News from R.H. Ballard Shop & Gallery

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Italian, le jacquard francais, Little Washington, r.h. ballard, Vietri, Washington VA

Planning the Perfect Dinner Party

Mar 22, 2017

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Group of friends enjoying home dinner party in brick loft

Home cooked meals aren’t as common as they used to be, but they are still very well loved and appreciated. Although it helps, there doesn’t need to be a special occasion to make and enjoy a good meal. Gather your family and friends and host a good, old-fashioned dinner party.

The Preparation

Once you’ve decided to host a dinner party, it’s important to get started as soon as possible. Make a guest list and send out invitations. Handwritten and mailed invitations are classy and fun, but an email or a phone call work well too! Avoid sending and invitation via text, though, as it will downplay the importance and atmosphere of the party.

In the invitations, be sure to ask guests if they have any dietary restrictions you should be aware of. When the RSVPs have been received, the fun can begin!

The Décor

While you wait for responses to your invitations, plan a party theme if you want one. Even if you don’t choose to go with a theme, you should choose a color scheme to stick with when planning decorations. Our Le Jacquard Francais linen collections feature beautiful, quality linens perfect for entertaining or to simply make a statement.

Dishes should also be considered when planning décor. Whether you have the perfect set of china or are looking for new statement pieces like our Vietri Lastra White to add to your collection, dishes can play an important part in the overall look and feel of your dinner party.

When it comes down to party time, set the table the night before (even if you’re planning to serve buffet style). This will help eliminate extra and unnecessary work for the next day when you’re busy cooking and prepping the meal’s courses.

The Food

The moment the RSVPs are received, you should start planning the menu. It’s important that you go shopping within a week to three days before the event to ensure that you have all of the ingredients you need and that everything is fresh.

The night before the party can be used for prep work or to make any dishes that can be stored overnight. Avoid making anything that will need to be reheated, though. Any cold desserts, raw vegetables, or salad can be prepped the night before (just leave off the dressing).

Good luck and bon appétit!

Written by Robert Ballard

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belgium, france, germany, gift shop, Little Washington, Rappahannock County, scarves, spring, turkey, vintage, Washington VA

Springtime & Vintage in the Shop!

Apr 05, 2015

Written by Robert Ballard

Springtime is here at r.h. ballard shop & gallery!

After a super cold winter (which we will now happily forget), we've been receiving wonderful vintage shipments from Turkey, Germany, Holland, France and Belgium. Here are some images of displays around the shop, inside & out!

Come on out to Little Washington and savor the delights that Spring brings!

Written by Robert Ballard

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Award, Boutique, Five Star, Forbes Magazine, Forbes Media, gift shop, Inn at Little Washington, Little Washington, r.h. ballard, Rappahannock County, Restaurant, Washington, Washington VA

Inn at Little Washington Wins Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award

Feb 11, 2015

Written by Robert Ballard

The Inn on New Year's Eve, 2015 - all photo by Joanie Ballard

Our shop & gallery is located steps away from the Inn at Little Washington, here in the small town of Washington, VA. We have been in business here since 1997, and the Inn since 1978. We have watched the transformation of some of the town buildings near the Inn, the Christmas light shows, red carpets, a Hollywood search light one year, the addition of llamas and chickens, herb gardens, fountains, luxury guest houses and more. We've even eaten there a few times. :)

"The Parsonage" decorated for Christmas 2014

Businesses in our small town have received numerous accolades over the years, but a special award was granted today to The Inn at Little Washington. Forbes Media announced that for the 25th consecutive year The Inn has earned the prestigious Five Star Award, making it the longest running Five Star restaurant in the world. The hotel has also received 5 Stars for the 24th year in a row.

Congratulation Patrick O'Connell, such a wonderful and deserved award!

Click here to read the Forbes Magazine list of Winners.

Written by Robert Ballard

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Advice, Boutique, gift shop, Little Washington, r.h. ballard, Rappahannock County

Valuable Advice from Art Gallery and Shop Owner, Joanie Ballard

Jan 28, 2015

Written by Robert Ballard

how to start a boutique business | valuable advice from art gallery and shop owner, joanie ballard

I've always dreamed of opening my own shop with fabulous home decor pieces like I use in my clients' homes. I know, however, that it most likely looks easier than it really is! So, I've decided to ask for advice from some of my successful Facebook and blogging friends -- my new "virtual peer group!" -- who own some wonderful shops themselves.

Joanie Ballard, of RH Ballard, Art, Rug, and Home, has graciously offered her wonderful tips and advice for us today. If you've ever dreamed of opening your own boutique business, you will just eat up her wise words below! -- Carla Aston

HOW TO START A BOUTIQUE BUSINESS | VALUABLE ADVICE FROM ART GALLERY & SHOP OWNER, JOANIE BALLARD

Joanie Ballard

Owning a shop is a lot of work. But, because I love it and my gallery so much, all the effort I put into it is well worth it.

