Today we’d like to introduce you to Jodi Klapes.
Jodi, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Not knowing exactly what I wanted to be, I followed the business route in school and took courses in that area. I had positions as an Administrative Assistant in various companies. Although this wasn’t really my passion, it was steady employment. After meeting my husband, I was lucky enough to become a stay-at-home mom with my two children until they were in elementary school. Our town was opening up a new Hallmark shop, and I decided to apply there for something fun to do while the kids were in school. This job reminded me of how much I love interacting with people, and especially how much I enjoy giving cards and gifts! I fell in love with everything about it. It didn’t take long to realize that this was the atmosphere I wanted to be in. I enjoyed everything from merchandising the products to interacting with customers to help them find the perfect gift. I moved up to management, and after 10 years the owners decided to retire and the shop closed. I went to another Hallmark in a neighboring town for a few years, but it seemed like our area was in need of a go-to place to find cards and gifts for all occasions. I had seen what customers were interested in, and knew that I could add some other ideas to bring a uniqueness to a new shop.
When researching information about opening a shop, one of the recommendations was to find a mentor that you could ask questions about the business. As luck would have it, the very owners who gave me my first job at that Hallmark shop were willing to give me some insight on what they had learned over the years. With this information and more research, I was on my way to becoming a small business owner, with my husband being my biggest supporter and helping me every step of the way. The timing was right and with much help from family and friends, we opened Whims & Whatnots in March 2016.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There was definitely a learning curve. I was lucky to have a former shop owner act as a mentor and let me ask questions as I was getting started. The paperwork/legalities involved with starting your own business – licenses, permits, etc. took some homework, this part of the business was new to me. We just tried to figure it out as we went along. Luckily you can find plenty of information online, and my husband has his own corporation, so it was nice to have his business knowledge. We make a pretty good team, he’s the ‘paper guy’, I’m the ‘people person’.
Figuring out the layout and setting up the physical space took some time, but that part was fun. Finding the right type of advertising has been and still is a bit of a challenge. Getting the word out about us and our location is one of our big hurdles. Some things just take time (and patience).
Navigating the wholesale side of purchasing products was another learning experience, from ordering the right amount of product to learning how to set up terms with different vendors.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Whims & Whatnots is a specialty gift shop carrying a wide assortment of products. I feel our name gives us the freedom to choose whatever we feel is a good fit for the shop. We love finding unique and different items that you don’t see everywhere else. Sometimes that uniqueness walks right in the door – with local artisans interested in showcasing their handcrafted items in the shop. We find our products by attending national gift shows, New England Made shows, local craft fairs, sometimes from pictures we see on Instagram or other sites online. Our customer feedback seems to agree that they like the uniqueness of the shop. You’re pretty much guaranteed to see something new each time you visit! There is home decor, coastal items, serve ware for entertaining, greeting cards, soy candles, spa products, jewelry, fashion accessories, hostess and wedding gifts – many of which are made in the USA. We like finding products/companies that “give back” and support worthy causes. We offer complimentary gift wrapping and exemplary customer service.
We also like to host seasonal events like Open Houses and trunk shows – finding ways to create a fun experience when you visit. I guess I’m most proud of knowing that customers appeal to our unique and different items, and they go out and tell their friends about us. I love getting to know our customers and being a part of promoting the “shop local” philosophy. We take pride in supporting our local community and try to donate to local organizations as much as possible.
What were you like growing up?
I’ve always been a people-person and love giving cards and gifts – knowing that something special you’ve found is making someone happy. I like to be positive and upbeat, and this venture of opening my own shop has allowed me to interact with great people every day. I get excited when finding unique items and making them available to our customers, which then allows them to feel that same excitement by seeing the response of their recipient getting the gift. It’s awesome when a customer comes in and says “so and so loved the gift I got for them here!” Every person that walks into our shop has a unique set of needs – I like trying to help them find exactly what they are looking for.
To me, it’s not just shopping, it’s an experience. Some customers may just come in to browse, it’s like their get-away or ‘retail therapy’, and that’s great too. They may also be getting ideas for when they need something in the future. Making them feel at home, starting casual conversations and catching up on how everything is going in their lives is just as important to me, I like to make those personal connections.
Contact Info:
- Address: 611 Breakfast Hill Road, Suite 2
Greenland, NH 03840
(at the corner of Rt. 1 and Breakfast Hill Road) - Website: Facebook.com/WhimsandWhatnots
- Phone: 6039640699
- Email: whimswhatnots@gmail.com
- Instagram: @whimswhatnots
- Facebook: facebook.com/WhimsandWhatnots
Image Credit:
Vanessa Weego
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