GoLO Jacksonville

The moment you step inside One of Each Gifts, you know the holiday shopping season is in full swing. A large decorated Christmas tree greets you and an entire back wall is dedicated to a wide range of sparkling holiday ornaments. The sweet scents of scented-reed diffusers and Tyler candles fill the air while soft music plays in the background. Owner Jonathan Brown is already cheerfully helping several customers as one shopper browses jewelry racks while another checks out his holiday cards and stationery offerings. A third customer asks him for free gift-wrapping of her purchases of Thymes fine English soaps and lotions for later pick-up. The smiling, dynamic owner clearly enjoys working with his customers and retail gifts are in his blood as his mother ran another local gift shop for years. Mr. Brown notes that his mother, who recently turned 89, just retired after providing years of “good insight on buying for the shop” and serving as the store’s premier gift wrapper.

Owner Jonathan Brown

The busy gift boutique has been in operation for about 8½ years, with an initial shop at the corner of Park and King Streets. Mr. Brown’s successful venture outgrew that space and he moved his store to Five Points about four years ago. As an Avondale resident, he wanted to keep his shop close to home and likes the “village environment of Five Points, which is more like an old-fashioned downtown with lots of foot traffic” and where friendly neighborhood shop owners help each other out. Many years ago, his feisty mother once chained herself along with others across May Street to block the bulldozing of brick cobblestones to help the area retain some of its historic charm.

The Jacksonville native previously ran another retail store and restaurant before opening his own gift shop because he felt “there was an unmet need in the neighborhood.” With a wealth of business experience, Mr. Brown advises new entrepreneurs “to keep it simple” and “follow your bliss” in deciding what business to start. He warns enthusiastic new owners “not to spread themselves too thin” but to add on later as your business progresses. He also thinks it’s important to “have fun and have a good sense of humor, and laugh it off or else go nutty.”

In this challenging economy, the retailer thinks his “value-oriented gifts” which offer good quality items at reasonable prices will bring in shoppers. This season, he has found that people are buying lots of holiday ornaments and scented candles for friends and co-workers, especially scented “Diva” candle jars. Costume jewelry has also been a very popular gift choice. As the weather begins to cool down, colorful Pashmina scarves and shawls are also in demand. For men, he has seen decorative golf balls and humorous novelty gums becoming favorite stocking stuffers. After the holiday season, he advises bargain-hunters to watch for those after-Christmas sales as his shop regularly turns over its stock and décor to suit every season and major holiday.

So stop by One of Each Gifts, 1026 Park Street, 904-389-9360, right next to the new SunRay Cinema at the Five Points Theatre, with “gifts so unique you’ll want one of each!”

–Bridges DelPonte, http://www.bridgesdelponte.com

Known for its eclectic flair, Five Points is a perfect spot for Subculture, a retail store filled with creative accessories for you and your home. Fashionista Carlisle Dickey, with her close-cropped blond hair and beaded black corset top, personifies Subculture’s sense of individual flair. When I enter, she is helping two young women pouring over some trendy corset tops in this hip store. Industrial steel and black duct work ceilings mixed with antique chandeliers and couches, ornate mirrors and pink-striped floors and walls hint at Subculture’s diverse and unique approach to style.

“We wanted to bring more liveliness to Five Points. And it’s very inviting and fun to be yourself here,” adds Carlisle. Distinctive fashion jewelry, cool sunglasses, feathery fascinator hats, glittery head bands and custom tutus and corsets line Subculture’s display racks and glass cases. Custom artwork dots its walls and hand-painted furniture is exhibited throughout this shop. “Subculture is the essence of Five Points,” says Carlisle’s brother-in-law Drake Price. “It has something for all ages and for all styles, from plain to sparkly.”

Subculture's hand-crafted Fascinator hats

Started in August 2010, this young business is a family project of the Dickeys and Prices, all Jacksonville natives. Carlisle’s dad, Tom, has been a life-long entrepreneur and wanted to instill strong business values in his daughters, Carlisle and Ashley. Ashley and her dad had a clear vision for their store and Carlisle and Ashley’s husband, Drake, were happy to help them achieve it. In a weak economy, this optimistic family decided to try their hands at a retail business and to forge their own futures. “It’s great to be in control of your own business. If you make mistakes, it’s on you. But you can be as successful as you want to take it,” states Drake.

