Business Spotlight: Exotic locales echoed in Rain Forest Creations

Towering palm trees rise from the floor and gently stretch skyward until they brush the top of the store's cathedral ceiling. In an instant, you're magically transported to an exotic tropical location.

No, you're not in Florida or the Caribbean.

You're in Rain Forest Creations, a store filled with tropical decorating accessories, limited edition framed art, topiaries, planters, fountains, candles, jewelry and other items.

Larry Burns and his wife, Debbie, started Rain Forest Creations in 1997. Starting the store was an ambitious undertaking for the Burnses, who own and operate Interior Construction Concepts, a general contracting firm, and Burns Associates Architecture.

In fact Fremont Avenue Village, the shopping center and office complex where Rain Forest Creations is located, was designed by Larry Burns and built by ICC. The Burnses co-own Fremont Avenue Village with Lee Coats, owner of Springfield Music Co.

Burns has used his architectural and construction background to increase business at Rain Forest Creations.

Nearly half of the store's business comes from providing products to interior design firms.

When working with an interior design firm on a commercial or residential project, Burns's architectural background is helpful because he can work from blueprints or computer-aided design and drafting files.

"We can visualize the space and suggest products that will work well for the desired look," Burns said. "We've been involved in everything from residential, offices and retail infills to high-rise hotels owned by John Q. Hammons that are located in other parts of the country."

Retail sales account for the remaining 50 percent of the store's business. Although Rain Forest Creations advertises in a variety of different mediums, most retail customers come in the store out of curiosity or because they've been referred by a friend, according to the Burnses.

Many of the customers who shop at Rain Forest Creations buy customized products. The store's staff does many custom topiary and floral arrangements, which are unique and unusual.

Rain Forest Creations also offers faux finishing, which can transform planters to match any dcor.

The most unique items at Rain Forest Creations, however, are the replica trees and preserved palm trees.

These lifelike trees range in size from 6 to 60 feet.

All of the products and accessories carried at Rain Forest Creations are hand-selected by the Burnses.

Each year, they visit markets and suppliers to view products firsthand, and they subscribe to several professional design publications, which allows them to track the latest design and decorating trends.

Larry Burns also is a member of the Springfield Design Association, the Springfield Contractors Association and the Home Builders Association.

"Keeping up with design trends can be difficult," Larry Burns said.

"We mainly buy items that fit our unique look. We also keep an eye on price. We have a lot of repeat business because our customers know we provide quality merchandise at an affordable price," Burns added.

In the coming months, the Burnses plan to improve the store's showroom by adding more display fixtures, which will allow them to expand the decorative accessories area. They also plan to expand the store's jewelry section.