#tsgcincinnati

During this unprecedented times during COVID-19 quarantine, we are here to educate, inspire and encourage you to support our local Cincinnati community businesses. One of the first in our series is with Trevor Furbay, the owner of Trevor Furbay Bespoke Tailor & Clothier in Mariemont, OH. 

Enjoy being inspired and learning about menswear and why he’s one of the best in the business! 

McKenna: What have you been doing during these unprecedented times to stay busy?

Trevor: I did a virtual trunk show last week by posting photos of Mizzen & Main products, offered 20% discount. I offered pickup, delivery, shipping options and it did really well!

McKenna: How did you learn about how to do Bespoke tailoring? 

Trevor: I started working for Ralph Lauren in college (both in Cincy & NYC). This is where I found my passion for custom clothing. I then went to work for the largest manufacturer of custom clothing in Baltimore, MD, and bought my first shop at age 24 in Madeira. I have owned my current shop in Mariemont for the last (almost) 3 years!

McKenna: Who is your core customer at the store?

Trevor: We really have 2 types of customers. The first is the gentleman who comes in all the time, and always wants something new. He loves everything they are doing (at the store), and he buys seasonally.

The other guy needs to dress well for work (can mean a lot of different things!), but he really has no desire to shop or give it any effort. He likes that it is not a department store--and that he can have a bourbon, have a bite to eat from the kitchen, etc. They hate shopping, but he feels that shopping at TFB isn’t that bad because things are pared down, approachable, and we help him find things he really likes and needs!

So do people really come in and drink Bourbon?

Trevor: Yeah, there’s actually a pretty big group of people that do! Some come in to shop and drink bourbon, others just to hang out. It started with Amy making food in the kitchen-- and her masterful COOKIES -- we decided we needed drinks too. We wanted people to feel comfortable here, and make it a place for the community to get together. 

For the woman coming in to shop for a man in her life, what do we need to know?

Trevor: Generally how tall he is, pant size helps too. If I have met him I can probably guess pretty well. Thanks to computers, we can also look and see his sizes if he’s shopped with us before.

Do you have any tips for mixing patterns? Is there a way to help the men in our lives do this?

Trevor: We get a lot in the store: “why is everything blue?” Probably half of the things in our store are blue, the other colors are things that go with blue (denim, grey, navy, etc.). When you stick to a few colors that work together, it makes it easier to mix and match with ease. As long as there’s a common color, you can almost mix any patterns!

What is the craziest trend you’re seeing right now?

Trevor: The “no suit” is very popular - wearing a suit but with no tie. This has caused the pocket square trend to become very strong, too. Men are using the pocket square as an accessory to dress the jacket up (as a tie was previously used).

We’re also seeing a lot of shirts with fun details like colored buttons, so that they can be worn on their own without a jacket.

Faherty is definitely our hottest brand. They are based in NY, but have a West Coast, beachy/surfer vibe. I would have never guessed that it would be so successful here and become our largest selling brand. People love it.

Many people think of your brand as just custom suits. But it’s so much more…

Trevor: Yes, we have a lot more to offer. People have thought of me as dressy only, but we try to embrace both casual options and more approachable price points. There is something for every occasion and every buyer. We have tons of jeans and casual pant options. We have casual weekend shirts and shorts, swimwear, activewear and more.

We’ve noticed that you have shirts with the TFB label. Do you make these?

Trevor: We have a shirt maker that makes these for us. They made the original madras for Ralph Lauren in 1970!

Are there things you want to get into?

Trevor: It is my passion to do custom and design for people. I also care a lot about the shirt brand that we carry, Camessi. I want to help build up that brand too.

Many thanks to Trevor for opening up and sharing his expertise in all things menswear! Once we are out of this Quarantine, please give him a call and visit and tell him Scout sent you! 

~McKenna

We had a great time last week meeting with the business owners of some of Cincinnati’s best local businesses at our Member Mingle. We value relationships here at TSG, and really work hard TOGETHER to build our community.  One of the best aspects of being a part of The Scout Guide is how we have built a true community of business owners and we learn from one another.

