to MacDonald's. Especially when it's across the street from the stifling and musty Musee de Paleontologie (whose third floor could easily have surpassed 110 degrees) and one's six year-old is about to come unglued from hunger, thirst and heat.

And it's AIR CONDITIONED!! At that moment we were thrilled at the American import!

However, a tepid Diet Coke with no ice isn't really a Diet Doke, though that might be forgiven as MacDonald's also serves beer! And a lovely olive oil vinaigrette with the side salad. And a special Pommes Frites (French Fries) sauce. And, (and I don't know why they haven't thought of this in the good 'ole US of A) takeout bags with handles. (Not that we were taking out; we nearly stayed there all afternoon!)

So, fellow travelers, in the heat of a Paris summer with a child in tow, dont knock MacDonald's!

Ecstasy in Paris.

2006-07-02T02:34:00.000-07:00

The deserted Paris Tuileries Carnivale at 10pm. Temperature about 80 degreees.

My son and I arrived in Paris Saturday morning at 8 am. My son, proud of the fact he didn't sleep on the plane from Atlanta to Paris, slept our entire first day in the City of Light (or City of Heat this weekend!).

At 8pm, we finally headed out into the city taking the Metro right into the middle of things: Place de la Concorde. As we were inhaling our foot-long Hot Dog au Fromage, we were struck by the lack of people. We wandered into a carnival inside Les Tuileries (think of Waterfront Park during Rose Festival, but with beautifully maintained rides and hosted by well-dressed and groomed attendants) and couldn't believe the rides were completely empty on this beautiful Saturday night in the center of Paris.

And then we saw a TV in a carnival bar surrounded by scores of cheering fans watching the France-Brazil soccer match of the World Cup. So, not only is it vacation month in France, and Parisians with any sense have headed out of town, but folks were holed up at home and, as we discovered later, holed up in every bar and cafe in Paris that has a TV!

Anyway, we headed for Montmartre to get a view of the city from the breezy heights of Sacre Coeur and enjoyed the sights and sounds of an ecstatic Paris, once more savoring a total defeat of the Brazilians at the last moment. Here are some photos taken about 11pm last night.

Fireworks celebration off Montmartre balcony 11pm, steps from Place du Tertre.

Darkened Tour Eiffel lights up again, in twinkles, once France won the match.

Sacre-Coeur glowing last night. There was actually room to walk around. A crescent moon hovered over Paris.

A happy customer!

2006-06-29T20:33:00.000-07:00

While I'm happy to say that we rarely receive complaints in our stores, it's always affirming and encouraging when a happy customer takes the time to write. Here's an email I received from a customer earlier this afternoon:

Good afternoon! I was looking through your blog online and wanted to let you know that every time I have gone into French Quarter there is always someone very friendly and knowledgeable to greet me. Particularly at your Bridgeport location! When I get the extra $ someday (Hopefully soon) I will be in for more sheets! The Sferra Giotto sheets have my name all over them! Well take care and keep up the good work!

Thank you,
Catie

It was all about skin, great art and a great cause.

2006-05-14T12:09:00.000-07:00

As promised, it was a great time at the Cascade AIDS Project Art for Life event last Saturday evening. Our model Rick set the tone for the evening by being scantily clad and the first Portland heatwave of the year caused necklines to plunge and hemlines to rise!

Here are a few photos to give you a sense of the evening.

Here's our guy, Rick Dinihanian, hunkering down for a long evening of lounging between the sheets to be on display for hundreds of guests.

Yep it's me and my right hand gal, Syslee, pre-cocktails, pre-dinner and pre-bidding. Behind us is the installation (Rick was in the bed all evening) that each guest had to saunter past in order to get to the evening's action. A lucky couple in Lake Oswego made the final bid and will get a complete bedroom makeover compliments of French Quarter, JD Madison, Madison-Millinger Rugs, Bella Casa and Bedford-Brown.

