In our last blog post, we spoke about the origins of Mediterránia. What follows here is a brief overview of our company over the past 30+ years, plus a prelude to our impending retirement ...

One of the most frequently asked questions that we hear at Mediterránia is, "What prompted you to set up your business in Santa Fe, New Mexico?"

In the 20th century, Santa Fe has always been an international shopping destination chock full of experienced antiques dealers, classic old time traders and great retail merchants. Consequently, I believed that we could do well in a 17th century town founded by the Spaniards if we offered unique furnishings from the Iberian Peninsula and other parts of southern Europe. 

In fact, prior to opening our doors to the public in July 1994, I was so convinced that there already had to be a number of dealers and retailers in town importing from Spain, that I was really annoyed with myself that I was unable to find them.

I could not have been more wrong ...

As I soon came to learn, by some magical stroke of luck Mediterránia was the first company in Santa Fe to specialize in importing and marketing antiques, reproduction furniture, textiles and decorative accessories from Spain, and, so, without realizing it, we had blindly stumbled upon a market niche that no other company had yet filled. 

Back then, we looked like the "Crate & Barrel" of Spanish antiques because, for the most part, we sold very simple 19th century country pieces in pine. About a year after we opened, a local interior designer said to me: "You know, Marc, you've lived in Spain for so long and have such great connections all across the country, that, if I were you, I'd start buying older, higher quality antiques - 16th, 17th and 18th century pieces - rather than all this simple 19th C. stuff. If you do, you'll attract a higher-end clientele and your business will grow exponentially."

That sounded like great advice to me, so on my next buying trip back home in Spain I concentrated exclusively on sourcing much older pieces that sold extremely well when they arrived fully restored in Santa Fe. And, ever since then, period antiques dating from the 16th C. on have been our bread and butter.

Like all small businesses, over the years Mediterránia has faced a number of serious challenges: between October 2000 and July 2008, the dollar fell from $1.12 to the euro to $1.60 - a 42% drop in purchasing power based solely on currency exchange; the sub-prime crisis from 2007 to 2010 absolutely decimated several of our best market  areas across the country; and in 2020 the Covid pandemic shut us down completely for 3+ months. 

In every instance, we were fortunate enough to be able to turn those challenges into opportunities, and continue to grow the business. And I believe that has been entirely due to the loyalty and resiliency of our customers, the phenomenal support and collaboration of all our friends and colleagues in southern Europe and the unique nature of the products that we've always offered.

In our next blog post, we'll talk about retirement and future business ventures.

Hasta la próxima!

TO BE CONTINUED ...