Beautiful setting @ Rug Gallery Cincinnati, Food by CWC The Restaurant, Music by Kyle English, Bartending by First Call Bartending

As the Editor and Owner of TSG Cincinnati, I hear repeatedly similar questions about how to run our businesses, how to overcome common challenges and how to make the most out of being a part of TSG. Thus, I work tirelessly to play ‘match-maker’ and ‘connector’ between my clients/members of our community. As such, I hosted a “Member Mingle” (think networking event with music, food and drinks) where I asked a few members to sit on a panel and help facilitate a great dialogue about how we all run our businesses. The Owners of The Rug Gallery, My Flower Service and Nest Home Staging all helped me with this great panel discussion that covered a variety of topics. Read below to see some of the topics we discussed and their insightful recommendations.

Sam Presnell, Arlene Presnell, Beau Presnell, Barbie Presnell, Shannon Adams, Christine Masur and McKenna Brooks

McKenna: You are transitioning ownership of The Rug Gallery from one generation to the next (Sam Presnell to his son, Beau Presnell). How are you managing this transition within the family, and what guidance do you have for those looking to transfer a business?

Sam Presnell, Founder/Owner, The Rug Gallery: “While it appears we are transitioning ownership within the family, we have started to look at it more like a sale of the business to a buyer, who happens to be family. Not until we started looking at this transition in this way, did we really understand all that is going into making this a successful transition. We have a clear step plan and it’s far more detailed and complex than we originally anticipated, but we are making great progress!”

Beau Presnell, Owner, The Rug Gallery: “We have loved working with the Goering Center at UC – and we are lucky to have this tremendous resource in our back yard, here in Cincinnati. They have guided us through a multi-step, multi-month process to ensure a smooth transition. We recommend to anyone seeking to sell a business here locally to leverage their resources.”

McKenna: You have really increased your presence of The Rug Gallery on social media and using events to drive traffic to the showroom. Tell us more about how you go about executing all of this work?

Barbie Presnell, Marketing Director, The Rug Gallery:  “I am lucky to be married to the owner(s) of The Rug Gallery, and we meet weekly to discuss all that’s going on in the business. I am a teacher (for my main job), but I love being involved in the family business. I have a passion for connecting people and have found that hosting events in the space is enjoyable to people who come, and it’s resulting in sales from those who come meet us and see the high-quality of support we offer our clients. “Regarding social media, when we meet weekly, I listen to what strategic focus areas there are for Sam and Beau. I then work back with the sales people and installers to help me get images and stories from rugs, carpets and flooring that have been installed in customer’s homes. I then tell the stories of these happy clients in Instagram posts and stories. That’s what our followers want to see – they want to be inspired by our work and be able to show examples of homes when they come in, and know we can give them the flooring to bring their vision to life. The key to successful social media for a small business (in my opinion) is to be authentic and tell stories and inspire the follower. They’ll take action with you if you do this right!”

Shannon Adams, Jessica of My Flower Service

McKenna: Shannon, you have been a part of TSG Cincinnati now for almost 5 years (as long as it’s been in Cincinnati). What advice do you have for small business owners who are either in TSG today, or contemplating joining this community?

Shannon Adams, Owner, My Flower Service: “TSG is the only spending on advertising I do. I believe that the quality and network of businesses in TSG are the ‘best of the best’ and I want my brand to be associated with these other brands and business owners. I hear all the time that readers know a few other companies in the Guide, and thus assume that ‘if My Flower Service is in here with a few of my other favorite businesses, they must be the best in the business’. So for me, it’s a lot of brand positioning. But, I also really value the connections I’ve made with other business owners in the Guide. For example, I have just met with a couple other owners to do their flowers out front of their stores because I’ve met them at these sorts of events. We all should support one another first and foremost, and continue to grow our community by having a very high-quality product and service across categories!”

McKenna: Christine, you’re partnering with other businesses in TSG in unique ways. Can you tell us about what you’re doing to help ‘get your brand out there’ and what advice you’d give to us if we want to do the same?

