Submitted by Marcela Lopez-Vallejo AIFD
Five days full of inspiration! This sums up my visit with Charlie Groppetti AIFD at his company, Porch View Home, in Little Rock, Arkansas, thanks to the AIFD Foundation S.H.I.N.E. scholarship. This year, I had the honor and the privilege to receive the scholarship, which included the opportunity to work and learn from Charlie and his team about all there is to know about product development in the home decor industry.
From the moment I stepped into their main office, the folks at Porch View Home made me feel part of the team, which I truly believe is more like a family. Their place is like a home that welcomes and fosters innovation, creativity, collaboration and a relentless search for new sources of inspiration.
During my stay in Little Rock, I learned the steps, tools, and guiding principles to move from ideas and concepts, to actual products on the shelves. This was particularly meaningful for me, as I was looking for ways to create the designs for my own collections in a more organized fashion. Furthermore, I sincerely appreciate the time we spent doing research and looking for inspiration, which I learned comes from many sources!
Over my internship, we also had the chance to travel a little! We toured Porch View Home’s candle factory; a fascinating combination of technology and craftsmanship. I can still close my eyes and smell all those aromas. In Little Rock, we also visited Tipton & Hurst Florist. We used their amazing displays as a case study to illustrate the work of a product developer.
From those few days in Arkansas, I feel I’ve brought back home new perspectives that will help my team and I do a better job in the mass market industry. I think there are few opportunities, if any, to learn about Floral Product Development, which is why I didn’t doubt the SHINE scholarship was an excellent opportunity for me. I want to thank the AIFD Foundation for granting me this fantastic opportunity to grow professionally and personally. Charlie, Todd, Cheryl, Mario, and the rest of the Porch View Home family were very welcoming and amazing hosts!
