Today I'd like to introduce you to Deborah Thompson. She owns a shop, also on the square in Clinton, called Simply NC. Each of her products have been made in North Carolina or feature North Carolina. Deborah's goal is to have at least one product from each of the 100 counties in North Carolina.
Deborah's shop is a gift store and a coffee shop. My favorite part of the store is the coffee shop. Comfortable seating surrounds a fireplace where customers can sip on coffee drinks made with beans roasted in North Carolina or indulge in unique ice cream flavors like Campfire Delight made in our city's capital, Raleigh.
Deborah also sells made-to-order gift baskets that can be filled with a variety of items such as homemade jams and jellies, muscadine juice made from her own vineyard, Crooked Run Vineyards; and a variety of crackers, nuts, dip mixes, handmade soaps, pottery and novelty items like these cute tooth savers.
Deborah opened Simply NC in October 2014, wanting to create a space where her family could sell the muscadine juice from their vineyard. That idea grew into featuring products from all over North Carolina and providing a place for others, such as herself, to have a venue to sell their wares.
Creativity:
Deborah relies on the creativity of her personal tastes to choose items to fill the shelves in her shop. She also keeps her customers in mind when adding new products, choosing items she thinks they may enjoy. Some items display a bit of whimsy, like the tooth savers above, while others are practical and beautiful at the same time, such as the pottery line Deborah carries, also shown above.
Facing Fears:
As with every business, Deborah faces the daily challenge of finances. Upon opening the shop, she described her feelings as "This is going to be great! People are going to buy stuff!" But when she hit the reality of a day with $2 in sales, her perspective changed. She began to look for ideas for her store wherever she happened to be. "I'm always thinking and looking for new ideas. I didn't see the world that way before." Deborah keeps herself occupied with growing her shop and sharing her love of North Carolina-made products. "I try to create a place where people feel welcome and at home. Whether they come in to say hi or to buy something, I try to leave them wanting to come back." These perspectives and her faith that God will continue to guide her and provide are what Deborah uses to face the daily fears of running a shop in a small town.
Advice for New Shop Owners:
If you are opening a shop or thinking of opening one, consider some tips that Deborah shared with me.
- Talk to people and get feedback on your store idea. Get a feel for what locals want and need.
- If a shop identical to your idea already exists, consider rethinking your idea.
- Check with the city planner. She will know what shops are in the town and what shops aren't. She could possibly give advice on what type of shop the area could use. She can also fill you in on the requirements and guidelines your shop will have to follow, such as what you can and can't have on your store windows, permits you may need in order to open your shop, and what spaces are available for rent.
- Contact the Small Business Center at Sampson Community College if you are a local opening a shop. The Small Business Center will help you write a business plan that will guide your process of opening a shop and help you define what kind of customer you are trying to reach. They also have classes to educate you on running a small business.
- Check into financial resources. You can get help with start up costs and even utility costs. Check with your local Chamber of Commerce and the City Planner for advice on how to apply for grants.
Featured Fall Items:
Deborah has a new collection of fall-themed items displayed in the photos below. If you're local, be sure to check them out. Items also available online are in bold. There are cookies, spiced cider, pumpkin pie dessert mix, apple butter and the ever-popular pumpkin spice latte.
Upcoming Christmas Items:
A big seller at Christmas time in our town is Southern Supreme brand fruitcakes. Deborah is excited to announce that she will once again be carrying this line of Christmas delight. The 8 oz. and the 1 lb. sizes will be available. Make sure you grab yours. Deborah sold out her entire stock the past two years.
You can visit Deborah's shop at 100 E. Main Street on the square in Clinton or call 910-590-2939. You can also connect with her on Facebook or via her website www.shopsimplync.com.
Thank you for joining me on this Small Town Businesses series. I'll see you tomorrow for our next featured small town shop.
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