Big Sky Design's new addition of a home design store and studio space has received a good response from customers, however, the off-the-beaten path location has required them to increase awareness of the new shop, said store manager Rileigh Wilkins.

The residential and commercial design firm was founded in 1997 in Wilmington. It opened the shop and studio addition in February, Wilkins said.

Big Sky Shop + Collaborative Studio will have its ribbon cutting ceremony Friday to celebrate the firm’s addition to its 4037 Masonboro Loop Road location.

President and principal interior designer Jennifer Kraner said they decided to open this new space to service the entire community’s needs.

“Big Sky has always been an advocate of great design for our community, and while we provide design services for commercial and residential spaces we realize that there is a part of the Wilmington community that would prefer to shop and only for the items they are having a hard time finding,” Kraner said.

The shop includes fabrics, lighting and furnishings. The studio will have spaces were people can consult and get help with their design projects.

Kraner said shoppers can benefit from the store’s unique offerings.

“We offer so many collections for homes that you can’t just find around town,” Kraner said. “We thought that it would be such a great service for the community to offer our resources for those that would need a little DIY consult and retail therapy.”

Sue Meier, director of member investment at the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce said the new shop and studio contributes to the local economy.

“To have another business that is existing here expand into new areas means job growth and increase to our business economy,” Meier said.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will start at 11 a.m. at the Big Sky Shop + Studio location.