A Flagship Store

October 2024

Written by Lisa Sullivan

I had always equated the term ‘flagship’ store as the original or first for a particular business. Turns out, that is not the case.

Though it appears many agree with my definition, retailers consider and define it as the most notable store. This could mean, the best location in terms of highest-grossing sales.  Also sometimes mentioned as having unique traits or something that sets it apart from the other stores. 

This got me thinking of where the term flagship derives from and how we came about using it in our everyday vernacular. According to Webster’s Dictionary, it is “the ship carrying the commander of a group of ships and flying the flag that tells the commander's rank”. So, the one in charge.

On a recent visit to Dallas, Texas, I stopped in the Neiman Marcus, on Main Street. This is the original Neiman that opened in 1907. The façade of the building appears to be the same, however, the inside of the store has been remodeled. The gold escalators and gold elevators look vintage and are stunning. Many area dividers, stone flooring, and walls also look original.

The first-floor chandeliers immediately caught my eye. The same sales associate said they were purchased by Mr. Marcus. Doing some research, they are the creation of Poul Henningsen, known in his home country of Denmark simply as PH. The artichoke lamp was his creation in 1957.  These have a slight pink cast on the metal underside and are stunning. There is also a lot of black and white photography throughout the store which a salesperson told me is original. These are photos with Mr. Marcus and notable style icons like Coco Chanel. Many wall art pieces are also original.

It is not a large store, with many of the top floors reserved for office space but it was worth taking a stroll through and trying to envision in its heyday. It is worth noting that Neiman Marcus refers to their New York location as their "flagship".

I had a beloved Aunt who was Texan via marriage. My uncle was in the oil industry, and they lived abroad for most of their adult life, specifically in Asian countries.  This was not my design taste; however, it was how she presented unique artifacts that caught my attention early on. Converting an opium bed into a coffee table, framing everything like museum art; fabrics, books, broken pottery, and placing wood on the wall as art. She'd procure textiles from living in exotic locations and her ability to mix these styles into a cohesive design is what I mostly attribute to my eclectic style today. 

When living ‘in the states’, they were always in Houston, TX and she was always shopping Neiman’s for the latest décor, especially at Christmas time! I still get a thrill pulling out those Christmas ornaments she purchased from their stores and those, not as ornate, she gathered around the globe. 

I am anxious to begin the retail portion of my business and I plan to bring products that I love and get them into the hands of others, like yourself, who I hope will admire and appreciate them, as much as I do. Welcome to my flagship store.