Today we’d like to introduce you to R Ward Lariscy.
Hi R Ward Lariscy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started my Interior Design business in 1981 in the San Marco Square. After a buying trip to Europe for antiques, realized the San Marco Location was too small, and moved my Design business to a building I remodeled on Prudential Drive and converted the San Marco location into the WARDROOM LTD. As business changed the WARDROOM’s merchandise changed with the times. With furniture from the Country Gear company to European imports and antiques to now it is filled with general gifts. Including the trendy popular JellyCats that we’ve had for twenty years and now it is the go to item for all ages, imported from London, England. Many hostess gifts, soaps & lotions, jewelry and sundry gift items.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Retail is never smooth nor Interior Design. Yearly trips to Europe for antiques and sundry items was great as long as long as it was popular. We expanded the WARDROOM LTD to St Augustine and Amelia Island. We found St Augustine tourist wanted ice water and ice cream, our items were not wanted to be carried and did not want to ship. Amelia shop was good until the five year least was coming due and the other merchants opted to move, so we also relocated. The shop never took off after that. When the economy took a dip, we scaled down and relocated the Design shop to a smaller location and put all our retail efforts into the original location of the San Marco WARDROOM LTD. As the Square has continued to become a place to go, we have become one of the longest shops still open in the Square.
As you know, we’re big fans of R. WARD LARISCY, INC.. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
R. Ward Lariscy, Inc. was an interior design firm and currently is the owner of the gift shop, THE WARDROOM LTD in San Marco Square since 1981.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most is to make people happy and create a beautiful environment that they can live in comfortable and be able to express their personality in their surrounds.
