Testimonials
“We like working with you and your team.
It is nice to see creativity married with style
and taste!”
James Damian
Senior Vice President
Experience Development
Group
Best Buy Co., Inc.
“Charles Sparks + Company brought to the table a wealth of experience with Museum Gift Shops, having already designed what we considered to be several of the finest.
“The design team took inspiration from the look and feel of the Chicago Botanic Gardens, and created an interior that was open and flowing, more in keeping with the visitors’ experience of the Garden. The response from customers has been terrific. People stay in the store for longer periods, and the average transaction has shown an increase. We were very pleased for the opportunity to work with such professionals.”
Barbara Voss
Retail Manager
Chicago Botanic Garden
“Museums exist as major content resources, content producers, and sources of inspiration and creativity. Charles Sparks + Company not only understands these roles, but has helped us develop ways through their retail consulting and design services to leverage our mission and who we are as a brand in the form of retail venues within this institution. From the beginning of our work together starting in 1997 and continuing today, they have helped us integrate retail activity seamlessly into our permanent and temporary retail locations. Their balanced strengths in design and execution are a real asset for us.”
Laura Sadler
Senior Vice President, Business Enterprise
The Field Museum
“There are many talented designers. Often, they bring their ideas to your project without paying too much attention to who you think you are and what is essential to your business.
“In the course of our 20-year relationship, Charles Sparks has provided an exceptional design sense to every project, whether a minor remodel or a new store prototype. His thinking is always informed by what we know is important to our brand. And his ideas have helped refine our understanding of who we are, and more important, who our customers are.
“I often joke with Charles that he provides answers to questions that I would have asked had I been smart enough to think of them.”
Steve Baskin
Co-President
Mark Shale Stores
“Charles Sparks + Company puts together a great team balanced between technical and artistic talent. They are very knowledgeable of the retail industry, yet listen to individual client needs. They helped us make our vision a reality, and it is great to hear the continuing compliments from our customers.”
Debbie Palazzo
President
Miss Jackson’s
“Charles Sparks + Company has been an invaluable asset to the success of the interior design of Neiman Marcus stores. They are great partners in listening to our needs, digesting the information, and delivering highly creative, resourceful, and well-thought-out design solutions. Everyone on the Sparks team is a joy to work with. Their timely response and attention to detail ensure that all projects they do are successfully completed within the budget and the schedule. I also believe that anyone looking for a high level of creative design solutions should engage this firm.”
Ignaz Gorischek
Vice President
Visual Planning and
Store Development
Neiman Marcus
“The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art required a creative and detail-oriented solution for our new Museum Store. Charles Sparks and his team created a solution that complements the architecture of our new building, while providing the beauty and function inherent in successful retail design. Charles was a tremendous partner for The Nelson-Atkins in this project.”
Mark Zimmerman
Director of Client Services
The Nelson-Atkins
Museum of Art
“COPY TO COME”
Stuart Hata
General Manager
de Young Museum Store
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
“COPY TO COME”
Wayne Hussey
Senior Vice President Properties
and Store Development
Neiman Marcus
“COPY TO COME”
James A. Sloss
Operating Vice President, Design
Federated Department Stores
“COPY TO COME”
Ray Nasher
Nasher Sculpture Center
“COPY TO COME”
Julian Levy
President North American Region
DFS Galleria