We had the best patron table in the house, in my opinion. Here are two of the stars.... Nicole Vogel, mademoiselle terrible of the West Coast magazine world and publisher of Portland Monthly AND Seattle Metropolitan; and Michele O'Hara mademoiselle terrible of the image and branding world and founder of Luminous Brands Consultancy. All that responsiblity and still very fun and smart at parties!

There was a lot '0 leg around our fancy Patron table, and here is just a smattering!

OK, not so much skin here. But hey, these smiling faces were representing the serious side of French Quarter Linens. Meet Erynn and Timothy from our Pearl District store and Maddie from our Bridgeport store.

Rick, center stage, during the final bidding on the ultimate bedroom package.

Hostess & Emcee Extraordinaire Miss Poison Waters and The Man of the Evening, clothed.

And one last skin shot!

And, please don't forget to support charities that touch a special place in your heart.
We at French Quarter Linens heartily support the incredible amounts of work and devotion that the folks at CAP have dedicated their lives to.

Special thanks and honors to Roma Peyser at CAP who really makes all this fundraising and event planning come together.

Check out Cascade AIDS Project website.

Art for Life. Tonight!

2006-05-13T11:41:00.000-07:00

The big shindig is tonight at the Oregon Convention Center. It's Cascade AIDS Project's largest fundraiser of the year and a great opportunity to bid on the region's finest art, donated by artists and galleries.

In the spirit of supporting CAP and providing a "live art" installation at tonight's event, we've teamed up with our Pearl neighbors JD Madison, Madison-Millinger Rugs, Bella Casa and Bedford Brown and are offering a bedroom makeover that will be auctioned off. The retail value of this package is about $18,000 and the installation is pictured above!

The "live" part of the installation is none other than our soon-to-be famous Sensuous Bed model, Rick Dininhanian. We've flown him out from his busy life in New York and he'll be modeling/posing/flexing/relaxing/enticing and entertaining all evening long--in bed!

Event pictures will be posted tomorrow.

This is not April foolishness!

2006-04-01T09:43:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's true. We do it only once a year at French Quarter Linens. It's a stock-up-and-save sale on the best of our basics. We call it the Bread & Butter Sale. Anything (well, anything that is the color of bread or butter!) white and ivory is 20% off its regular price. The best thing is that it includes any white or ivory special order merchandise too, so the possibilities are practically endless!

Think about that set of white linen sheets you've wanted ever since you slept in them in the south of France. Or a crispy set of ivory percale sheets with a subtle hemstitch. A nice, new lightweight duvet to ward off spring chilly feet ? A new mattress? And who doesn't need a new set of towels, right?

Come on; indulge. And save.

Oh, and don't forget to sign up for our email newsletter. News and values abound!

Our Bedding Toolbox.

2006-03-24T15:19:00.000-08:00

As more and more of our customers at French Quarter Linens are keen on creating a unique bedding ensemble that can't be found anywhere else, we've been working hard on figuring out a way to make it easier to imagine the possibilities.

If you haven't been into our stores recently, your next visit should be inspiring. Not only do we have several new ensembles displayed in our stores, we have hundreds (yes, hundreds; and yes, they all had to be ironed by hand!) of boudoir pillows dressed with options. We're getting ourselves outfitted so our customers can sit down, relax and play with the pillows. It's so much fun to pull the favorites off the wall, toss them on the table and see which ones work best to tell the story in your mind's eye.

And it's easy to have them all in one location. It's our new toolbox!

The photo above shows what we've done in our Pearl District store, and we have a sensational new table (hailing from France, of course!) to spread out around.

Come play with us soon!

Seeking Leadership!

2006-03-20T22:34:00.000-08:00

Do you know a Seattleite who would like to interview for our store Sales Manager position?

We need a dynamic and proven sales performer who is also a great coach.

Please send retail heroes my direction by having them send a resume to job@frenchquarterlinens.com.

Job is posted here: http://seattle.craigslist.org/bus/143774060.html.

