What People Are Saying
“Being highly skilled and valuable as a visual merchandiser requires a few critical personal qualities, all which I have observed first hand in working with Michelle. Physical ability is important because merchandising is physical. Michelle is athletic, fast, able to work at all hours and tall! Michelle is also experienced, having worked many years in many different categories of stores, some with very different merchandising requirements. Then there is taste and vision. Michelle has an abundance of both. She’s a good story teller, able to understand natural adjacencies so that the retail consumer will buy multiple products. And finally Michelle has been a retailer, so she understands the point of view of the store owner, who needs to have products jump into the arms of the customer, displays that sell. Michelle has worked with the Stephen Young showroom for many years and has always done exciting work. We especially count on her for the holiday rooms.”
— Stephen Young / stephen young showro0m
“As Potter Stewart astutely said when defining pornography “I know it when I see it” the same can be said for Michelle’s extraordinary talent. One can’t describe the magic she creates, you know it when you see it.”
— Bonnie Glushon / sales producers
“I've had the honor of working with Michelle Craig from MC Design Collaboration for the past year. Michelle has a wealth of knowledge and experience to draw upon from her career in retail. She is super talented, very approachable and FUN to work with! Whether it's sharing ideas, conceptualizing a floor redo to executing a store makeover for holiday, Michelle nails it every time! I truly appreciate her honesty and the genuine devotion she gives her clients. I'm thankful for the opportunity and excited as we continue to partner together on the transformation of Maison A!”
— andrea / maison a
“Michelle and I have worked together for 10 years and developed a synergy and collaboration that continues to elevate the visuals in the SY Showroom. Her energy and work ethic are unparalleled. She has the ability to translate the SY Vision along with her consummate skills that are an inspiration for our buyers. And we have a lot of fun in the process!”
-Lisa Elliott Young / stephen young showroom
“Working with Michelle for the past 6 years has been the biggest blessing for myself and my businesses! She has the innate gift of creating cohesive stories out of the products I buy.... A true visionary on the retail front. I am grateful to have found my perfect collaboration partnership with Michelle!”
- Ashlan Christoph / Serendipity
"Michelle is a Professional Merchandiser with a keen eye for details. She brings years of experience, fresh approach, and much-needed order to my chaotic retail environment. With her help, everything looks better and sells faster too; the numbers don't lie. She is fantastic to work with, easygoing and brave when needed."
— yana /grow venice
"We’ve been working with Michelle for over 10 years, and she consistently brings fresh new displays season after season! Our customers always compliment and use her displays as inspiration for their own retail stores. Her creativity and ability to bring new eye-catching windows never fails to amaze!"
— Cindy / Peking Handicraft
"Michelle has been a part of our merchandising and display creations in our home decor store for over two years. Michelle is extremely gifted with her ability to understand our rough vision, taking her time to listen and then creatively build warm and inviting vignettes and displays. Our sales always increase immediately following the time she spends with us. Our relationship is great and we will continue to work with her for many years."
— Kymberley Fraser
Owner / Beautiful Mess
“Michelle is an extremely talented person who is able to transform any space magically. She thinks outside the box and has integrity. Her work ethic is beyond expectations. She delivers!”
— sara berger / seagate health enterprises
“Michelle worked wonders with my home. She has a great eye, and her resources are extensive. I love the way that she came in and quickly assessed a new and improved layout for my living/dining area, working in some of my existing key pieces of furniture, all the while keeping my ideas and objectives in mind and letting those guide her in designing the space. I appreciate her eclectic sensibility and her desire to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Michelle brought new life to my home; she's fantastic, and I look forward to continuing to work with her!”
— Marilyn Cadenbach
Owner/ Director at Marilyn Cadenbach Creative
“Michelle did a fabulous job decorating my condominium including every aspect…design, acquisitions, landscaping on decks, coordination of contractors and I could not have been more pleased".
— Jerry Katell / Real Estate Developer
“I have worked for Michelle in different capacities over the last 9 years. She was one of my supervisors while I was the Housewares Manager at Anthropologie. I was in awe of her work from the first time I stepped into the Santa Monica location. It was here that she began to teach me the power of creative merchandising. I have worked for her many times since then doing privately owned stores, windows, installations and flipping showrooms. I am now the merchandiser and store manager of the store in front of the Design Studio I work for. I am forever indebted to Michelle for all she has taught and inspired me to do. She has been a true mentor as well as a pleasure to work with and for.”
— Jess Young / Designer/Production Manager D.L. Rhein
“Michelle is an extremely creative and dedicated individual. Her work ethic far surpasses any and all expectations. Her ability to transform the ordinary into extraordinary is second to none. She is a very considerate, and respectful co-worker. She is a pure joy to work with.”
— Melissa Hesse
Account Manager and Creative Consultant at Third & Wall Art Group
“Michelle is creative, timely and an absolute pleasure to work with. She consistently took a space with an impossible layout and no character and turned it into a work of art for the demographic she was briefed on.”
— Ileany Fields
Creative Fashion Professional
“It was my first time using a decorator. Michelle was gracious in her ability to walk me through the completely unknown territory of interior design. Michelle was sincerely interested in understanding my personal style and vision for the home, and she was not going to give me a cookie cutter design from the latest magazine. I have always liked things that are unique, usually with some sort of luxurious or playful twist. Michelle’s taste is impeccable, and the result in my home is luxurious and simple, comfortable and practical all at the same time. Michelle was instrumental in my design, yet I don’t feel like it’s a ‘Michelle’ house, the results feel like very much like me. I used Michelle in 2006, but I still walk into my house every day and smile when I see each unique and personal detail. I am delighted to return the favor and do not hesitate to recommend Michelle. It was truly my pleasure to work with her.”
— Kathy Kilbourne
Services Governance Office- Strategic Planning and Execution at Wells Fargo