Christine Masur, Co-owner Nest Home Staging: “I have really embraced this community of great people, and leveraged the networking opportunities that being a part of TSG Cincinnati has enabled me. I always want to share my passion for design and staging with those around me, and however I can do that, I’m open and eager to get involved! For example, I have worked with Megan Stacey for 2 years now to co-host a “Color and design” party where we invite clients (of both of ours) to enjoy some wine, food and I talk about design trends I’m seeing in homes today. It’s nothing hard to pull together, but it’s so fun to see a group of 25 women talking (and laughing) about little changes they can make to their homes to ‘freshen things up’ without breaking the bank. I also worked with you, McKenna, to design the backdrop for a TSG event, Holly & Headshots, in December. I love designing ‘photo walls’ and this was an easy way for me to help in an event, and organically get the Nest brand out there.

“The best advice I can give about getting involved in your network is to be creative in how you partner with people, don’t be afraid to try something new and know that every person is a valuable impression, and they will grow your business over time.”

After we went through these specific topics, there was a lot of great dialogue around how to build up social media following, how to best partner (and ideas!) and how we all can really team up with one another on a regular basis to build up the local business community in Cincinnati. If you’re interested in learning more about WHO is a part of TSG, you can see them here (scroll down to see them listed alphabetically).

Delicious food was provided by CWC The Restaurant, Tables and decor by All Occasions Event Rental, Music by Kyle English.

A few common threads amongst all of us business owners in TSG, are that we believe in following our dreams, we work tirelessly to meet the needs of our customers and we are incredibly appreciative of the support we receive from you as our community. We want to hear from you on how we can all improve and appreciate your support of all-things-local!

Until the next event!

’Tis the season when you strive to make sure everything is glowing, bright and beautiful so why not make sure your skin reflects the same?

It may not be the best time of year to do anything too extreme or with a lot of downtime because there is no such thing as downtime during the holidays. Yet you’d like to look and feel fabulous and glowing as you rock the holiday party circuit.

The team at Mona Dermatology in Cincinnati, is ready to provide you with that special holiday glow without the down time!

Left to right: Megan Niese, P.A.; Mona Foad, M.D. MHS, FAAD; Jessica Watkins, PA; Anna Donovan, CNP

From Botox and fillers, to facials and laser services, consider these treatments to plump, hydrate and rejuvenate your skin to reflect the look you strive for this holiday season: 

Botox: Erase and soften your wrinkles and fine lines, sagging lids, jowls and jawline!

Dermal Fillers: Fill in those lines around your mouth and other areas and see immediate natural-looking results.

Facials are another great option to help you get your glow on! Consider one of these client favorites: The Salt Facial: A 3-step treatment that restores, replenishes and rejuvenates all skin types.

Oxygen Facial: Hydrates skin, treats redness and rosacea.

Dermaplaning is a great option to gently remove the top layer of dead skin to reveal soft, radiant skin! Your make up will go on beautifully!

Dermal infusion is a relaxing, rejuvenating treatment that combines microdermabrasion with serum infusion to plump the skin by up to 70 percent.

With Cool Sculpting, you can go into the holiday season with confidence. Freeze away unwanted fat on your lunch hour with no pain and no down time! Sculpt one or more areas, including your abdomen, back, inner and outer thighs (saddlebags), the flanks (muffin top), upper arms, and your double chin.

Looking for a gift idea? A Mona Dermatology gift card is a gift anyone would love!

What an amazing, festive and fun evening we had celebrating the launch of Volume 4 in Cincinnati on November 6th! We had a great evening eating, drinking and dancing at Hotel Covington with music and entertainment by Catalina Wine Mixer Band, the newest (& best) Yacht Rock band in town! Nearly 70 business owners were there with friends and colleagues to celebrate having been “Scouted” and seeing all of our collective hard work put into this beautiful guide to the best of local around Cincinnati!

Here are some highlights from the event, all taken by Ross Van Pelt and Philip Heidenreich. 

