Today we’d like to introduce you to Tatiana Francez.
Hi Tatiana, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Urben Gifts & Gadgets opened its doors in 2017, two years after I moved with my family from São Paulo to Miami. Before Urben, I lived in Brazil for 39 years, worked as a contemporary artist, architect, and owned an event planning business.
Art, design, and travel have always been my greatest passions. When I travel to new places, one of my favorite adventures is discovering aesthetic, well-curated local stores. I can spend several hours researching every shelf and inspecting all kinds of products inside these stores. I have always been fascinated with creative retail and store design.
Before moving to the US, every year, I used to organize and host a Brazilian luxury market in São Paulo, where a mix of different wholesale brands would exhibit their products in a pop-up. This thoughtfully curated environment featured products across all categories, including home decoration, tabletop, women’s accessories, and especially gifts. I always had a blast creating these events, and that became my inspiration to create a store that features a variety of wholesalers and unique gifts & gadgets with great design., that come from all over the world.
Last year we decided to create a branch of our store to sell furniture and home decoration. Most of the furniture we sell is imported from Brazil and made by renowned Brazilian designers. As an architect, I missed working with homes and interiors, so it has been wonderful to work on Urben Home.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road, but a fun and challenging process! The pandemic has dramatically affected all kinds of businesses, but the event industry and brick and mortar stores were the most harmed ones. Nowadays, it is tough for our small businesses to compete with large companies like Amazon. This is why at Urben, we don’t only sell products but an entire experience, from helping our customers choose the right gifts to make packages that are exciting to open. Many of our customers are loyal to us because they know they will have a memorable experience when shopping with us.
I think the recipe to make any business grow nowadays is having a good marketing strategy for sure, but most importantly, providing a personalized experience and assisting your customers in a way that makes them feel like they want to come back soon.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Urben Gifts & Gadgets?
I own a concept store called Urben Gifts & Gadgets. We sell a curated collection of one-of-a-kind gifts from brands all over the world. We have a large variety of items, and you can find everything, from home decor, electronics and gifts for the entire family. Every week we receive a batch of exclusive gifts and trendy items so that you will find something brand-new every day at Urben. We are proud to be able to provide our customers with an exciting gifting experience every time they walk through our door or visit our website (shopurben.com).
Our website offers fast delivery to anywhere in the USA, and for clients nearby (Pinecrest, Coral Gables, and Coconut Grove), we will drop off your package on the same day. There is also the option to order online and pick up in-store! Another perk of shopping with us is we build personalized gift baskets. You can choose any items from our store, and we will place items aesthetically in a gorgeous wooden basket wrapped to perfection. We always want to make our clients’ lives easier, so shopping through WhatsApp is always available at Urben. Many of our clients who shop for gifts through Whatsapp will describe what they need, and we will send suggestions to help them choose the perfect gift.
How do you think about happiness?
I believe that giving gifts is a meaningful part of human interaction. The act of giving and receiving gifts helps us form stronger bonds and connections with those around us. So, I am overjoyed when I see Urben gift bags at my children’s school, at parties, or under Christmas trees. Each one of our items is thoughtfully chosen and meant to entertain and inspire.
Very often, clients will walk into Urben and compliment our store. Many of them mention that “there are no stores like yours around.” This inspires me to work even harder to bring them even cooler gifts and impeccable service. I also enjoy traveling and researching new ideas for the store, but most of all, I am happy to work with what I love and have time to be with my family every day.
Contact Info:
- Email: tatiana@shopurben.com
- Website: www.shopurben.com
- Instagram: @shopurben @urben_home
- Facebook: @shopurben
Image Credits
@carolmilanophoto
