Success Stories
<<Back
Ambiance Interiors
Asheville, NC
“The SBTDC keeps us focused. It’s so easy to just do what’s needed to get through the day, but you have to think about tomorrow. That’s what the SBTDC has helped us do.”
Interior design has been Kathryn Long’s heart and soul since childhood. Kathryn completed a B.F.A. degree from ECU and a Master’s degree from UGA. She traveled for a year in Europe, then lived in NYC. She returned to Asheville in 1975 and began working out of her parents’ furniture store, Sluder Furniture. In 1977, she opened Ambiance Interiors next door. Ambiance Interiors’ specialty is new construction, working with clients and architects from drawings to finished product. Business partner and brother-in-law, Wayne Caldwell, and designer Linda Constable have been in Ambiance’s corner through the years.
Since 2002, Ambiance Interiors has utilized several of the
SBTDC’s services to better their business. The SBTDC has
provided general business counseling, graduate business
student interns and management education services to the
business. These resources have helped Kathryn and Wayne
restructure and relocate the business, develop marketing
plans, enhance financial management, focus on interior design
and project management, improve processes and increase
technology skills. Ambiance has developed a more strategic
approach with the help of strategic planning retreats facilitated
by the SBTDC’s Strategy and Organization Development team. The SBTDC has also helped position the business for Kathryn and
Wayne’s impending retirements, including the development of
Ambiance’s first policy and procedures manual with assistance
from a Western Carolina University MBA student. 
For Kathryn, the focus on big picture “details” has been key to their success. When Kathryn came to Wendy Cagle, Director of the Western Carolina University SBTDC office, with big ideas for the business, Wendy helped her see how these ideas would affect the business positively, negatively or in no way at all. For example, when Kathryn was considering selling four buildings the family owned in downtown Asheville, they analyzed financials and market research to determine if it was wise to keep the buildings or consolidate and relocate. In the end, they decided to relocate the business.
Ambiance is in great shape today, and continues to add to the rich history of Asheville’s business community by receiving nine ASID Design Excellence Awards from the Carolinas Chapter ASID. They are also credited for the interior design of Tupelo Honey Café, an icon of the Asheville restaurant scene. Kathryn feels that the positive turnaround may not have happened without the SBTDC.
“The SBTDC keeps us focused. It’s so easy to just do what’s needed to get through the day, but you have to think about tomorrow. That’s what the SBTDC has helped us do.”
Story originally featured in the SBTDC's 20009-2010 Annual Report.