Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob Heivly.
Hi Jacob, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
The Fuzzy Needle was started in Wilmington, NC by my good friend and now business partner, Tim Jarman (2019). Offering media and ephemera of the past, I’ve tried to maintain the same atmosphere while taking advantage of the autonomy that Tim gave me when opening the second location. I had a general framework of how I would run the store, and over the last year I’ve been having a lot of fun personalizing our place in Durham. A few months in we invited Flying Apple Vintage to curate a selection of vintage clothing, which has helped our space become a one-stop-shop for all things vintage. While operating our retail business we have also invested our efforts towards hosting live music, readings, workshops, and art exhibitions (after hours).
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I think there are shared challenges with any small business, but I am very grateful it’s been a fairly smooth road. Durham always seems to make an effort to support its local brick and mortars.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
From the shop’s beginning in 2024, we’ve been trying to find and share a unique collection of music, books, and clothing at an accessible pricepoint . Our crew at the shop loves used vinyl and we primarily focus on having a diverse offering of titles spanning multiple genres. We also love new vinyl and work directly with independent record labels and artists to support their work and share it with our audience. We are equal part bookstore, and in this endeavor, we take the same approach. We take pride in our curation of first editions, original pressings, and a diverse selection of media, classics and niche. Our inventory is refreshed weekly which has helped us establish relationships with our returning customers and guide how we handpick our stuff.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I’m inspired by the thriving local music and writing scene here in North Carolina. We’ve been so lucky to host many of these independent artists responsible for shaping the cultural identity of this area. Out of anything I would consider to draw inspiration from, I think the most relevant to me would be whats closest to home. I’m always eager to hear from the people who motivate me to run my business and to take into account my neighbors first and foremost.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thefuzzyneedle.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/fuzzy_needle
Image Credits
Josh Stuebe
