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“Your home will not just be transformed; it will be a true reflection of your personality mixed with a touch of desert dazzle.”
When Robyn Halperin and her husband planned for the later stage of their lives, they thought: “why don’t we retire and travel. It sounded like a great plan… we were all excited about having fun and having no responsibility.”
But? “I wasn’t ready to retire.”
The Nest in the Desert features “desert modern” home furniture and décor that have been carefully hand-picked by Robyn at several annual trade shows for interior products.
The employees at the Nest can help with everything from a nice candle to a complete home interior makeover. Customers will often bring in photos of their home for Robyn to evaluate. She’s definitely got “the eye” for lovely, tasteful touches that can warm up any OV home.
The articles on their website give some insight into the kind of conversations that take place at the Nest:
The article Robyn’s Signature Interior Design Touch in Oro Valley and Tucson sums up her unique talents beautifully:
Where Function Meets Fabulous
Robyn believes that your space shouldn’t just look amazing—it should feel comfortable and work for your everyday life. She’s a wizard with transitional decor, which means she’s all about creating spaces that are not only stylish but super functional. Think: a home that’s both a cozy retreat and a stunning showcase.
Why Robyn Rocks?
Dive Into Design:
If you’re itching for a home makeover that celebrates both beauty and practicality, it’s time to chat with Robyn. Your home will not just be transformed; it will be a true reflection of your personality mixed with a touch of desert dazzle.
Robyn says she gets many women customers – in part because women are more oriented toward decorating their home, and also because they appreciate that the Nest is a woman-owned business. She also gets many husbands who will often buy gift cards for their wives (hint, hint).
The Nest in the Desert is a local OV business that is a great alternative to “big box” conglomerate retailers and the Internet. We need to support our local businesses like the Nest, because they are essential to OV’s unique and personal culture.
“People walk into the Nest and want to feel known. We try to learn everyone’s names,” says Robyn. You’ll never get that from IKEA or the Internet!
The 4th quarter holiday season in any retail business is always the best.
“People want their homes to look fantastic for the holidays. They are usually entertaining. They start shopping in summertime. People are already thinking about who’s coming for Thanksgiving.”
“For the holidays, we transform the store into a Magical Christmas wonderland.” You can attend the open house on Nov. 1, 2 and 3 to get the first look. The Nest will keep the decorations up until New Year’s, so anytime during the holiday season is a good time to see the special Christmas display.
For gifts, the Nest offers a signature bag with quality tissue paper and a jute string that will look lovely under any Christmas tree.
Design has always been Robyn’s passion: “I’ve been doing it all my life.”
“I probably started in high school. I was constantly redesigning my room. Changing things around, painting, finding creative ways to put things together. I’m very DIY. After I made my very first design profile, my friend’s Mom said ‘I want to be your first client! I was only 18, and she paid me to accessorize her home.”
The current Nest location just celebrated 2 years. Robyn previously ran a store for several years called “Robyn’s Nest”.
Believes that independent retailers like the Nest will always exist – despite competition from the Internet.
“There are many people that want to touch and feel products, know the quality, the company that manufactured. That’s what keeps a smaller business alive.
“So many people have been burned buying online.” The Nest stocks unique products like Rowe’s American-made furniture from a manufacturer in Virginia whose been making fine home furnishings for 73 years.
“Once someone buys a big piece from us, they are often a customer for life.”
The Nest carries large scale artworks – both canvas paintings, and reproductions – which have become one of our most popular items.”
The Nest also loves to support other small businesses. “We carry a fabulous specific candle and soap line from a gal in Tucson. We also carry also carry another very popular line of gift cards from a woman in Prescott.”
Indeed, the Nest does work with many small, women-owned businesses.
“While were not only looking for women, it just seems like a lot of women gravitate to me because I’m also a woman business owner-operator.”
The Nest currently employees 7 people. “We are busting at the seams and have been asked several times if we plan on expanding. We love our location, so we make it all happen in our cozy little here.”
“The best part about it: I get to do what I love, and I’m such a people-person. I love meeting customers. We get to form relationships. Like a couple in their early 30s with 2 children who said, ‘We know we are going to be home a lot, and we want our home to look great, but we don’t know where to start or look.’”
“I like teaching people – to bring their style to their own home.”
“People say, ‘I can tell you love what you do.’”
The biggest challenge to promoting the business?
“Letting people know you’re there. Word of mouth is the best advertisement – like sharing on a network group, the Nextdoor app, or the Tucson app.
“After 2 years, we have people every day who say ‘I didn’t know you were here.’
“Since we opened, the members of the Chamber of Commerce have been fantastic!”
One of the special features of The Nest in the Desert is that Robyn and her staff will help you design your home right from the store.
“We love helping customers create the space they want. Feel free to bring in a photo and let us make suggestions to help you style your place.”
For example, one customer was interested in improving the look of their fireplace mantel. Robyn made a mock fireplace in the store, and Robyn said, “this is how I would style it.”
“Styles are always evolving, always changing in furniture and home décor/accessories. There are so many fabulous creators and furniture artists with vision.”
“The Nest in the Desert loves being part of that vision.”
Robyn stays on top of the latest styles by attending several major shows each year.
“I attend all the furniture markets that I can, and they talk about all the trends, and they preview what’s coming next. There’s always a winter and summer and summer season, and also in the spring and fall…I attend about 5 shows each year.”
For example, there is a private show in Dec. 16 to which “they fly me in to pick items for next season. You can’t purchase these items now because they all spoken for, so I’m buying for the next holiday season.”
Robyn attends big shows in North Carolina, Las Vegas, Dallas and Atlanta. (“The four big ones.”)
To the community: “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for how much support they’ve shown.”
To new potential customers: “If you come in and meet us, we will help you any way we can.
“Customer service is the #1 priority for us. It distinguishes us from the big box stores. We’re are dedicated to making our customers happy – it’s what keeps them coming back.”
Nest in the Desert
Specially curated home décor in #orovalley Tucson, Arizona
7954 N Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85704 | (520) 297-8299 | info@nestinthedesert.com
Open Monday – Saturday 10AM to 6PM | Sunday 11AM to 4PM