Thank you for your help.

Spring cleaning!

2006-03-02T06:51:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, March 1, was our first glimpse of spring in Portland after an unusually wet, cold and miserable winter. The mercury touched 60 and no coats were required--glorious! What with shelves laden with product, and more on its way, spring cleaning of our towel and rug departments sprang to the fronts of our minds.

As we just received our first shipment of colorful, pattern-ful rugs and towels......

.....we've decided to make room for them by marking down many fall/winter colors in our extensive towel and rug inventory. Beginnning tomorrow, March 3, each store will be offering assorted Super Pile Towels, Twill Towels, Reversible Rugs and Must Rugs at 33% off original prices; and we have plenty of stock for matching sets and full bathroom ensembles.

This offering won't be advertised, so please help us spread the word!

Happy indulging.

An excuse to be together....

2006-03-01T11:16:00.000-08:00

One must always find an excuse to be with Robert Reynolds, especially if it's to be in the kitchen! He's a long-time friend of ours--more than a friend, really. Robert is like that wise, witty, urbane, eccentric and colorful uncle that we all have, or wish we had. He shows up when you're least expecting it, bearing food and ripe with stories of his travels and intereactions with those great and small in the international food world. He's one of the family and we love it when he's sitting at our dining table.

Somehow Robert ended up in Portland after a long career as a restaurant owner in San Francisco (Remember Le Trou?). For those of us that explain what he does for a living these days, we just say that he's a chef's chef, and that he spends his time teaching and inspiring. And he seems to do it everywhere: West Coast, East Coast, in between the coasts, and, of course, in his (and our) dear old France.

He's got a new book out, pictured above, though it's really much more than a book; something created for the treasure table as a beautifully bound object, and something to read next time a bout of wanderlust hits you and you need your senses tingled by meanderings of the Old Country. It's a kind of travelogue with enlightening observations about people, places, culture and food--and recipes! (Go immediately to page 129 and make the Mousseline Sauce and serve it over blanched asparagus TONIGHT; turn the page and marvel at the France of old and the France of new by inspecting a copy of Robert's computerized restaurant tab from a recent meal at La Coupole in Paris.)

An Excuse to be Together is offered for sale in our Pearl District store for $30. We're happy to ship you a copy if you can't make it in. It's a lovely gift for the hard-to-buys on your list. It's also a unique addition to your own library.

Here's Robert's website for even more info:
http://www.chefrobertreynolds.com/

And here's a podcast interview if you'd like a voice to put with a book-- you know, like how much better David Sedaris's stories are when you know his voice?
http://www.podcast.net/show/8040 And go to #4 and hit play.

Bon appetit!

Farewell NW 23rd!

2006-02-16T09:15:00.000-08:00

As of January 31, we bid farewell to our jewelbox store just around the corner from bustling NW 23rd. About six years ago, Portland's first luxury linen store, Virginia Jacobs, decided to close its doors forever. Hanging on to this nostalgia, we bought the name, fixtures and vendor list and began to do business the French Quarter way: beautiful beds, amazing assortments, comfortable environment and compelling service.

We had a great run and established some amazing relationships both with customers and vendors. As our lease was up and with our new expansion to the suburbs at Bridgeport Village, we decided to consolidate our talents and stocks and close shop. Katie, who has been a fixture at our Westover store for years, didn't go far; she's working upstairs at Smith and Hawken!

We love what's happening on NW 23rd in the world of bedding. There is, of course, Compleat Bed & Breakfast, Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn, all of which do a great job in this bedding category. And now there's Williams-Sonoma Home which is a beautiful and inspiring store.

We know that French Quarter fills a different niche than these other retailers by providing finer quality; true, old-world luxury; better expertise; infinite custom options; and the creative staff to help our customers create a unique and sensuous look and feeling in the private areas of our homes.

We're already making plans to put a new and improved French Quarter stamp on the NW 23rd Avenue shopping mecca!

