AUGUST 2005

ECONOMICS and ENTERPRISE
Chaldean-owned store is a northern charmer
BY VANESSA DENHA-GARMO
Nestled in one the America’s
most quaint and pristine towns
is a European-style store for
men, women and children. Ransom &
Izzy, owned by Mark and Kristen
Dickow, is located in Harbor Springs, a
northern Michigan travel destination for
the affluent, and just a four-hour drive
from Detroit.
The store opened in 2001 to cater
to adults and in 2003, added a children’s
section. Designed by architect
Victor Saroki, the 2,200-square-foot
store attracts a clientele from all over
the United States and the world.
Carrying both U.S. and European
clothes, hanging from Ransom and Izzy
racks are designers such as Etro,
Eskandar, Les Copans and Joie
Zegna, complemented by Garth Floran
Jewelry and Janis Savitt Jewelry.
Recently, the store added shoes for
women and children. Any given outfit
looks like it would be seen on the
pages of Vogue and People magazine
being worn by Jennifer Aniston or
Courtney Cox coming out of
Hollywood’s latest hotspot.
To set off the charming tone inside
the store are products like bath and
body wash and cologne by Etro as well
as candles for a romantic
home setting.
Located in downtown
Harbor Springs along the
Main Street shopping district,
Ransom & Izzy sits
between Boyne Real
Estate and Quarters Art
Gallery. The location can’t
be missed by the residents
and tourists shopping.
“I really love all
aspects of the business,”
said Kristen Dickow, who
has a degree in fashion merchandising
and graphic design. Since she
worked as a manager for retailers
inside Somerset Mall in Troy, Dickow
knows how to cater to the consummate
shopper. “We really try to find
unique special clothing,” she said.
“And, we extend personal shopping
to our clientele.”
Having vacationed in Harbor
Springs for years, Dickow said the
town is the perfect place for a clothing
store. Her parents and sister are yearlong
residents. Kristen lives part of the
year up north while her husband, an
attorney in the metro Detroit area,
spends the weekend with the family —
which includes children Samantha, 9,
Spencer, 8, and Mia, 4 — during the
summer months.
This small town of about 1,500 in
Michigan’s northern lower-peninsula is
known for its wonderful
natural resources and
recreational opportunities.
In the summer, one
can swim in crystal-clear
water or golf on championship
courses. During
the cold weather months,
avid skiers head down
the slopes at Boyne USA
Resorts and Nub’s Nob.
Just about anywhere
you turn in Harbor
Springs looks like a
scene from a Normal Rockwell painting.
Ransom & Izzy is a little shop that
carries a line of clothing for those who
want to live it up a little in Northern
Michigan.
28 CHALDEAN NEWS AUGUST 2005