My growth as a business owner has been organic. I didn't have a business background when I came into all this, so I've had to learn everything I now know by way of my day-to-day experiences within the store. Now, I'm proud to say my business background is quite extensive!

Our shop, R.H. Ballard Shop & Gallery, started in 1997 as a result of our passion for Paris and beautiful things, and it's grown steadily ever since. My husband, Robert H. Ballard, first began the business by selling original French lithographs and oriental rugs. I then introduced Le Jacquard Francais and Garnier Thiebaut French Jacquard tablecloths, as well as with fine gifts, once we purchased a 2-story, 1929 house on Main Street in “Little” Washington, Virginia. Our historic, two-street town is home to the world-famous Inn at Little Washington, and there are only a few other businesses here.

Throughout my life, I've been kind of a free-spirit.

I’ve worked in various professions: theatre, music, and once as a Fabric Librarian for Brunschwig & Fils (a major turning point in my love for French textiles and fabrics). Having a desire to know more about the world and the people who inhabit it, I moved around a lot - New York, DC, Nashville, Los Angeles, Boulder, just to name a few places. All of that life experience led to the opening of the shop and gallery in 1997 with my husband Robert. Together we have dealt with all the ups and downs, but have ultimately created a business that we love.

For me, owning a retail shop has been a chance to create my own colorful world, fill it with beautiful objects, fine art, accessories and gifts, infuse the air with divine scents, and hope that whoever walks in the door will be transported a bit. I want customers' first experience to be one filled with joy and unexpected delights. (Can you tell I spent a little time in the theatre?)

For me, the shop is a little stage of sorts. The joy is in searching for the props, scenery, and costumes. Inspiration came from the many Parisian shops I visited on the Left Bank of Paris where little boutiques are filled with everything from soaps to tablecloths, from scarves to glassware. I try to create an experience where people can not only enjoy beauty, art and design, but also have the opportunity to take something home with them and make it part of their life. That little, beautiful thing that they purchased in my shop is something they will put in their home, something they will hang on their wall, something they will use, and hopefully something they will love (a romantic notion, yes, but a joyful objective for a shop owner). Why do anything if you can't have joy while doing it?

So much of the retail world has changed in the last few years.

I am running my shop and gallery with a much closer attention to the bottom line, making harder choices when buying and selling, and keeping the operation costs lean (this has been the most challenging).

Pile of European Scarves at RH Ballard.jpg

We've cut back, trimmed staff, rearranged the shop and merchandise mix many times, and focused on best-selling items. This may all seem like obvious things to do, but the recession changed everything. There is much more focused attention to all the little things that make the shop run.

We are also expanding our website reach, and the cost for this is higher and more complicated than owning just a brick and mortar — it’s basically owning and running a second shop (Carla, you need to publish another article about running an online store!). In fact, I think I might be able to write a book by now. There is just so much to tell! We started small, but our website is getting bigger. It’s been obvious and necessary to expand in this way as a large portion of the world shops on the internet. However, I believe there will always be people who must touch and feel their merchandise before buying. And there will be customers who crave direct contact and experience from an unexpected environment – such as a small town shop.

As for my advice to you...

In regards to the specific advice Carla invited me to share with you, I am speaking from the perspective of owning my brick and mortar shop & gallery that has been in operations for a long time here in a tiny historic town that is nestled at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia.

Here is my list of 3 things to consider before opening your own boutique business:

1. Have a clear vision of what you want your shop to do and to provide, and know where you want to be in 5 years time.

I think, above all, this is a key issue for some new businesses. Do you have a niche? What do you have that is unique and stands out from all the rest? What problem are you trying to solve, and who is your audience?

Know exactly why you want to own your own shop. Know your customer base really, really well - know everything about them and learn what they love and yearn for. In the end, people matter, and your relationships with your customers will be ones that you cherish the most.

2. Be prepared to work 7 days a week, or at least to be thinking about your shop 7 days a week.

I did not know that I would spend most of my waking, sleeping (dreaming) moments thinking about the shop, the merchandise, the displays, the product mix, the

Entrance to the lower level gallery has art displayed in salon style.jpg

Robert H Ballard One Tree Hill painting one of many sold in the gallery.jpg

customers, the employees, the finances, the buying, the researching. It really is all-consuming for me, and I believe this is true for most shop owners. In fact, I do not think I have met a shop owner who is not completely engrossed in their business 24/7. Sometimes it is taxing, sometimes it is exhilarating.

