BUSINESS & FINANCE
SASSI
STYLISH AND SIMPLY STUNNING INTERIORS Article by Amanda Deck
A
s February passes and March approaches, it’s probably safe to say everyone throughout Plant City has taken down their Christmas trees and packed away their ornaments…
“We decorate trees, wreaths, garlands—the whole nine yards,” said KeeLee. “That’s what we enjoy the most. We get to be creative and really get the Christmas spirit going.”
…well, everyone except Roxanne Fulwood and KeeLee Tomlinson. Through their new business, SASSI, located in historic downtown at 314 South Collins Street, Roxanne and KeeLee celebrate their favorite holiday year-round.
In addition to sprucing up homes and businesses across the area, prior to the holiday season, Roxanne and KeeLee also assisted customers at their festive boutique. From nutcrackers and snow globes, to lifesized Santa Clauses and miniature nativity scenes, the team helped shoppers select SASSI, short for “Stylish and Simply items for their preferred Christmas home Stunning Interiors,” officially opened in décor theme. late October 2013. By the end of their first week in business, the dynamic duo was “We like to go for the unique items,” said hired to fully decorate eight homes and two Roxanne. “We like to think outside of businesses for Christmas. the box. We’re not just rows and rows of ornaments.”
Roxanne Fulwood and KeeLee Tomlinson started SASSI because of their shared love for the Christmas season.
Although Christmas has passed, it’s still the main priority at SASSI as multiple lighted trees and glittery ornaments are still on display. Tree skirts, garland, ribbon, and other wintery home décor fill in the gaps, along with special sections featuring Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter-themed items. SASSI also sells Lenox dishware, Michael Amini luxury bedroom sets, and an assortment of unique furniture, picture frames, and clocks for everyday. While choosing items for their home, shoppers can also grab a few gifts for friends in the store, from rings and necklaces, to wine glasses and designer shoes.
team worked hard to preserve the building’s unique character, keeping the hardwood floors, metal roof, and exposed wooden beams. In fact, one of SASSI’s biggest fans has been Johnny Knotts, who owned the historic hardware store from the 1980s until its closure in 2012. In fact, because Plant City residents like Johnny Knotts so strongly supported SASSI, the business experienced quite a successful holiday season.
“We never dreamed this is where we’d be,” said KeeLee. “Since we opened, we’ve both lived in a whirlwind. It wasn’t until recently that we realized it was February and we thought ‘Where did all the time go?’ It’s Roxanne and KeeLee previously worked for really been a blessing.” the Florida Strawberry Festival—Roxanne for seven years, KeeLee for four. It was “It’s been unbelievable,” said Roxanne. their shared love for Christmas that caused them to become close friends and current Whether you’ve never visited SASSI or business partners. you stopped by last month, Roxanne and KeeLee invite everyone to their store once “We enjoyed our jobs with the Festival, but more because it’s always changing. Christmas is our true passion,” said KeeLee. “We decorated Roxanne’s home as a hobby, “Honestly, people need to come in weekly and it soon became a joke that we should because things in here don’t stay the same,” start decorating as a business. Then the joke said Roxanne. became a reality.”
From nutcrackers to snowglobes and much, much more, SASSI is the place to shop for all of your Christmas decor.
Both born and raised in Plant City, Roxanne and KeeLee were honored to purchase the building that once housed the iconic Knotts Hardware—a true Plant City Landmark—for over seven decades. The
INFORMATION SASSI 314 S. Collins St. Plant City, Florida 33563 Phone: 813-704-6896
FOCUS MAGAZINE PLANT CITY FEBRUARY 2014
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