News
Brandjord purchases Long's studio
Scott Wagar
09/11/2012
Connie Long has made the decision to go into semi-retirement and has sold her business, Interior Fashions By Connie, to Susan Brandjord who has taken over the operations of the studio.
“I’ve decided to go into semi-retirement because I feel it’s time. I’ve owned this business for 27 years and I’ve been in the design business for 33 years,” Long said. “This business has kind of been my baby in life, and this decision was hard to make. But, I am so pleased to sell my business to Susan because she is a wonderful person. She is a good person and I am definitely happy to hand over my business to her.”
Brandjord, who is a Bottineau native and the owner of Ellie Ann’s Interior Design in Rugby, is pleased with purchasing Long’s business.
“I’d free lanced in the interior design for nine years before expanding my operations to Rugby,” Brandjord said. “When this opportunity came up, my family and I felt the timing was right for me to expand again.”
Brandjord is going to keep both of her studios open and plans to keep the Bottineau studio conducting the same operations Long provided her customers.
“The merchandise is pretty much going to stay the same. There are things here that Connie has that I do not have and vice-versa,” Brandjord said. “So, this is a “good marriage” so to speak of the two studios because we are able to offer even more to the customers.”
Brandjord added that one change that might come into the Bottineau studio is tile designs.
“I do a lot with tile design and maybe that will be something that will be expanded on a bit here in Bottineau,” she said. “However, this is an interior design studio service, and that’s the bottom line, it’s working with people and offering their home with what is best for them and getting that achieved for them.”
Brandjord is also working on a future goal of conducting interior designing for assisted living homes. She stated that with a large number of individuals coming to the retirement age, and the want and development of assisted living homes increasing, she would like to assist those in their interior design wishes.
One item that will change in Bottineau is the name of the business.
“I will be calling it Ellie Ann’s Interior Design, which is a combination of my two daughters’ names,” Brandjord said. “And, my daughters are one of the reasons why I am expanding my business. Both my daughters when they talk about a career for the future are self-employment or business ownership. So, I thought I could be a role model for them in that, and it seemed it would be beneficial for everyone, which has turned out to be a good choice because it’s been good for everyone.”
For Long, she will be changing the name of business to Interior Design By Connie and will be consulting with clients on a part time basis and then bring the clients to Brandjord’s studios to assist them in their requests.
“It’s going to be a win-win situation for both of us,” Long said.
Ellie Ann’s Interior Design in Bottineau is located on Highway 5 in between Subway and Tesoro. The studio’s hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Brandjord also has evenings and weekend hours, but by appointment only. To contact Ellie Ann’s Interior Design, call 228-2728.