Janel & Debbie, Owners of Alley Boutique

Jay Takech (Evolo Design), Dutches, McKenna Brooks (Editor/Owner TSG Cincinnati), Trey Greene

Anna Rose (Pure Barre Kenwood), Shannon Adams & Rachael Tracy (My Flower Service), Christine & Jamie (Nest Home Staging)

TSG Editors: Eileen Sweeney & Chris Doughtery (TSG Bergen County) with McKenna Brooks (TSG Cincinnati)

Marjorie Smyth (Adorn Interiors) with McKenna Brooks (TSG Cincinnati) 

Catalina Wine Mixer Band had the dance floor moving for hours!

McKenna Brooks and Casey Burleigh, Creative Assistant at TSG Cincinnati

Jess Evans, (Dance Factory Fitness), McKenna Brooks, Michelle Ziegler (The Barre Code Cincinnati)

Lesley Hern & Susan Bucci (The Wardrobe)

Shannon Adams (My Flower Service), Nora Fink (Nora Fink Personal Styling), Rachael Tracy (My Flower Service)

Lots of fun local business owners! Eyecare on the Square, Reed & Roe, Design Cincinnati, Trevor Furbay, The Wardrobe, The Birch in Terrace Park, Waterson Garner and The English Contractor. 

Head Trainers Ryan and Danny Kester from Burn Bootcamp Hyde Park & Mason, respectively

You can pick up a copy of the guide at any of these business locations and many Whole Foods and coffee shops around town. Be sure to watch our Stories on Instagram and Facebook for locations as well. 

Whether you believe it or not (based on this heatwave we’re having!)... the “Holiday Season” is just weeks away! Before we know it, stores will be “Decking the Halls” and kids will be singing it 18 hours a day! 

Thus, we decided to show you all of the fun things around Cincinnati that we’ve scouted that might help you get a jump on the most wonderful, yet hectic, time of the year. Please support local and know that 50% more of your dollars spent in our community stay here through jobs, taxes and more spending! #livelovelocal

1. Gift Tags from @ Designs by Dawson // Be ready for the teacher gifts and all of those that come early in December, by designing and ordering them in October! 

2. Get the kids “holiday-ready” with outfits from Rory Maxwell // All holiday arrivals have landed and sweaters, dresses and pants are all there (although we know they might be worn once, they’re needed!)

3. Combat these changing temps by staying in shape with Dance Factory Fitness // You don’t have to be a dance to have fun and sweat (and you’ll never know an hour went by!)

4. Spruce up your outdoor spaces with My Flower Service // Leave making your doorstep stunning to Shannon and her team! They’re amazing! 

5. Get a start on creating the perfect custom suit for the men in your life from Trevor Furbay Bespoke Tailor // He might even have it ready for those holiday parties! 

6. Start ordering those custom gifts everyone loves so much from Just Add Embroidery // Either bring in special things you want monogrammed, or shop in the store for some amazing ideas! 

7. Create more personalized gifts -- using your own hands! // Create ornaments from Cincinnati Needlepoint and have them ready by Xmas morning! 

8. Schedule those haircuts (& color, in our case!) in advance so all photos are the best // We recommend the teams at all Mitchell’s Salon & Day Spa 4 locations! 

9. Don’t forget about YOU!! Take some time to be mindful, rested and strong, and our favorite place to do all of this is with Anna and her team at Pure Barre Kenwood.

 Happy September! It’s been a BUSY Summer around TSG Cincinnati, and we are excited to get in the swing of Fall and hope you are too! 

Here is a list of our favorite things this month - and they’re all about taking great care of yourself - mind and body - around Cincinnati. We have scouted out some of the best, most relaxing and important things you can do to keep things ‘in check’. 

Read below for more details on all of the self care we recommend this month!

1. Feel the Burn during a workout (”camp”) at Burn Bootcamp

// Find your fitness potential during Burn Boot Camp’s 14 day free trial. Visit https://burnbootcamp.com/locations/cincy-hyde-park-oh/ to learn more! A\Camps also available at their Centerville & Mason locations!

