Opening a Lavender Shop in Tumultuous Times

Just a few short months ago, in February to be exact, I learned that a tiny little shop in an alley in Newberg, situated between a Pizza place and an acupuncturist, was about to become available.  I knew this because this was the tiny little salon I had been going to for the last few years and my hair stylist told me she was moving to a bigger space.  Immediately, the wheels started turning -- because the first time I had walked into this space I had looked around and thought it was just about the perfect size for a lavender shop.  So the next day I contacted the landlord, told him I was interested, and immediately started freaking out.  This was a big commitment after all.  I would be tied to the shop, I’d need to work all the time to keep it stocked, I’d have to remodel -- what in the world was I thinking?  But I kept pushing forward.  

I imagined that I could sell local flowers along with my lavender products, and I just so happened to know a couple of amazing flower farmers, John Peterson and Jeremi Carroll of Pollinate Flowers, who also happened to be neighbors.  So I texted John and told him that I was thinking about opening a little shop and would they be interested in selling their flowers wholesale to me.  He texted back a few minutes later asking, “Would you be interested in a partner?”  I immediately texted back, “Yes I would.”  This was one of the quickest and best decisions I’ve ever made.  And together we moved forward.

On March 1 I signed the lease and picked up the keys and the shop was ours.  On March 13th, schools shut down and on March 23rd our world came to a screeching halt.  COVID had hit Oregon and our dream of opening our shop on May 1 (May Day) was put on hold. But as we looked around at the teal ceiling, the pink chandeliers, the warped white floor, and the light mustard colored walls, we figured that while we were waiting for the world to open back up, we might as well remodel.  So we planned and dreamed and Pinterested our way into a look that we all loved and then with the incredible talent, vision, and crucial guidance of another member of the Pollinate team, Zach Goff, we started to work demo-ing, painting, building, and sewing so that we could keep moving forward.

In June, before masks were mandated, we very tentatively and partially opened our doors, wearing our masks and setting up tables at the entrance to the shop so that visitors could see our products and could purchase what they wanted.  A few weeks later, once masks were required statewide, we were able to fully open our shop.  We couldn’t be more pleased.  One side of the shop carries Little Lavender Farm products and the other side carries Pollinate flowers. We share expenses and take turns manning the shop, which allows us time to work on our farms.  This has been such a wonderful experience with such generous, supportive, community-minded partners as we’ve worked together to make our dream of bringing a little beauty and comfort into this world a reality.  

Now we’re into September and just last week, the final touches to the outside of our shop were finished and the remodel of our shop was complete.  And this week Oregon has been on fire.  And once again our hearts break for the pain and sadness that we see around us. But we will lock arms and together we will all keep pushing forward, helping and supporting each other along the way.  Because we are all part of the same family, and that's what family does.

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