The entire family helped to design the store and spent countless hours pulling up crumbling carpet, removing hundreds of nail hangers, sanding down its glue-stained floor, repainting its walls and floor and decorating it with vintage furnishings; only to have a last minute power outage delay their grand opening. But they quickly rebounded and truly enjoy working hard together as family to make their store a success. They also motivate each other to reach their highest potential. “Our family saying is follow through,” states Carlisle.

Subculture co-owners Drake Price and Carlisle Dickey

Family members contribute not only time and funding, but also their creative talents to the store’s offerings. Drake shows me beautiful hand-crafted fascinator hats that would sparkle at any special event while Carlisle gushes with pride about her mom’s wall paintings and one-of-a-kind tables to add panache to home decor. These owners also point out that they mash-up various jewelry pieces to create custom items for their customers. “We try to stay ahead and watch the fashion scene,” states Drake. Subculture also offers fun “After Hours” jewelry parties for birthdays, wedding showers or other special occasions where customers can share wine and hors d’oeuvres while shopping for chic fashion accents. From time to time, this shop sets up tables at local events, such as a recent rockabilly concert at The Landing or Jacksonville Riverside Wine Festival in Five Points to get the word out about their trendy store. Over time, they hope to sell their unique items online or through additional store locations.

These owners like the camaraderie of area business people who meet monthly and strive to help each other be successful in Five Points. They also show support for local charities by donating store gift cards. Drake and Carlisle love to interact with people. “We love to entertain and we’re always good for a laugh,” smiles Carlisle. Spontaneous by nature, they surprise their customers with specials on Facebook or through unplanned street flyer campaigns. Gift wrap for your purchases is always free.

As the holidays roll around, if you’re looking for a unique item for that hard to please friend or family member, visit Subculture, where fashion meets fun, at 1009 Park Street, Five Points, 904-619-7446 or friend them on Facebook.

-Bridges DelPonte, bridgesdelponte@yahoo.com (e-mail)/ http://www.bridgesdelponte.com(website)

Blossom’s is an antique, gift and accessories store located at 1843 N. Liberty Street in the Springfield home of Margy Feldmann, owner & proprietor. It’s one of a growing number of new businesses springing up in Springfield…a trend back to the ”cottage industry” and away from the vast concrete jungle we know as the “mall”.  It is small businesses like Blossom’s which add to the fabric of the community in Springfield and Jacksonville generally.

As each new cottage business opens in Springfield, owners and friends work hard to improve the surrounding area and to welcome new people into the community as customers and maybe, down the road, as neighbors! This trend could spread to improve our community block by block, to showcase the Springfield neighborhood as a place to live and work. Meanwhile, the business owners have the luxury of working in their own home, setting their own hours, and enjoying the creativity of the business they select to pursue.

Blossom’s Shabby Chic is open daily from 2-5 pm and by appointment by calling 443-822-1343(Please call ahead on the weekend). The atmosphere is friendly and eclectic with treasures ranging from high end antique furniture showpieces and fine English bone china to funny cocktail napkins and candleholders. A beautiful hand-painted underwater mermaid scene (shown in photo) is another special piece.

Painting by Joan Purcell

Modern to antique and high-end to affordable—there is something for everyone. The fun part is the clothes rack with vintage full length and short fox and mink furs, evening dresses or vintage designer blouses, slacks, skirts, sets, etc.

Margy had thought about opening a business of her own of one type or another most of her life; but it wasn’t until a series of events transpired that she made it happen. She had just experienced yet another series of unfortunate events when her friend, Susan Noonan, announced the opening of her own cottage business, Springfield Arts & Antiques. With Susan as an example of taking such a bold step, Margy was ready to follow suit.

“It took exactly one month, from start to finish, to open the business, thanks to the guidance and support of my dear friend Susan,” Margy says. Susan demonstrated the necessary courage to take that first step and showed me step-by-step what needed to be done. “Our speed had a lot to do with necessity and the up-coming holiday season. But if it hadn’t been for Susan, I doubt that I would have been able to accomplish this. It’s this kind of friendship that makes Springfield the best place in the world to live.”

