News – Page 3 – Bobbi's at Parkside

Coming Full Circle

Jan 30, 2020

When we opened our first brick-and-mortar location, I decided then that I would not ever be the person making the jewelry. I would have a hand in the designs of the items made specifically for us, but no, making it would not be me. I wear too many hats as it is, from buying to merchandising, day-to-day operations, answering e-mails, fundraising, participating in the community, and the paperwork. It is endless.

working on laptops

Fast forward 10 years. Are we coming full circle? Maybe. I work with some super creative women, one of whom is an accomplished artist and craft-er of jewelry. I am assigning her partial blame! The rest of it falls right in line with my last blog about JUST AS SOON AS...........

Time waits for no one. None of us know what the future holds. I'm not waiting to find out. I'm taking the bull by the horns and doing the things I've always wanted to do. So we set up a table in the back room of the shop and when I have a moment, I tinker around with a piece of leather, a bead here, a bead there, maybe a bead or element from an old piece of jewelry waiting for a new life. It's incredibly rewarding and soul nurturing. A great distraction from the daily overload of biz activities!

close up of jewelry making

I have encouraged my girls to do the same. Take a little break from the grind and get a little creative. Something magical happens when you see an idea come to fruition-it's very uplifting. We all have had a hand in our new collection of jewelry that we will be putting out February 1-just in time for Valentine's Day, and yes you will see lots of hearts. Some really cool pieces with some hearts that were up-cycled from some vintage jewelry.

Bobbi showing a finished necklace

This little adventure would not have been possible without the expert guidance of our very own Melody Wilson. “Metal Mel” as she is called, has been making fabulous jewelry for Bobbi's at Parkside for years. She is a gem and we love her to the moon and back! Thank you, Melody, for all you do for us!!

Owner and Employee working together

I will leave you with this thought, don't say you'll do something JUST AS SOON AS...... Do it NOW! Follow your dreams!!!

"Just as soon as..."

Jan 03, 2020

Just as soon as...............

Four simple words that mean so much. Think of how many times you have used that phrase. Here are a few that come to mind:

I will have that dinner party JUST AS SOON AS I finish remodeling the dining room.

I will buy that pair of skinny jeans JUST AS SOON AS I lose those extra 10 pounds.

I will join the gym JUST AS SOON AS I get past the holidays.

I will learn to play golf JUST AS SOON AS I retire.

I'm going to have lunch with my friend JUST AS SOON AS I have time.

Let me tell you, my friends, that phrase - JUST AS SOON AS...... is often the most unfulfilled thing we do in our lives.

I am reminded of the article written by Erma Bombeck about 'if she had her life to live over, would she do anything different.' It's a great read and it emphasizes how short our lives really are and how it always looks different while looking back.

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/49262-if-i-had-my-life-to-live-over-someone-asked .

I am guilty of using that phrase many times in my life, but I've also pushed past it and it has made all the difference. For example, I always wanted a dog. Being single and an airline person made that a difficult proposition. After I married, Brad and I were on the same page with that, but I always thought we would do it JUST AS SOON AS we had more time. Being a two-person airline family that seemed pretty unlikely. And then September 11 happened and I realized how easily your life can change and we took the leap and brought Molly Brown into our lives. I have never been without a dog (or two) or a cat (or two) ever since!

Family photo of Bobbi, Brad, and Molly Brown

Three cats sitting on a couch in a living room

I learned to play golf at the ripe old age of 44. I did it because my dad wanted a playing partner. I had always thought I would learn JUST AS SOON AS I retired and had more time. His persistence persuaded me to take that leap. Not only did I learn to play, I learned to play well and spent countless hours with my Dad because of it. Now that he is gone, I look back and am so grateful for that time together.

This past year has been a challenging one for me. I experienced a life-changing injury was just that. Life-changing. That phrase keeps ringing in my ears, JUST AS SOON AS....... “I'm going to run the space Coast half-marathon JUST AS SOON AS I have the time to train. I waited too long, I doubt I will ever be able to run again, let alone a half-marathon. And there were other things. This was a difficult lesson to learn but one I will not soon forget. I was fortunate that I was not injured more severely-- life truly is short and we should strive to make the most of every minute, every day.

January is upon us and as always, it is the month of new beginnings. The time of year we make all the plans, promises, and resolutions to go forward. The year 2020 is going to be a milestone for me. I will reach my 60^th year and my little business will celebrate 10 years. Yee-ha! My resolution is to check myself whenever I hear myself using that phrase. There is no more JUST AS SOON AS....... That time is now!

Video Killed the Radio Star

Dec 23, 2019

The good old 70's. Back when I was just coming of age, getting my schooling and dreaming of a career in the fashion industry, this catchy tune hit MTV-the first video to air on MTV. It was a one-hit-wonder but I can still sing a few lines today-especially the chorus.

Vintage MTV image with a timestamp

So what does the song mean? At the core of the song is the death of radio and the birth of video on television. Out with the old and in with the new. Passing from one era into another. It would have had a much more profound impact on me back then had I known that the very business model I was studying in college would also one day be a dying breed. Brick and mortar retail as I knew it would give way to the world of online shopping. And not just online shopping, but the monopolies of the behemoths such as Amazon and Alibaba. So as the song goes,

Video killed the radio star
In my mind and in my car
We can't rewind we've gone too far
Too far!
Alright

Where does that leave those of us who just can't give up on our dream of that small business in our home neighborhoods? We need to reinvent ourselves. We need to try harder, be better than the experience of sitting at a computer and ordering something based on a photograph. Don't get me wrong, I shop online when I need something I can't find locally. It is convenient, and usually-if you shop around, -cheap. Sometimes ridiculously cheap. And typically tax-free. Free shipping. Free returns. Stuff we could never compete with. So we don't.

Photo of Bobbi's at Parkside storefront at sunset

And let me tell you, it is a challenge to keep pace with the big guys and their..........convenience. And sales. I think Holiday shopping started around Halloween this year. Americans have always been the Kings and Queens of discounts. When I first traveled to Europe as a flight attendant in the early 80's, the standard there was really 2 sales events per year. Once at the end of the summer and once after the winter season. Everyone knew what to expect. They too have succumbed to the pressure of constant discounting because most online shopping sites ship all over the world. We truly are a global economy.

Soon we will be ringing in the New Year and filling our calendars with events, promotions, and gatherings of friends, customers, and customers who have become friends through our shops. We will have some laughs, share stories, catch up with the travelers who come once a year and be thankful for the wonderful opportunities we have been given. Trust me, you won't find this while shopping online and that is why brick and mortar boutiques will survive and thrive.

A very stylish girl and her shopping bag in Historic Cocoa Village