We were lucky to catch up with Kelly Riley recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Kelly thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One deeply underappreciated facet of entrepreneurship is the kind of crazy stuff we have to deal with as business owners. Sometimes it’s crazy positive sometimes it’s crazy negative, but crazy experiences unite entrepreneurs regardless of industry. Can you share a crazy story with our readers?
When we first opened, we doing a giveaway and a local girl won. She wasnt able to come in for a couple months, but in that time I found a sculpture art piece that was signed. When she came in, she recognized the artwork as done by her grandfather. Her family had sold off all of his art and she was looking for years for one of his pieces. The timing was absolutely crazy. I had just found it and she came in the day I brought it in even though she had the gift card for a couple months. Needless to say, she was in shock and delight – filled with tears of joy she went home with it that day.
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?
During a period of intense anxiety about a career that just wasn’t a fit for me, I decided almost out of necessity, to start making blankets. I know – wool blankets in Florida – what was I thinking? But the creative outlet was keeping me sane and believe it or not – they were selling. As the blankets grew in popularity, so did my quest and the demand for unique vintage items. Antiques and vintage are in my blood. Scouring shops is what I loved to do growing up and part of the business that most excites me. During this time, an opportunity came along in a 100 sq ft space in the charmingly named Shop Across the Street in Dixieland. If you visit, look for the tiny room with gold ceiling tiles. This booth and other local fleas were the proving ground for what would become my small business – June Taylor Shop
Have you ever had to pivot?
Our greatest pivot was going online during covid. Relying on people to just show up to a brick n mortor wasn’t a possibility and I have continued to push things online despite my hesitancy.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
We really started as small as possible with low cost and even free markets. We were to grow steadily and the money made was put right back into the business. We didn’t draw a salary for years because we had full-time jobs.
Contact Info:
- Website: Junetaylorshop.com
- Instagram: @junetaylorshop
- Facebook: @junetaylorshop
Image Credits
Kelly Riley