Community Highlights: Meet Zoe Jurusik of Auggie & Zo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zoe Jurusik.

Hi Zoe, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
During the pandemic, I was left at a crossroads when businesses were reopening from quarantine in 2020. As a former bartender, I knew the restaurant I used to work for was doing everything they could to have a safe environment, but it was still a greater scale of customer service than I wanted to be in.

At the time, my sister whom I live with was our landlord’s longtime nanny. Knowing that our landlord was immune-compromised, I wasn’t willing to put both lives and livelihood in jeopardy, so I went to the drawing board. I remember sitting at the dinner table with my sister shooting around ideas of what I could do.

All of a sudden she goes, “Open up a retail store!” I had worked in and out of retail and restaurants and have always loved fashion, so when she said that it just sparked everything. I scouted a container in the up-and-coming Cargo District and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect because the only container available at the time was opening up to rent at the end of the same week.

I signed the lease the next day, spent the month of August working on the space, and opened a shop on September 12th, 2020! It’s a 40′ shipping container and when I opened up I only had enough money to outfit and purchase inventory for the front section of the store which is a little under half of the container.

As time went on and sales came in I was slowly able to expand and have shopping throughout the entire container! I even built a little deck outside of the shop with patio chairs to relax and shop!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has been far from smooth! It’s just me at the shop (besides my golden retriever Auggie)!

So keeping up with buying products, working the store, social media, updating/changing the website, inventory, banking, sales tax payments, and just all the things is really overwhelming!

Retail fluctuates heavily, so I always have to check myself and try to not get down when things get quiet and sleepy and there are low sales days! Just all the struggles a small business owner faces, I’d say! It’s such a learning process and just trying to make sure all my t’s are crossed and i’s dotted!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Auggie & Zo is a shipping container boutique located in the Cargo District of Wilmington, NC! Auggie is my 6-year-old golden retriever and I’m Zoe! It’s a play on an A-to-Z concept where you’ll find a little bit of everything and anything in the store at any given time.

Plus, with Auggie’s name on the store, it’s an excuse to bring him to the shop with me! You’ll find anything from women’s and men’s clothing and accessories to Auggie’s section of dog bandanas and leashes to home decor, candles, and more! What sets me apart from others first and foremost, is the fact that the store is inside a 40′ shipping container!

It’s such a cool re-purposing concept and I’m really grateful to be a part of such a unique, up-and-coming area! I’m really proud of everything about my store because I truly feel like everyone can shop in it, either for themselves or for someone else. I hope anyone reading this will check it out and add it to the list of places they want to visit!

Auggie’s usually at the shop on the weekdays, too and he is the best greeter!

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Just reach out with any ideas for collaboration!

Social media gets hectic so email is always the better option for communicating. I don’t often do any events at the store, but usually try to do a handful of pop-ups around town if I can manage it from the store! For support, you can follow on Instagram, tell friends and family members about the store, and shop if you want to!

The store is located in Wilmington, but I would say roughly 60%-70% of it is also online and on Instagram, so there are multiple shopping outlets!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.auggieandzo.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/auggieandzo
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/auggieandzo