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talent times two
Newlyweds establish roots in Dallas with a combination flower shop
and art gallery.
by Kelsey E. Smith
Late 2009 brought a taste of New York City to Dallas,
when artists Adam and Alicia Rico opened Bows and
Arrows, a combination flower shop and art gallery, in the Texas
city’s hip “Lower Greenville” neighborhood and entertainment district. The couple
moved in August 2009 from the Big Apple
to the Big D, where Mrs. Rico, who worked
 as
a floral designer at Seaport Flowers in Brooklyn, N.Y., is originally
from. But the distinct character of Brooklyn remained close to their
hearts as they looked for the perfect spot to open their business, the
name of which is a play on feminine and masculine concepts.
two shops in one
Located in a former tattoo parlor, Bows and Arrows is
surrounded by a host of specialty shops and pubs. “There are a lot of
storefronts from the ’20s that have been restored,” Mrs. Rico describes.
“The area has a very New York feel to it, and that’s why we decided to
be here. It’s not too manicured; it’s a little rough and very urban.”
 The
area also is ideal for drawing in the business’s target customers, whom
Mrs. Rico describes as “young creative folks” in their 20s and 30s. She
and her husband, both 28 and both with art degrees with an emphasis in
painting, fit this demographic as well.
Originally, the Ricos dreamed of opening an art gallery
only, but with the economic downturn, they concluded that it could be
unprofitable. Given Mrs. Rico’s floral design experience, adding flowers
seemed a logical pairing. And the floral aspect of the business makes up
for times when art sales are lacking. In addition to exposing the
flowers to those who have an inherent appreciation for beauty in their
homes, the business draws in bridal customers, whose weddings have
become the “bread and butter of the business,” Mrs. Rico says. At press
time, Bows and Arrows had handled floral décor for approximately 40
weddings, averaging $5,000 and accounting for nearly two-thirds of
sales. Thus far, there is only one additional employee, but the Ricos
hire friends with art and design experience to help as needed.
While Mrs. Rico admits that the art
 gallery
so far has not yielded high sales, “it’s our passion,” she explains.
“We’re becoming known as a gallery that shows upcoming young artists, so
a lot of them come to us now. We also go to open studios and tours and
try to remain in the art scene in Dallas and elsewhere.”
The Ricos select the art to be shown, and they display
pieces that are more conceptual than decorative, ensuring the mood of
the shop—which Mrs. Rico describes as hip, eclectic, vintage and foresty—carries
through. Most
 pieces
are offered on consignment, but the Ricos do purchase some for
reselling, and their own creations account for some of the art on
display as well.
...
To read more, look to the December 2010 issue of Florists' Review.
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