If you decide to open a shop, be sure you love everything that happens unconditionally. Be positive - this is key - as there will be many highs and lows along the way.

RHBallard_Gallery_Little_Washington_VA (1).jpg

3. Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you in your areas of weakness.

For me they are bookkeeping, marketing, and website management, and we have contracted out a number

of these specialties. This leaves me more time to do what I am good at: creating shop displays, researching and finding unique products, organizing special events, developing work outside of the shop like TV stage setting and photo shoots for magazines, blogging about the shop, doing some social media tasks and interacting with customers every day.

Be sure you like human beings, and that you love knowing and learning all about them. Every day on the floor of your shop you will meet extraordinary people who live amazing lives. You need to love people if you open a shop of your own.

Thanks again, Carla, for letting me share my perspective!

- Joanie

Store: RHBallard.com | Blog: Maison de Ballard

I want to thank Joanie so much for offering up her wonderful and sage words of wisdom!

Be sure to check out her charming shop. It has beautiful gifts, home decor and stunning artwork! Her passion for her business really shows, and it is - I must admit - incredibly contagious! -- Carla

Written by Robert Ballard

Filed under

Little Washington, r.h. ballard, Rappahannock County

DC by Design Visits R.H. Ballard Shop & Gallery

Jan 21, 2015

Written by Robert Ballard

Today's post is something really wonderful. Jennifer Sergent, from DC's prominent blog called "DC by Design" (which I have been following for several years), wrote some kind words about our beloved shop & gallery. Jennifer is someone I feel I already knew even though we had never met (and she says the same!). Here's the post in it's entirety. Thank you again, Jenn! Be sure to follow all of DC by Design's wonderful posts here: http://dcbydesignblog.com/

Little Washington: R.H. Ballard Shop and Gallery

I’m sure every one of you have friends on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram who you consider to be really good friends, though you’ve never met them in person. Joanie Ballard, the other of R.H. Ballard, fits into that category for me — it seems like I’ve known her, and we’ve posted on each other’s accounts, for a long time—and it was surprising to realize that I’d never met her IRL (in real life).

Well, THAT ended on our jaunt out to Little Washington this month, when I got to hang out with Joanie and tour her gorgeous home interiors store and art gallery.

Joannie Ballard poses in front of her shop on Main Street.

Joanie and her husband Robert decided to move out here from the DC area several years ago, and never looked back. I can see why, in this elegant little town where everyone knows everyone and you’ve got views like this out your back window:

This is taking from the White Moose Inn, which is right next door to Ballard's.

This is taken from the White Moose Inn, which is right next door to Ballard’s.

The store itself is filled with treasures from floor to ceiling—you could walk around for a long time and still not spot everything.

They’ve got a great collection of Moroccan rugs—and the table here sits on a base of grape vines—appropriate for this part of the country.

More rugs in the window

If you love French table linens, this is the place to go.

Don’t forget to look under the tabletops—several more levels of surprises are hiding underneath.

The store is so memorable for all its saturated colors.

The store is memorable for its saturated colors.

Watches and wallets like candy!

And who could resist an entire table of John Derian….

Downstairs, under the store’s gorgeous coffered ceiling (which, unbelievably, was painted by the previous owner), is the art gallery.

My absolute favorite is this painting of Teddy Roosevelt at the top of the stairs. Can you spy Teddy posing for the sculptors at Mount Rushmore?

I also loved this painting downstairs, just leaning against the wall on the floor. I found myself staring at it for the longest time:

And does your spouse ever surprise you with something he or she totally falls for, which you never would have pegged for them? Well, here’s what caught Jim’s eye:

Across the street, the Ballards just acquired a piece of land next to the adorable Rappahannock News building, where they sell all manner of architectural salvage and sculpture:

“Artifacts” gives the newspaper building a built-in sculpture garden (to the left).

I’m already looking forward to going back to Little Washington, if nothing else for the wineries we get to stop at along the way, which is the subject of the next post… stay tuned.

Written by Robert Ballard

Filed under

Going Out Guide, Little Washington, r.h. ballard, Rappahannock County

Washington Post ~ 2015 Going Out Guide To Rappahannock County

Jan 16, 2015

Written by Robert Ballard

Washington Post ~ 2015 Going Out Guide To Rappahannock County

Jan. 16, 2015

A big thank you to the Washington Post for including us in their Going Out Guide for Rappahannock County!

R.H. Ballard
307 Main St., Washington, Va.

With elegant china, silverware and glassware collections, R.H. Ballard provides the makings for an inspired dinner table. The shop highlights owners Robert and Joanie Ballard's Francophile tastes with goods such as Napoleonic bee glasses and French finishing salt. One facet doesn't stray too far from Virginia, though: The downstairs art gallery features works from local artists.