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From Home Furnishing Business
Star Furniture Collaborates with Industry Influencer Jessica Duce
May 6,
2024 by HFBusiness Staff in Business Strategy, Industry 
Texas furniture retailer Star Furniture found a new star in Jessica Duce, a Houston-based interior designer and home furnishings industry influencer specializing in luxury residential and vacation rental design.
Star is collaborating with Duce on several levels, one of which features Duce as the new face of a series of social media videos focused on trends and designer tips. Whether sharing her longtime affinity for classic black-and-white decor or expounding about Lone Star style, Duce’s convivial manner, on-camera ease, and experience position her as an approachable authority on design, encouraging consumers to think about their home in new ways and to elevate their design.
Partnering with Duce was Michael Galloway’s brainchild. As Star’s VP of marketing, Galloway had been looking for ways to bring excitement and value to Star clients and guests, and introducing a professional interior designer brand ambassador was one of the solutions.
“We needed a talented interior designer with charisma and Duce met all the expectations,” explains Galloway. “She’s smart and well-versed in the importance of branding and communication too.” Her proximity to Star’s West Houston flagship was also ideal.
In addition to her visible role in videos, Duce and Galloway are also working behind-the-scenes on the development of a solid trade program on track to launch later this year.
“Working with Jessica and a team of other interior designers in the Houston area, we are looking to make our trade program superior to any,” says Galloway. “Our goal is to be the resource of choice for this elite group.”
The possibilities intrigue Duce who has operated her own interior design practice for 20 years. “It’s exciting to learn about the resources we have in my own backyard,” said Duce, noting Star’s access to many large brands that small design studios may not be able to open accounts with, plus the potential for Star to handle logistics for the trade. “That’s a big deal for designers.”
Duce is thrilled to have found a new resource in Star and Star is smitten with their new collaborator and Brand Ambassador. “We couldn’t be happier,” Galloway shares. “Our social media has already grown since introducing Jessica, and we have so many plans for the future.”