By Kristi K. Higgins, Staff Writer
The Progress-Index, Petersburg, Va.
WWR Article Summary (tl;dr) Erin Moore’s “She Shed” is open to the public and stocked with all kinds of goodies for purchase including jewelry, clothing and home decor.
DISPUTANTA
Self-proclaimed shopaholic Erin Moore administered her own therapy treatment with her husband Randy’s assistance when, on April 27, they opened the The Southern She Shed on U.S. Route 460.
Having resided in Disputanta for the past 15 years, the Moores selected the location based on their observance that Route 460 has a lot of beach traffic.
When asked what inspired her to open her first gift shop, Erin answered, “My love for shopping. Yes, I’m a shopaholic!”
How did the Moores come up with the name The Southern She Shed?
“I got it from the insurance commercial, ‘Someone burned down Sheryl’s she shed!’ I thought that’s just a perfect name for this business, and I wanted to create a shop that would resemble my ‘she’ shed,” said Erin. “Everyone loves the name…especially all the women! No man cave here! No offense to the guys!”
The Moores transformed the building which includes three rooms filled with a variety of items.
Erin shared, “This cute little building was in much need of some tender love and care, and my husband and I were the perfect match for it.”
The gift shop is stocked with favorite merchandise such as: Simply Southern, Viv&Lou, Prep Obsessed, Mud Pie, Evergreen Inc., and Southern Fried Cotton.
Tee-shirts, pet collars, flags, beach bags, hats, decor (beach, river, lake, farm/country), jewelry and many more items are neatly displayed in a huge room upon entry as well as two smaller rooms that branch off to the side.
According to Erin, Simply Southern, Evergreen Inc., and Shed Collection jewelry are their top three sellers.
“My daughter Lindsey Humphries has been a huge help with all the inventory and start up,” stated Erin. “She comes out and helps me as often as possible, and…of course…is always coming up with more ideas faster than I can get them accomplished,” Erin said with a laugh.
“But, it’s always nice to have fresh eyes on the fashion changes or as Lindsey says… another generation’s taste,” Erin added.
Erin’s best friend Georgette Byrum has also been by her side every step of the way.
“There is no way we could have gotten it all accomplished without Georgette’s endless hours of help,” Erin gratefully stated.
Erin said she enjoys picking out items for the store. “Funny thing is, I tend to forget what I bought so when the boxes roll in, it’s like Christmas everyday!” she said
When is Erin’s next therapy “shopping” session?
“I’ll be heading to the market July 9 in Atlanta, GA. I am going to be bringing back some exciting new merchandise to be announced when I return.”
To keep things exciting, the Moores like to surprise their customers every now and then by running give-a-way contests.
When asked if they are hosting any events or specials soon, Erin stated, “We are planning a Christmas in July event later this month. We want to give all the locals a chance to place orders ahead of time for their custom Christmas shirts and monogrammed gifts.”
The Moores offer complimentary personalized monogramming with the purchase of tee-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and bags.
When asked what it’s like having his wife as a business partner, Randy answered, “My wife and I worked together for over twenty years at Honeywell in Hopewell…so we have always been partners in every way.”
“As far as a business owner…happy wife, happy life,” Randy quipped.
Why should individuals choose The Southern She Shed over others?
Erin stated, “Well,I’d like to think that I have provided an inviting and friendly atmosphere for everyone to stop in and shop or just talk! I know how I like to be treated in a small shop and that is the way I treat all my customers. My goal is for everyone to leave the store with a smile on their face knowing that they found that perfect item for themselves or gift for someone else,” shared Erin.
The Moores also hope to open a small hand-dipped ice cream shop in the little building beside the shop by next summer.
When asked what the community response has been like, Erin answered, “It has been overwhelming and consistent. Everyone comes in smiling and thanking us for opening and wishing us the best of luck!”
The Southern She Shed located at 9909 County Drive in Disputanta is open seven days a week: Monday through Saturday 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday noon to 5 pm. For more information visit www.thesouthernsheshed.com, The Southern She Shed on Facebook or call 804-894-6559.
___
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