Stay tuned for details!

Supper in New York City

2006-02-02T09:30:00.000-08:00

Supper.

I've found a restaurant in NY that embodies everything that French Quarter stands for: edgy, casual, genuine, imperfect and superb quality delivered by normal folks in a humble atmosphere.

It's a bit of a trip, being on the Lower East Side and all. By taxi or subway it's well worth the effort to get there. It's great, simple Italian food with no pretense and it comes to your table quickly and piping hot. I have to say that, for me, it's the best food-atmosphere combo in Manhattan. Fancy restaurants have their place, and I've eaten at many in New York, but for a truly tasty expression of ingredients, go to Supper.

Good wines by the glass, rotating day-of-the-week specials. Beware: cash only!

Check out their site, and head downtown, and let this blog know what you think.

Supper 156 2nd Street (bet. Avenues A & B)
NYC 10009
212-477-7600
Website: http://supperrestaurant.com/
Map Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=156+2nd+St,+10009

Other New York restaurant tips from last week's trip: Prune, thumbs up; Bivio (on Hudson), thumbs down; August, thumbs up. And off the beaten track in Tribeca for lunch, La Petite Abeille, total thumbs up.

And hey, if you're bumming around the home furnishings zone of Tribeca, visit our Portland friends at Schoolhouse Electric. They just up and decided to open a showroom in Manhattan and, poof, they did it! Congrats to Brian and team on their beautiful space. Pop in and say hi to Keith, former Portlander, now New Yorker and homeroom manager. http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/

Eating crow, errrrr....wood fiber!

2006-01-28T19:55:00.000-08:00

I refused to try them; I didn't listen to my staff; I didn't listen to our customers. Everyone was touting the benefits and I wasn't giving in!

It's embarrassing to admit, but I've fallen in love with our Legna sheets. And this might be an understatement.

"Huh," you say. "What's Legna?"

It's the newest thing in bedding. All natural. Biodegradeable (though I'm not sure that this is a good thing!). European made (of course!). Made from beech wood fibers that come from renewable forests.

And did I say soft? Actually soft doesn't describe it. Close your eyes and remember the last time you felt a baby's bottom. That soft. Softer even. The first night I slept in them I had the sensation that I couldn't detect the difference between the sheet and the skin on my body---a very other-worldly and sensuous experience.

Here's the back story, way before I ever slept on Legna: These sheets were selling like crazy in our stores; we kept re-ordering. Because I wanted my staff to have the experience too, I gave them each a set of Legna sheets as a holiday gift in 2004; I didn't order a set for myself. They seemed too slippery, slimey and silky for me and, hey, I'm a bit of a sheet snob, so for me it's all about a high threadcount percale in the winter and pure linen in the summer.

Anyway, I continued to pooh-pooh this new fad in bedding. Until..... just last week my mother Susan (who runs our Eugene store) came a-visiting and had with her a one-night used (horrors!!!) set of Legna that a customer returned because of wrinkling (Huh? Natural fiber? Well, I hate to be the one to tell you, but natural fibers wrinkle!!). I threw them in the washer and then into the dryer, and out they came, completely wrinkle free and totally sensuous. On the bed they went. The neutral Cloud color paired perfectly with my Leitner bedding, and off to bed I went after a nice, warm shower.

I vowed to suspend judgment until morning.

Upon waking I was a believer. I think there's a future in these sheets! Now I have to admit my stubbornness to my staff, and here I'm admitting it to our customers!

You must have these sheets on your bed during some part of the year. I personally guarantee that they will provide you the softest, most sensuous sheet experience of your life.

Enjoy. And tell them Tim sent you in.

Thanks for reading.

Postscript: For those parents among you, you know how the little ones always seem to somehow end up in your bed? And you can't imagine why they would care about what sheets they sleep on? My six year-old son Henry just informed me that he would like a set of Legna sheets for his new bunk bed.

Uggh!

And yes, Legna comes in twin sizes!