Business & Tech

Q&A: Orange Home Accessories

Bloomingdale-Riverview Patch catches up with the semifinalists in our Best Customer Service contest for local businesses.

As Bloomingdale-Riverview Patch readers voted on their favorite businesses in , a few quickly rose to the top. One of those that has really shined is .

Patch caught up with Orange's owner ahead of the semifinals in our customer service contest, which will resume at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 28.

Name of business: .

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Name of owner: Debbie Ploor.

In business since: December 2006.

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How long have you lived in town? I have lived in Brandon for 25 years with my husband of 34 years, Rick and two girls (oldest now lives in New York City and youngest lives in Orlando).

What do you love about living and working in our town? I love working in my own community and getting to see and meet those who have been here a long time and getting to know new comers as well.  We moved here from Miami 25 years ago and have always felt a sense of family in this community. 

What do you wish everyone who came into your shop knew about you? Well, I left a great career in sports marketing after 18 years to follow a passion. I always dreamed of owning a store like this. I want Orange to be a place people feel welcomed and comfortable. Where they would find something that would make them smile when they see it in their home or feel great about giving someone a special gift. I love it when someone tells me how much they love an item they received and when I go to someone's home and see something from the store there or being used to entertain with it makes me fell wonderful.  I love going to market to search for those special pieces.  I make sure I know about the artist/designers.  It is important to me to have merchandise that I know was made with love and care.

Tell us a quick story about a time you provided awesome customer service: We try to provide a comfortable happy atmosphere for people to shop in. Our services include gift wrapping, shipping, delivering, special orders, we do a wish list so family members can come in and get what someone really wants.  One particular story: I had a customer who visits family here in town and always stops by the store...they bought a mirror and I shipped it to their home in NY City ... the shipping company damaged the box and broke the mirror.  Just happened that my vendor was in NY for a show and I was on my way to NY for that buying show as well. They only had one mirror in that design left and would take 8 to 12 weeks to get another one. They had that one with them at the show on display ... so when I got there we worked it out to have the mirror hand delivered by the company owners. They got in a cab and took it directly to the customers home. They were very happy.


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