Name of business: Urban Market Design and Decorating
Type of business: Home décor and design consultation
Location: 117 S. Broadway Ave., Turlock
Hours: 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday
Contact information: 209-266-3014 or urbanmarketturlock@gmail.com for inquiries and appointments
Specialty: Fresh flowers, custom furniture and unique rugs
History of business:
Sunday’s annual Shop the Blocks event in downtown Turlock was an exciting day for shoppers looking to get a head start on their holiday gift lists, but for Turlock resident Haley Fowler, the event held special significance as it marked the first day of business for her new downtown décor shop, Urban Market Design and Decorating.
A Stanislaus State graduate with a degree in Communication Studies, Fowler said that she was unsure of what she wanted to do career-wise, but always had a flair and passion for home décor.
“I chose communications because I love talking to people and helping people, but I knew I loved decorating homes and rooms,” said Fowler. “I felt like my career path after college wasn’t going in the direction that would make me happy, which is design, so I thought, ‘How can I combine the two so that I’m communicating and helping people, but at the same time decorate?’”
After her husband purchased the pair’s first home, Fowler had the opportunity to design an entire living space all on her own. Attendees at the house warming party showered her décor decisions with compliments, she said, and it reinforced her decision to begin her own business endeavor.
“I thought, ‘Wow, maybe I do have talent and people do like my taste,’” she said.
Urban Market was born, giving Fowler the chance to both sell home décor pieces, like the unique hutches, tables, couches and other furniture found in the shop, as well as provide personal, one-on-one design consultations with clients who may not know where to begin when dealing with a boring space.
“I get sick of what I think is cool, so I want to help people with what they think is cool. Sometimes, people just don’t know how to go about it,” said Fowler. “I want to be here for those people who say, ‘I don’t know what to do with this room I have, it’s empty and boring.’”
With a fresh outlook on interior decorating and a desire to help the community achieve their most ambitious design dreams, Fowler was able to transform a former downtown accounting office into a retail space that properly displays her talents, from the shop’s hand-crafted, wooden ceiling fixture adorned with chandeliers and fresh greenery, to the vibrant wallpaper on the room’s left wall, which depicts a welcoming flock of birds.
Color is one thing Fowler keeps an eye out for when she attends markets to select pieces for the shop, she said, and frequent antique fair trips with her mom and grandma as a child have given her a flair for selecting older pieces that can work in both vintage and modern settings. Fresh flowers are also something unique to the store – something Fowler became interested in after seeing the visual effects of fantastic floral design in her own wedding.
“I love the concept of decorating and flowers,” she said. “There are a lot of things in the store than can be used a lot of different ways.”
It’s been a busy first few days for Urban Market, with Fowler entertaining the hustle and bustle of Shop the Blocks participants on Sunday, and the business officially joined the Turlock Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday. So far, business has been good, she said, thanks to the kindness of her customers.
“It’s been amazing. It was worth every penny,” said Fowler. “I’ve been waiting for that moment where I wake up, because this is almost too good to be true.”
