This article appeared in "Exclusively Yours" magazine,
January 2004
There's something almost magical about the way a woman
feels when she's wearing a beautiful crafted fur garment. Its a feeling of
being wrapped in pure luxury (not to mention warmth), and a feeling of being
pampered in the loveliest possible manner. Interestingly, it doesn't seem to
matter whether that fur garment is a gorgeous full length sable or a funky fur
and cashmere knit jacket, the excitement each piece generates is matched by
nothing else.
The process of selecting a new fur should be as enjoyable
as the actual wearing of that new garment, and to that end, Sue Holzman Sennett
and her husband, Gary Sennett, have devoted considerable energies toward the
creation of a lovely new salon where an eclectic and exclusive collection of
furs and leathers are delighting a welcoming audience.
Holzman's
Furworks recently opened their doors in the new Shops at GiGi's complex, 1552
W. Mequon Road, in Mequon. The salon is the first north shore location for
Holzman's, one of Milwaukee's most venerable and trusted retail establishments.
"We're just thrilled to be here," the couple professed. "We're confident that
the location will be a comfortable fit with the type of merchandise we're
bringing into the shop and an accommodation to our expanding east side
clientele," Sue explained.
Sue speaks with
a wealth of experience to back her up. She's the third generation of Holzmans
to be actively involved in the fur and leather business in Milwaukee Her
grandfather, Sol Holzman, established the dynasty of furriers in 1918 when he
opened the first of the family's shops at 6th and Mitchell Streets. In 1925, he
moved his base of operation to the old Butter Building, and in 1934, he moved
the business into a building at 7th and Mitchell (next door to Quality Candy's
original store) where it would serve the Milwaukee community for fifty years.
Connie Holzman joined his father in the operation of the company in
1953, upon graduating from college, and eventually engineered another
relocation into what was 'The Grand" building at 11th and Mitchell. In 1984,
the new Holzman Fur Salon opened in the painstakingly restored and renovated
retail facility and in the years since, the store has been a magnet for a
discriminating clientele seeking the finest in fur and leather fashions. Today,
the store continues to be a viable presence on Mitchell Street and on the
Milwaukee retail scene.
In
1975, Connie brought his daughter, Sue, onto the front line of the company's
operations. Although she was educated and certified in the field of elementary
education, Sue was fascinated by fashion design, and the flair for style and
innate fashion sense she brought to the shop would he instrumental in taking
the business to a new level.
From the day she joined her father on the
sales floor, Sue Holzman Sennett was an integral and lively part of the
day-to-day operation. Her focus was on buying and merchandising and her
influence on the inventory of fabulous furs cannot be underestimated. "I wanted
the experience of shopping for a fur to be exciting and fun and really special
for our customers," she said. 'I wanted to be able to show them something
fashion forward and contemporary-something they might not otherwise find in
Milwaukee. Above all, it was my goal to provide a quality product and the
comparable service which would bring customers of all ages into our shop."
Sue was evangelistic in her belief that the enjoyment of furs should
not be limited to a mature clientele only. Her efforts, those of her father and
the entire Holzman staff, have proven to be very successful, even in the face
of some extremely tough recent economic times for many retailers. "We're very
grateful for the support of our customers. It's because of them that we're able
to grow our operation and expand into another location," she said.
The dream of a
new site became a reality early in 2003 when Connie talked to Bev Berson, owner
of GiGi Bridals, who proposed that they have a location in a development she
was planning. 'The idea "grew legs" almost immediately for several reasons. Sue
explained that, 'We liked the concept of a small upscale complex, we liked the
location (just west of Port Washington Road on Mequon Road) from both
accessibility and visibility standpoints, we liked the mix of tenants 'which
include the well-established, highly regarded GiGi Bridal Salon as anchor,
Divna (plus size fashions for women') and the Masterworks Salon and Spa."
Another major plus for the
Sennetts would be the opportunity to construct their space 'from scratch" and
put their own personal imprint on the design of the shop. As Sue explained, "we
had recently completed some extensive remodeling in our own home and had
developed a comfort level with Milwaukee architect Mason Sherwood of Wikwood
Associates who had taken us through that whole process. So we asked him to work
with us on the plans for the new shop." That synergistic collaboration had
dramatic results.
Holzman's Furworks is a warm, welcoming "living
space" done in the prairie style. Hardwood floors and modern mahogany woodwork
are used throughout both the upper level men's salon and first floor
seating/showroom areas. Walls are a mellow brick tone accented with wood
panels, Oriental rugs are scattered over polished floors and oversized leather
chairs cluster into conversation areas.
Gary is quick to
identify Sherwood as the space utilization "magician" who imaginatively custom
designed the shop-providing for all the necessary work areas that a retail
store requires and at the same time creating the comfortable environment of a
living room. Into this setting Sue continues to bring some of the most
innovative, interesting fur and leather designs on the market today.
"Our industry has come a very long, long way in utilizing the new
technologies to produce fabulous pieces," she said. "So much of what is out
there now reflects an emerging attitude of spirit and fun-it's such a departure
from the purely functional styles of years ago and these are the designs we're
so happy to be able to present to our clientele."
Displayed along the walls
of the new salon are coats and jackets with an "edge" that include dramatic,
colorful, degrade sheared beaver and mink jackets, laser cut mink that has the
textured appearance of chenille and fur trimmed jean jackets. A huge selection
of sweeping full length mink, fox and sable coats are available for the more
conservative buyer, and the Holzman leather collections are exceptional.
Patterned leathers, fur-trimmed leathers, retro leather swing coats and a
wonderful selection of men's leather designs are just some of the groupings
that fill the salons. Carefully handpicked accessories and gift items round out
the inventory.
Additional services include alteration and restyling of
your existing furs, custom design of a new piece should you be looking for
something that is not currently available through Holzman's customary resources
and summer storage. For details call 262.240.9999
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