Susan and Margy, both on the Board of the Springfield Improvement Association and Woman’s Club, are planning to roll out an educational program in concert with local banking and other institutions in early January to assist and support women (and men, too) who wish to start a  business. Keep an eye out for more information on this series.

Many of the items were passed down from Margy’s parents and grand-parents while others she collected on her own. Some treasures have been placed with Blossom’s on consignment. All are waiting for you–window shopping or serious holiday gift-buying makes no difference.  Come take a look and see for yourself because Blossom’s has something special for you!

    In an interconnected workplace, it’s becoming easier to connect, collaborate, and socialize. After all, two (or three) heads are better than one. While the workplace is becoming more interactive, mobile workers are looking for ways to connect easier and more efficiently. A mobile worker can face issues not known to the cubicle crew. For example, it takes a mobile worker eight minutes from the time they sit down to become actively engaged in work. Laptop bags, coffee mugs, iPods, cell phones…it can take a while to set up shop. In addition, a mobile worker that calls Starbucks home faces a series of other issues…find a table, get a coffee, set up. What can be done to make this easier without a clear definition of space, and make working on the go more effective?

    Coworking is a style of work which involves a shared working environment, yet independent activity. This concept gives you an on-hand network of collaborators and fellow brain stormers, as well as workspace and collaboration areas. Downtown Jacksonville will have it’s own co-work space with the opening of CoWork Jax, scheduled to open by the end of the year. After scouring the downtown landscape for the perfect co-work venue, the organization decided on the second floor of the historic Woolworth Building at the corner of Forsyth and Main, upstairs from Perdue, Inc. CoWork Jax plans to offer memberships that allow individuals or small companies to utilize workspaces for the day or for an extended period of time. The company will also offer small office spaces, as well as conference rooms with HD web conferencing and whiteboards, along with a host of collaboration specific areas developed by Turnstone and Steelcase furniture.

    The need for co-working in Jacksonville’s urban core is clear. “Downtown is a great place to bring that passion and energy together in a vibrant core,” said Elton Rivas, co-founder of Zero Confines and CoWork Jax. “We are excited to provide a shared workspace for freelancers and small businesses to grow and believe the impact could be exponential in nature.” CoWork Jax plans to announce membership and pricing information information with an opening date soon.

     Research into the habits of mobile workers led to the development of the SOTO II worktools, a collection of organizational and productivity tools by Details, a division of Steelcase.  Designed to enhance the experience of mobile workers, the SOTO II collection by Details will be launching during the winter of 2011.  “Mobile workers want to connect quickly and get working fast.  SOTO II products encourage and allow this behavior by providing the right tools to welcome to the user to the workspace,” says Jody Hanson, general manager of Details.  “Connectivity, privacy, access to personal items and quick access to power are equally important to making a mobile worker feel comfortable.” Learn more about their new collection at http://details-worktools.com/sotoii.

    Meeting space, HD web conferencing, color printing- perhaps co-working works better for your business than the back table at your local coffee shop. All this for almost the same price as your cappuccino and muffin. This is a great opportunity to GoLo to support the local business landscape…and help your own business grow.

Grand Opening and Open House Thursday, September 1 from 4:00-8:00pm. Springfield Antiques & Gifts , at 1334 Hubbard Street. This lovely shop is located in a beautiful Victorian home in the Springfield Historic District in Jacksonville. As well as fine antiques and giftware, you will also find fun jewelry, Victorian lamps and shades, stationary and even plants.  If you love antiques, and craftsmanship, and the styles of bygone eras, you’ll love this unique shop.

In addition to furniture and home accessories, there are specialty gift items which include: Lady Jayne soaps, ‘FreshScents’ fragrance sachets by WillowBrook, stationary from Victorian Trading Co., and quite a collection of reasonably priced jewelry.

A special feature of Springfield Antiques & Gifts is custom lamp shades. There are several shades on display, and the options of fabric and trim are endless.

Springfield Antiques & Gifts regular hours are Tuesday through Friday from 12:00 noon till 6:00pm and Saturdays from 12:00 noon till 5:00 pm.