2. Skincare consultation @ Mona Dermatology

// Discover your skin’s potential during a preliminary consultation with a Mona Dermatology skincare specialist.

3. Attend Cooking with Caitlin’s “Third Thursday’s” at CWC Restaurant in Wyoming, OH

// Spice up your daily meals with recipes and more from Cooking with Caitlin. This culinary experience offers surprising twists on everyday food with aim of building your culinary experience.

4. Teeth whitening at Cornerstone Dental Group

// Too much wine and coffee leaving your teeth dull and stained? Make an appointment at Cornerstone Dental Group to add some shine to you smile!

5. Acupuncture @ Lotus Integrative Therapy in Mariemont

// Feeling “off” and don’t know why? Ask Ingrid to help you! You’ll be amazed at the multitude of benefits that acupuncture can provide you -- from headaches, restlessness, anxiety -- you name it! She can help put you at more peace! 

6. Add a pop of color to your jewelry look with Kendra Scott

// Gone are the days when you had to just choose the color of the jewels in front of you... and here are the days where you can visit the “color bar” at the Kenwood and Liberty Center Kendra Scott stores and make your own jewelry, and choose your own colors! 

7. A New workout outfit from Brand New Day 

// Support #mentalhealthawareness and get a great Fall look by visiting their website, Co-op on Camargo, or pop up at Pilates Body Barre in Ft. Mitchell to see all of their amazing workout options! 

8. Go Beyond the barre @ The Barre Code downtown Cincinnati

// The Barre Code goes beyond the barre to incorporate strength, cardio and restoration into each class.

9. Eye Exam @ Eyecare on the Square in Mariemont

// Did you know you SHOULD have your eyes check annually (just like most other physician appointments)? Well, most of us don’t, but it’s important! And we tell you, honestly, that a trip to see this amazing Optic team is nothing shy of some fun and learning! 

Here’s to taking great care of yourself this month, TSG Cincinnati loyals, and thanks for reading and stay healthy! Be sure to tell these local businesses that I sent you! 

Thanks!

xo McKenna

The open floor plan has been ubiquitous for a while now, as people have eschewed closed-off rooms in favor of combined, free-flowing spaces. And while it may seem simple to take down a few walls to achieve the desired all-inclusive effect, there are tricks to creating a beautiful and functional open concept area. Recently, we asked the interior design experts at Cincinnati, Ohio-based Platte Architecture + Design to share their advice for creating a successful open concept space. From structural factors to selecting lighting, here are their recommendations.

Engage in careful space-planning. Before you knock down all those walls, there are a few considerations to keep in mind, the Platte team advises. The existing structural and plumbing walls, stairs, and windows will all come into play by establishing the shape of the space. Locations for support functions, such as the laundry room, mudroom, powder room, and storage, should also be identified. Last but not least, they recommend prioritizing natural light for dining and living zones, so the areas in which you spend the most time lounging will have access to the most sunlight.

Define your zones. While the lack of separation is part of the appeal of an open floor plan, you still want each area to feel distinct. For example, in the space featured above, the Platte team dropped the ceiling height down in the kitchen to create a more intimate scale, while the ceiling plane in the flanking dining and living rooms were raised for a more dramatic and defined open plan. Introducing a framed threshold between the kitchen, dining, and living room or adding a bisecting staircase can also create more spatial separation within an open layout.

Tie spaces together with cabinetry. Although it’s nice to incorporate design elements to distinguish between zones, as noted above, you also want the areas to feel cohesive. According to the Platte team, an effective way to tie several spaces together in a layout is by extending casework from one space to another. In the modern residence featured above, Platte extended the kitchen cabinets to create a credenza at the dining table and media center in the living room, which provides a visual foundation—plus ample storage.

Be strategic with your lighting choices. When selecting lighting for your open space, the Platte team recommends choosing your focal point and making a statement. For instance, they suggest using a large feature light or pendant light at the dining table to contrast more discreet can lighting above a kitchen island. For a sleeker look, they advise opting for four-inch diameter can lights, versus the more traditional six-inch cans, and considering wall-washer lighting in strategic locations.