Small Business Saturday: French Courtyard | North Houston Moms

Beck & Larry Weischwill – Owners

Happy Small Business Saturday! Today I am launching a new blog series that will be featuring the heart of our community – small, local businesses ❤. Each week, stay tuned to learn about a deserving small business and hear about not only what they offer, but also hear from the person behind the business. I think it’s so inspiring to talk to small business owners and learn about the inspiration behind the business and the heart, sweat, & tears they put into their businesses every single day. I don’t know about you, but it makes me want to support small & local that much more!

First up, is a store in The Woodlands that I visited a few weeks ago and fell in love with – French Courtyard! This store is a beautiful mix of consignment and new items – from furniture, to artwork, to floral designs, to décor, to a stunning clothing boutique – you will be in awe as soon as you walk through the door. Rebecca Weischwill is the owner of French Courtyard for 17 years and she has created such a unique and fun store to explore. Check out her interview below, and make sure you read to the end to find an exclusive discount!

 

Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in the North Houston area?

My husband and I are both Texas natives and I was born and raised a Houstonian. We’ve been married for 52 years and have made our home here in the North Houston community.

 

Are you a parent? How old are your kiddos?

We are proud parents to one adult daughter who has blessed us with two incredible grandchildren and one son, who is our angel in heaven.

 

When did open the door to French Courtyard and what was the inspiration behind it?

The French Courtyard was started 28 years ago by Elsie Largent. I knew Elsie from church and she asked that I come to work for the store. She was my mentor and taught me a lot about the consignment aspect of the business. When Elsie was ready to retire, we purchased the store from her and have owned it now for over 17 years!

 

What products and items do you sell?

We carry a perfect mix of consignment and new items. Our store features furniture, artwork, floral designs, décor, and a stunning fashion boutique.

 

What did you do before opening French Courtyard?

I have worked within the furniture and retail industry for many many years and have always enjoyed design and merchandising.

 

How has The Woodlands community impacted your business?

The Woodlands has grown exponentially over the last two decades and it has been a joy getting to work with everyone from new families furnishing their first homes here to retirees who are downsizing and looking to consign pieces they have treasured for years.

 

How do you choose the items you want in your store and what is your main goal when making those selections?

Our goal for the store is to seamlessly blend the old with the new to create timeless and classic vignettes that also speak to current design aesthetics. We love offering an eclectic mix of antiques and transitional décor. We think it makes for a very rich look.

 

Name one thing that makes your shop unique?

The heart behind our business truly is consignment and the joy it brings us to see a storied piece re-imagined. We love that we can promote reuse within our community.

 

How do you want a customer to feel upon entering and spending some time browsing your store?

Our team has been able to create a family atmosphere that we hope extends to our clientele. We want each person who walks through our door to feel important because they are.

 

French Courtyard Team

 

What’s your favorite thing about being a small business owner?

Having been blessed to be in business as long as we have, you find yourself connected to your community in a very meaningful way. You are able to keep up with people over time and you share history with them. We’ve seen our shoppers go from parents to grandparents, you hear about graduations and weddings and people passing. It’s important to us and has enriched our lives.

 

Best advice for someone wanting to take the leap of faith into entrepreneurship or wanting to open their own business?

It is certainly not for the faint of heart but it is the most rewarding path you can set out on.

 

Future plans for your business?

Our goal is to continue to grow and adapt. We never want to become stagnant or dated.

 

Any special sales, deals, or events for North Houston Moms to be on the lookout for?

We would love to offer 10% off any one item to anyone who mentions this article! We hope you will follow us on social media where we post our newest items, upcoming events and any current promotions.

 

 

To learn more about French Courtyard and to shop:

Physical Location: 27326 Robinson Rd, Ste 101, Oak Ridge North, TX 77385

Website: https://www.frenchcourtyard.com/

Instagram: @french_courtyard

Facebook: @FrenchCourtyard

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