Today we’d like to introduce you to Haley Bunting.
Hi Haley, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In the Fall of 2016, I moved home to Iowa after spending 10 years in Colorado, invested in an old trolley car to turn into a mobile retail shop. By May of 2017 I was on the road, popping into street festivals, large ( and private ) events and markets around Iowa and Illinois being one of the first mobile businesses in the area. I saw the success of mobile shops in Denver, Colorado, I wanted to give it a try someplace where the idea hadn’t been done yet. After two years of seasonally running the mobile shop, doing small ( non-mobile ) pop-up shops through the off months and running an online store, I was more than ready to see if the concept would work in an area like the triangle.
After much research, the overhead of a mobile business outweighed the costs of opening a small brick and mortar shop here in the triangle. I decided to look for a starter space, eventually finding one inside Carr Mill Mall, located in Carrboro, NC, opening outdoors June of 2019. I sold the Mobile shop to a retail shop in Oregon only a few months later. Thankfully surviving the pandemic purely on local support, we were able to expand to a larger shop 3 doors down, opening recently at the beginning of October.
It was extremely sad to let go of the trolley car after the refurbishing work we had put into it, but I am so thankful this is how our story is unfolding.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wish I could say it has been smooth, but I do not want to give a false narrative on being a small business owner during a pandemic nor on being a female entrepreneur. There have been plenty of obstacles, as well as downright challenging moments in owning a small retail shop, however, these challenges have taught meto pay closer attention to the decisions I make for the business and avoid certain situations in the future. During these obstacles, I have learned that it is ok to stand your ground, know your worth, and make sure you are heard when things are not unfolding as promised. Whether that is contracted agreements or something small like inventory mishaps, it is ok to hold those accountable so you as a small business owner are not continually losing these battles just because you are the little guy.
Some of the big obstacles have been things like start-up financials, the continual Covid ” pivot ” , staffing, and marketing.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I love this question. I think at the heart of this business, I am able to be my most authentic, creative self. The person I truly want to show up as everyday. The curation of quality goods, forming new product ideas, finding new makers and sourcing quality goods, I can honestly say I genuinely love my ” day to day ” of curating a specific lifestyle our customers seek. I love to work with my hands creating some of our product, but also, for those who have met me know my mind goes 100 mph with ideas. I love being able to bring at least 1 idea (out of every 10 or so) to life because I own a business that allows an avenue for me to do so. Everyone has extremely different talents and it is incredible to see how a person molds their talents into a job they love. For me, school was never easy nor. did I enjoy sitting still long enough to take anything in. The things I did excel in were problem solving, planning, creative design, handmade artisan works, an organization. It is amazing to me how things have played out in my life and as a new business owner, allowing myself to really push my strengths into my business instead of going ” by the book.”
Some things our shop is known for: curated dry goods, sourced from women artisans around the nation, the attention to detail in colors and monochromatic styling. Our children’s collection featuring many styles seen more in European trends and West Coast styles, this type of styling is also shown in our women’s apparel choices.
We believe in slow fashion. We are working towards sourcing great product from companies who are taking the initiative to change their manufacturing as more new age materials and distribution efforts are becoming available. At this point in time, we are not 100% sustainable, however, we are extremely conscious of how the clothing industry impacts the environment and are actively taking action in the way we do business. Things we are doing to help make changes towards being a more sustainable brand: Choosing (when possible) companies that offer recycled fabric blends or sustainable materials. Requesting non-plastic packaging from our distributors. Using reusable canvas tote bags as our purchase packaging and recycled materials, no plastics, offering a refillable candle service to local customers who purchase our eco-friendly, in-house candle line and supporting small women ran businesses who ideals are aligned with bringing quality goods to customers with limited impact on our environment.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
At an early age I experienced an extremely traumatic family tragedy. The reason I share this is not for the pity but because I know it had a lot to do with how I grew up and what became important to me at such a young age, that still stays extremely important to this day.
I was the child who always found the art supplies and was the professional ” mess-maker ” of the household. Working with my hands/creating was a release (or some would say an escape) of all my emotions for me, at the time not really knowing all of my ” crafting ” was truly a major part of my healing. As I get older, the more I turn to working with my hands, I have noticed it is my release to pain, stress, anger, sadness and is still just as healing for me. Now, when I have ” time to kill ” I find myself always taking on another project, not just to release stress but because I genuinely enjoying having something to work on.
I was also a busy body, played every athletic offering until my schedule was unable to fit anything else, always wanting to be with friends or apart of every team I could be. This also goes hand in hand with the report cards saying ” great student, needs to work on less chit chat with those around her.”
Thankfully, Our parents let us make a lot of our own decisions from a young age, instilling that it was ok to take the less travel paths in life as long as we were happy. For me, that was doing anything and everything to be outside, explore, learn, travel and hopefully not end up in an office.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@shopthirteenwest.com
- Website: www.shopthirteenwest.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopthirteenwest
Image Credits
Libby Jones, Digital Media Manager at Thirteen West
