Living the Dream: Becca Smith
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Name: Becca Smith
Age: 29
Location: Portland, Ore.
Education: B.S. in Organizational Communications, University of Portland
Job Title: Boutique Shop Owner and Managing Member of cheeky b
What She Does: Becca is the behind-the-scenes buyer and often the behind-the-counter gal at cheeky b, a fresh, inspired gift shop filled with everything from fashion-forward handbags to sassy note cards to jewelry from local designers. It’s one-stop gift shopping in Portland’s Pearl District.
How She Got Her Gig: Becca grew up in a family of hardworking entrepreneurs and always wanted to be self-employed. “About two years into an unsatisfying sales job, I realized that opening a shop just like cheeky b felt right,” she says. “From there, I researched and read a lot about the retail business, started talking with other retailers, and wrote a simple business plan.”
Parental Partnership: To get her start, Becca looked to her parents for guidance and support. “The opening of the store is still my most nostalgic memory,” she recalls. “My mom, dad, and I set ourselves up in my office during the ordering, build-out, technology, and technical phases. Keep in mind, my home office is probably 11 by 11 square feet. We crowded in there, each on our own computer, with architectural drawings pinned to the walls and a maze of tabletops with papers everywhere, and got down to business.”
Media Addiction: Keeping up on trends and new products is no easy task. “I can’t get off the Internet. It’s a sickness,” says Rebecca, who spends 30 hours a week at her three-year-old shop in addition to the hours she puts in at home. “I read design blogs, trade-show exhibitor lists, Etsy.com, craft sites, and pretty much anything that I can get a product lead on.”
Retail Therapy: Becca feels successful every time a customer comments on how original her shop is, but on a personal level she’s found fulfillment in finding a career path that suits her. “I am lucky to have discovered this so early in my life,” she says. “That doesn’t mean I will always be in retail, but I know how to make myself happy, I know my strengths and weaknesses, what I enjoy and what I don’t, and I want to make sure to foster my continued happiness with thoughtful choices.”
This Job Is For You if: You’d love to have flexibility and variety in your life, and you love to shop. A shop owner must also be organized, creative, and design-savvy, and have people skills and ambition to grow. “If you know in your heart that you would be a good retailer, you have a good support group, and you’ve educated yourself about the business, then move forward,” says Becca. “But know that this is a numbers game too, and you do have to make money sooner than later.” If Becca is any indication, you’ll certainly have fun doing so. “I love the buying part, shopping on the business’ dollar and not my personal [dollar] and surrounding myself with fun and pretty things every day,” she says.