By Brandon Martin
Unique Styles & Designs, LLC, finally is officially open for business following a June 28 ribbon cutting ceremony at the new floral boutique in Uptown Martinsville.
The new store will be operating out of the former Draper & Ferrell Clothiers building on 42 E. Church Street.
Shatera Robertson, owner of the business, said she has been doing event designing in the community for about five years, even expanding services into Roanoke and Greensboro, N.C.
“Last year during the pandemic, I went back to attend floral design school in Greensboro which became an asset to my pre-existing business,” she said. “I learned how to do bouquets, large wedding spreads and things of that nature.”
Robertson said her floral design is unique compared to traditional arrangements.
“I’ve got a more modern style to doing florals so I just decided to open up my own place where I could provide those modern styling services to the community,” she said.
A Martinsville native, Robertson , said she knew the perfect spot for her new operation.
“It’s where I’m from, where I grew up,” she said. “It’s a small place, I know a lot of people here and I just want to give back to that community a little bit with what I can offer.”
According to Robertson, she didn’t always know that she wanted to get into event designing.
“About 14 years ago after I had my first daughter, I had a party for her at a gallery here in Martinsville,” Robertson said. “I had a very, very large birthday party where we had caricatures and things running around. It was just something different and I got a lot of positive feedback from it.”
After this experience, Robertson went on to organize other large birthday gatherings for her family and friends.
From there, she eventually started her business Unique Styles & Designs, LLC, which operated mostly online.
“I have a website and people would contact me from there,” she said. “From there, I would send out a questionnaire and set up a consultation. I would meet them in places convenient for them. Wherever they wanted the event to take place, I’d get to work, and they’d basically show up at the appropriate time. I’d have everything ready for them.”
Robertson said she provides her services for weddings, birthday parties, baby showers, memorial services, anniversary parties and corporate events.
The business offers a variety of packages, according to Robertson.
“It’s based upon your budget,” she said. “So, if you want to spend small, you can spend small, but if you want to go over the top then we can go over the top.”
With the ribbon cutting ceremony out of the way, Robertson said she is most excited about getting people into the new store.
“When we first came here, the nice wooden area was already here from the store’s time as Draper and Ferrell,” said Robertson. “With it formerly being a men’s suit place, the store was kind of manly. There was a red carpet, and the walls were blue. When I came in, I had a vision. I wanted it to be bright and I wanted it to be white with some black and gold. I wanted that luxury feel, so that’s what I went for.”
With the help of her husband and friends, Robertson redid the floors, painted the walls, renovated the bathroom and installed a new chandelier which is themed to look like a flower.
In addition to the new storefront, Robertson said she will also offer delivery on her floral arrangements.
Check out some of Robertson’s work at: https://www.uniquestylesanddesigns.com/.
