We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jackie Smola. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jackie below.

Jackie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

During Covid my partner and I realized just how far our country has changed, and not for the better. It is rare to see people actually engage in productive, civil debate. Actually learning from each other and finding our commonalities and NOT focusing on the differences.

I am an old hippie with the memory of peaceful protest mentored by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. I am still a Dreamer, and this is not the America I hoped to see us grow into. We need to show each other more respect and KINDNESS. I don’t like to preach, but I do want to remind people, especially the Boomer and Dreamers, that they know that we have to get along. And it all starts with Kindness. We are asking people to be living examples of Kindness in their communities.

Hippie Chick Heart Boutique in Tulsa, OK is a boho/hippie apparel boutique with the mission of spreading kindness in our own community and around the world. We started a campaign in Tulsa called “Start the Conversation”. We are trying to promote productive civil debate where ideas can be exchanged without rancor. We are using our shop Logo, the “PeaceHeart” sticker to spread the news.. The PeaceHeart design represents “Kindness”. (When you combine Peace and Love, it makes Kindness.) We have the tools, we just need to use them!

We have a guestbook at the shop that we ask guests to the sign before they leave. We are located next to the Leon Russell Museum and Church Studio Recording Studio. They receive visitors and recording artists from around the world. So I have been able to have Kindness stickers go home with Kindness Ambassadors all around the world! We are trying to keep this grassroots movement known and out in the public. Especially in this election season and we really need to hold it together as a nation.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a older woman business owner and excited about my latest project. I was a professional parade float builder up until Covid. No more parades, no more floats. Deciding to start fresh during Covid, my partner Mark Ingham and I moved to Tulsa, OK. We fell on love with this town quickly and decided to become a part of our community.

After being directly affected by politics of the day, it was decided that we would win this issue by being KIND. Be a good example of kindness to follow, and others will notice. Kindness and patience are missing today and we need to bring it back. Our boutique is a fun eclectic place to shop for fun festival clothing. Having had the experience of parades, I have decorated my shop to be a fun place to stop, shop and take a selfie!

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Hippie Chick Heart has been working with a local business called Myers Marketing Management. They have been able to direct me towards the right track to meet my audience on social media as I have grown, I am about to enter into the world of TikTok as I reach out to all ages about our Kindness message and hope to grow and grow.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

My partner Mark Ingham and I had met years earlier, but did not reconnect until Covid. We became a Covid love story.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hippiechickheart.com
• Instagram: HippieChickHeart
• Facebook: HippieChickHeart

Image Credits
Myers Marketing Management Jackie Smola