EuroAmerica Design I Advertisement

cooted In Retail

A lifelong retailer debuts a one-stop shop for home products and furnishings.

By Lynne Konstantin

ast month, the doors of EuroAmer-
ica Design — a brand-new, dazzling
15,000-square-foot retail showroom of
products for kitchens, baths, closets, furniture
and lighting — were flung wide open for their
official grand opening.
But president and CEO Rob Nusbaum is
hardly a novice at this sort of thing.
His grandfather, Abe Nusbaum, opened
the first New York Carpet World store in
1926 in Hamtramck, and laid the foundation
for Rob's father, Irving, to expertly grow the
enormously successful, multi-generational
family business into the largest floor-covering
retailer in the country, with more than 200
locations in 17 states. At the same time Rob
was by his father's side learning the fine art of
retail business — and the finer art of customer
service.
"I started working in the stores during
Value-oriented Greenfield Cabinets offers versatility across the spectrum of sleek to soft. Clients can mix
the summers with my family when I was 10,"
and match from each collection to create a strikingly unique, semi-custom design, all superbly crafted
and richly finished to exude warmth and beauty.
says Nusbaum, who eventually became the
company's executive vice president.
Selling the company in 1996, Nusbaum
Nusbaum. "I wanted to create a one-stop
or lifestyle: from matching a cabinet color
worked as a residential builder for a few years
shopping experience and sell directly to
to coordinate with a backsplash or deciding
before forging a relationship with luxury
designers, decorators, builders, architects and
between an enclosed wardrobe or a
kitchen cabinets and home furnishings maker
end consumers. I wanted to open the doors to
customized walk-in closet lined with open
Berloni S.p.A. Sought after by American
everyone.
shelving. Once sketches are completed and
designers and homeowners for
Launching with a soft open
client-approved, staff members, including an
its clean-lined modern design,
last November, EuroAmerica
onsite interior designer, will visit the home to
the Pesaro, Italy-based company's
Design offers kitchen, bath, closet,
ensure meticulous precision in measurements
business got lost in translation
furniture and lighting collections
and placement.
in the U.S. until Nusbaum, in
from Berloni, Greenfield, SMA,
"We feature endless colors, finishes and
It
collaboration with Roberto Berloni,
Crystal, Hulsta, Arte di Murano
textures, as well as a wide range of price
created Berloni America in 2006,
and more, truly encompassing
points," says Nusbaum. "Whatever your style
establishing a headquarters in Troy
something for everyone, from
is, whatever your need, we have it."
for all U.S. distribution to members
modern and transitional to
of the trade. Developing a network
traditional design, from high-
EuroAmerica Design is located across the
of retailers throughout the country,
end to budget-conscious and
street from the Michigan Design Center
Berloni America exceeded Nusbaum's Rob Nusb aum
everything in between.
at 1699 Stutz Drive, Troy. (248) 649-8950;
expectations as the economy began
Nusbaum's expertise in
EuroAmericaDesign. com .
to regain steam.
the realm of retail and understanding of
Impressed with Berloni's uniquely European
how to work with a client — whether it's a
style and its appeal to the U.S., Nusbaum
professional designer working on a custom
recognized an opportunity to sell direct to
construction or a first-time homeowner
customers. He decided it was time to get back
renovating one room at a time — "is what
to his roots.
sets us apart from many retailers," he
"Retail is in my blood;' he says. "I love being
says. "The level of the service we offer, the
involved with a client from the moment they
communication, the follow-through, the pride
walk through the door until their product is
of detail, allows us to be partners with the
installed, and every step in between." Working
client."
with Berloni America as a launching point,
Inherent in superior customer service
Nusbaum vetted a group of domestic and
is knowledge of the product and how to
international manufacturers to make the most
Italian bath company Sign's goal is to create
make it a reality for the client, and Nusbaum
of his expansive showroom, which had been
concept rooms, contrasting natural materials
has assembled a seasoned team that has
used primarily to train dealers privately.
(round ceramic sinks) and textures with a
studied under the manufacturers and can
"There was a void in the market," says
sculptural simplicity of design (free-standing tub).
make recommendations for each aesthetic

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16 OPEN DOOR Magazine • May 2014