Coco & Dash

Based in Dallas, Texas, Teddie and Courtney Garrigan are the mother-daughter dynamos whose creative flair is the foundation for their award winning home decor retail shop, Coco & Dash. Their distinctive aesthetic is showcased in an airy space that provides the backdrop for a retail vision that is a smart mix of one-of-a-kinds and home furnishings - classic and modern, approachable and exceptional - offered up with plenty of Southern hospitality.While Courtney has developed a signature style that embodies beauty and function, she has a propensity for quirky finds that are seamlessly incorporated with classic elements. Passionate about her love of imperfection in design, she contributes a fresh approach to the retail business. Meanwhile Teddie is known for her keen sense of style resulting from a lifetime of travel. A devout southerner who grew up living in Europe, she brings a relaxed and fun sophistication to Coco & Dash along with a modern sense of luxury that is fresh, stylish, and timeless. With a love of all things home, Teddie and Courtney believe in the power and purpose of creating a sense of place no matter where you are. “Every antique carries with it a story and energy…They become the most important pieces in your home,” explains Teddie. And it was in this shared love of antiques that Coco & Dash was conceived on an annual mom/daughter antique trip. As Courtney drove down the highway, she turned to her mother and said “Hey, we should open a shop.” Nose in a magazine, “Okay,” came Teddie’s distracted yet easy reply and nine months later the trucks were pulling up in front of their new store. Courtney laughed at the memory. And now ten years later, at the top of their game as a beloved brand in the industry, they feel like they are just getting started. Their love and enthusiasm for what they do comes through loud and clear. “Our goal is always that people understand you can have that sophisticated style but it doesn’t have to be pretentious.”While their origin story may sound like a flight of fancy, their business strategy is anything but. They believe it is absolutely imperative to have and understand your business plan–at the very least to have an executive summary. Every January, Teddie and Courtney sit down for two days and talk about every aspect of the previous year and plan out what they think will work for the upcoming year. When you have a vision, you know where you’re going. Their advice for those looking to start an antiques business is to do your homework. “You may know about antiques, but do you know about business? Understanding the back office stuff is one of the most important things, but also accepting that you can’t do everything. “We have people who help us with the things we’re not good at.” In building a team to support you, whether it’s your CPA, an employee, or the vendors you work with, Teddie draws upon the timeless wisdom from Indiana Jones: “Choose wisely!” “When you have the right people in place, everything runs much more smoothly,” agrees Courtney. Coco & Dash is a brilliant example of the importance of being willing to embrace change in your business. “You have to change in this business. We are constantly changing,” explains Courtney. “We are a completely different store than we were nine years ago.” One of the most notable changes was their quick evolution into more than antiques. “We realized that if we only did antiques we were limiting our personal style. You have to be willing to change strategies.” Teddie practically shimmers at the mention of it. “I love change! Change is exciting. It’s fun! When you are pulled towards something, try it. Investigate it! If you’re drawn to it, then it’s for a reason. You have to go with your heart!” One significant and recent change at Coco & Dash is their foray into Interior Design. “We didn’t choose interior design, it chose us!” Teddie and Courtney realized they were turning away opportunities as they time and again would tell