We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Joy Nault a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Joy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?
Covid came one month after I signed my lease… I often wish my store would have been more established prior to Covid.
But I do believe, everything has a reason, this being said I may not have been quite so entrenched in my Veterans products if not having to find a product & meaning for the store to exist.
My veterans jam/honey products immediately took hold for locals & travelers. My gift store is full of purposeful, unusual, and eclectic gifts but it needed a reason for folks to walk in the door during the pandemic. The store needed an essential item- this was to be Honey & elderberry products. The products are sourced from owned & operated Veteran owned business, and many many came to help my store!
We continue 3 years later to support local veterans, regional veterans in more than just honey – now we have wood craftsman, candle makers, apothecary items and are blossoming.
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 proud Grandmother of 2, that are able to come to the shop after school here in Woodstock VA located in beautiful Shenandoah Valley, they are both quite the Artists at 9 & 16.
My past is quite diverse, from a Sr. Network Engineer to a Grocery Mid Atlantic Manager of Merchandisers which helps so much with running a small business from display talents to point of sale.
My love of people creates a welcoming pet friendly atmosphere once you enter the Shoppe. I have really filled a void for personal gifts, choices for just about everyone can be found in the shoppe from locally made to a witty sarcastic find.
This shop gives back to the Veterans that supported my goals in the beginning to this day. We provide samples of our jams, honey, peanuts, granola on a daily basis. We do custom walking sticks/canes which has been a successful adventure, and provides that personal well thought out gift.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
TO give back to your local community – for instance , the Woodstock Fire Department just celebrated 200 years and had Tshirts to sell. I am selling them Giving 100% of the profits back to the Fire Department. You need to help & do for others, this will bring you more market that didnt know about our store while helping others, its a win-win!
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
Rely on your local Small Business Administrations or other organizations & programs out there! During COVID there were grants available, and other sources I was awarded funds from local county government – and competed with local business’s that built a strong bond with them too.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.travelers-treasures.com
- Instagram: woodstock.travelerstreasures
- Facebook: TravelersTreasures
- Linkedin: joynault