We were lucky to catch up with Sherrie Phillips recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sherrie, appreciate you joining us today. Your ability to build a team is often a key determinant of your success as a business owner and so we’d love to get a conversation going with successful entrepreneurs like yourself around what your recruiting process was like -especially early on. How did you build your team?

I started in my family business that had two employees. I was brought in with the purpose of expanding the business but first I had to learn all aspects as an employee. I did everything from manufacturing, to selling, finances, and marketing. Because I learned in a hands on fashion I was able to find some of the best employees possible for the various jobs my company has. One aspect of my business is selling our wooden mugs at festivals. I found my first festival employees in the festival environment. I watched how individuals acted in that environment and then made offers. Because I worked so closely with my with my initial crews, and treated them as my professional equals in the job, whenever we had openings they were quick to bring someone else onboard. When I interview people I like it to be as if we are just a couple of friends having a chat. I learn so much more with this style than if it were a series of questions and answers, When people feel like they are talking with their friend they spill all the dirt! One of the hardest things for me to learn in the hiring world was when to fore someone. No one enjoys that part of the business but it is a critical component in building a cohesive crew.

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?

Wondrous Works In Wood is my main business. The Wondrous Works Gift Shop is an off shoot. At Wondrous Works we manufacture a line of drinking mugs and accessories that are sold in Renaissance festivals throughout the country. The Gift shop came about as a way to highlight the mugs in the location where they are crafted. When people come into the gift shop and realize they are made in house it is a surprise. I am not an artist who makes singular pieces. I have a crew who works with me to create beautiful wooden pieces. The mugs have been made for over 30 years. I call them heirlooms in the making because they are so durable. One of my greatest joys in the business is to have trained and work with the people who create our beautiful art. I enjoy that when a patron wants something new or trendy we are able to incorporate their ideas into our production.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I originally came from a corporate background with lots of travel, hotel rooms, and fine dining. When I first began selling our handmade mugs I tried all types of venues. Renaissance festivals ended up being the optimum venue but that was after years of trying various shows. I would pack the mugs we had made into an RV or the van and drive to all types of craft shows or trade shows. This was not a life of corporate leisure. There were times I was showering at truck stops, sleeping in the van, and slogging through mud to set up for a show that may or may not work out. I also tried making many different wood gift items and had to learn how to cull out items that I may have enjoyed making but they just weren’t selling. These experiences and the challenges they presented has helped my grit and determination grow.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Much of the world had to pivot in 2020 as did I. My main income was from selling at faires and festivals. No festivals, no sales! To keep my crew employed I used savings that were augmented by furniture refinishing. I had a refinishing business with one employee that I was beginning to phase out, but in 2020 to keep my mug crew working I had to take on more refinishing jobs. This meant that I had to train my mug crew on entirely different skills and systems. Fortunately, we were able to stay open and eventually go back to selling at festivals. I was also able to finally close the refinishing business and that original employee now makes mugs with the rest of my great crew.

Additionally, I was thankful to have the furniture refinishing business in 2020 because Wondrous Works Gift Shop was customer free-like so many small retail outlets at the time! I am delighted that by 2021 we were able to ramp up our marketing again and with all the growth and development in downtown Arlington the gift shop has been able to bounce back. It is now a thriving space in the middle of all the great community events happening in downtown.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wondrousworksgiftshop.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wondrousworksgiftshop/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MugClub/