Retail Ramblings

I relocated permanently from South Africa to the USA in February 2009 on what I called a “housewife visa”. At that point in time my visa did not allow me to work for money. This has since changed as far as I know.

I used to be a management consultant in organizational development and design and human resource management in South Africa and was always working on multiple projects at the same time. I was constantly busy. Having “ants in my pants” all the time, I could not binge-watch TV or lounge around doing nothing once in the USA and so reverted back to indulging a variety of hobbies. This included silversmith work and jewelry making, stained glass work, sewing, painting, doll making, even learning to make cheese and chocolate from scratch.

After obtaining permanent residency in 2013 I could start earning money legally. I started out selling my handmade crafts and art online through Etsy.com. When the opportunity presented itself to rent a physical store space in a small rural West Texas town in 2016, I jumped at the chance…. and never looked back.

Retail was new to me but I figured that many folks have jumped in and succeeded before me… so, why could I not pursue this too… Being honest, however, it took a couple of years to get a grip on the retail world. I am still figuring it all out as I go, but each year so far has provided more knowledge, understanding, new insights, new opportunities to explore and interesting ideas. I am hanging on and hoping to hang in there for quite a number of years to come!

I love meeting and being around people. And… I love creating art and crafts, dreaming up weird and wonderful crazy handmade creations. Having the store makes it all come together. The store allows me the opportunity to craft and make things and sell them, while at the same time providing the opportunity to meet so many interesting, fascinating and inspiring people every day. My gift store is my happy place, my daily recharge, my source of energy and light. I am living the dream! I love what I do and I do what I love…..

My little gift store offers my own (sometimes beyond crazy… I am happy to acknowledge that!) creations and handmade creations of wonderful friends from across the United States (all of whom I have had the privilege to meet through my store). It also offers a variety of certified Fair Trade handmade goods from across the world and goods made in the USA and elsewhere. The store offers an eclectic mix of gifts, clothes, fine art, jewelry, edibles, soap, incense, walking sticks, pottery, blankets, brooms, baskets, kitchen ware, custom designed t-shirts and car stickers, rugs, chimes, regular and vintage fabric from various African countries, the odd antique piece from time to time, up-cycled, altered and repurposed art, pillows…. everything you can think of and more!

The two philosophies that guide my store: (1) I refuse to offer any items in the store that I am not prepared to buy for myself. This ensures that I am always passionate and excited about every piece in the store. I take joy in being around so many beautiful things on a daily basis and I believe visitors to my store enjoy that too. All items are carefully selected to contribute to the eclectic and vibrant vibe the store offers. (2) Meeting and getting to know a little about someone that enters my happy space, is more important than making an actual sale. I find it incredibly humbling, inspiring and enriching to bond for a moment with complete strangers and get the privilege to sometimes hear life stories, share deep thoughts and feelings or get to see pictures of the art people create. I have forged many meaningful friendships through the store.

My mantra: “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time” – Thomas Merton