Spirit of Change - Winter 2008

business page, usually one she bypassed quickly. One sentence in the lower left hand corner caught her eye: “For women who want to start their own businesses, call Trinity College Women’s Small Business Program. Orientation Night is free and open to all.” Julie phoned. The orientation was in one week and the four-month course was beginning in a few months.

During the next months as she fantasized about resigning from her nurse manager role, she moved ahead in the research and planning phases of this new unique business. Turning fantasy into reality is often thwarted, however, not this time. Her next cue came quickly. She was told by her superior that her job was to be eliminated. She was being considered for a higher level administration position. This was a powerful affirmation for Julie that this vision was not to be dismissed. There was no turning back. It was time to make the leap of faith into the unknown. It was time to jump. And jump she did.

By the end of 1993, she had completed a four-month intensive business course and had an 84-page business plan in her hand complete with research, marketing, customer analysis and financial projections. Four bank interviews later, repeatedly hearing, “Very few start-up businesses make it to five years, especially retail, especially owned by women,” Julie found the right banker with the right financing. Start-up funds were secured with a SBA loan.

It was a year from the time of the vision until Julie and Barbara were ready and able to commit to a lease for a storefront. Throughout that entire year, the storefront Barbara and Julie wanted miraculously remained vacant. They worked like beavers, learning how to shop for merchandise, paint, haul slate rocks for the Angel Fountain, and coax family and friends into helping their mission. Finally they were ready to open the doors. On 100% blind faith.

CONNECTIONS ANDRELATIONSHIPS

Peace of Mind Emporium opened on July 4, 1994. It was one of three
businesses in a three-condo building. Word-of-mouth spread. “This was

the store where there were nurses…” And it was amazing to see how many different kinds of customers came through the doors: women, men, college and high school students, nuns, teachers, counselors, police, tourists, health professionals, correction officers, mayors, grief-stricken parents, divorcing partners, people living with cancer, hospice workers, and stressed, overworked professionals, moms and dads. Each customer immediately noticed the “aaah feeling” as they came through the door, and usually left feeling more relaxed and hopeful.

Within three months holistic health classes were started. Massage services began within six months. Classes in the loft space grew to 40-50 people, which were designed to hold about 20 people. Nancy Snow, LPN, was hired as an additional nurse, a wonderful colleague and Julie’s former star employee from the hospital. Shortly thereafter another highly respected colleague joined the retail and resource staff, Becky Bush, RN, former nurse manager of the hospital cancer unit, nurse educator at the local college and hospice nurse. These four nurses were a powerful force, working tirelessly and joyfully, bringing their many years of health, counseling, and teaching expertise together. Each customer coming through the door was welcomed with a smile and knowing nod.

Some of the most wondrous experiences during this journey were the friendships that developed between the staff of Peace of Mind Emporium and artists, vendors and customers. For instance, simply playing a sample music CD for customers resulted in Julie contacting Los Angeles-based international Steinway recording artist Steve Hall. A phone friendship developed, and over the course of a year, plans were made for the LA-based artist to come east with his band for a fall concert in Vermont. So successful was this event that the group continued to travel to Rutland each October for the next five years. As a result of this connection, over $12,000 was raised for the Rutland County Women’s Shelter.