A Little About Oolala’s History
01/03/09 22:53
Motivation
At age 50 I had been retired from the Medical field for 3 years and wanted to do something with my life that would be something I truly loved. I knew I loved being around people, creating, shopping, organizing and decorating.
My passion for developing oolala came from the love of shopping for new, unique, and exciting merchandise. I grew very tired of seeing the same things everywhere I went - with over priced, low quality merchandise. I wanted to create a boutique with a mixture of one of a kind merchandise that is affordable and of great quality. So the concept of oolala started and within only a 6 week period with the help and support of my family and friends, this vision became reality.
Opening
With
my husbands support and blessing I started
the process. Keeping a pad and pencil with
me at all times, writing down possible names of
my new passion I had three criteria's to
fulfill. The name of my store had to
be short and catchy, make people
wonder what was inside and most important it had
to allow me change, thus came the
name
oolala.
I registered my oolala name with great conviction without anyone having any knowledge of what I had picked. I did not want to be influenced, after all this was my baby. My Daughter-In-Law, Tanita found oolala’s location and the building was a true diamond in the rough. I had a vision and could see the beauty in this historic 78 year old structure in the Historic Heights with almost 4000 sq feet. Great character, great history, a little rough but oh what a coat of paint, scrubbing, scraping, TLC and hard work from wonderful family and friends can change. In a little more than a month's time my boutique was conceived and I opened my doors at oolala at 833 Studewood on June 5, 2003.
The Years
The first year was absolutely wonderful. I was able to accomplish the mixture of unique and affordable products in the store I had always envisioned. This especially with the help of wonderful local artist that have become very dear friends and one very important creator, my mother. My mother was a seamstress and we spent wonderful agonizing hours at the sewing machine creating different items for oolala. She sewed for the store and had a hard time keeping up with the demand but our customers loved that we made some of the products our self.
In 2004 I received devastating news: The road in front of my store was going to be redone with new sewer and water lines. For the following 2 years and 1 month the road construction created a ghost town atmosphere and meant the end of some local businesses. Thanks to my wonderful customers support I came thru this construction period alive, a little bruised and battered, but nevertheless alive and kicking.
I am very proud to say oolala is still here and continuously changing. What will remain constant is the mixture oolala has to offer: eclectic, unique, creative, affordable, quality and fun.
Thanks go to...
I would like to acknowledge some extremely key people and thank them for their love, support and sweat equity in making oolala what it is today, but most of all believing in me.
Without all of the above my dream and passion of oolala would not have ever been born or survived. What a wonderful rewarding journey it has been. I look forward to many years of this fantastic journey continuing and sharing my great love for oolala with you.
At age 50 I had been retired from the Medical field for 3 years and wanted to do something with my life that would be something I truly loved. I knew I loved being around people, creating, shopping, organizing and decorating.
My passion for developing oolala came from the love of shopping for new, unique, and exciting merchandise. I grew very tired of seeing the same things everywhere I went - with over priced, low quality merchandise. I wanted to create a boutique with a mixture of one of a kind merchandise that is affordable and of great quality. So the concept of oolala started and within only a 6 week period with the help and support of my family and friends, this vision became reality.
Opening
I registered my oolala name with great conviction without anyone having any knowledge of what I had picked. I did not want to be influenced, after all this was my baby. My Daughter-In-Law, Tanita found oolala’s location and the building was a true diamond in the rough. I had a vision and could see the beauty in this historic 78 year old structure in the Historic Heights with almost 4000 sq feet. Great character, great history, a little rough but oh what a coat of paint, scrubbing, scraping, TLC and hard work from wonderful family and friends can change. In a little more than a month's time my boutique was conceived and I opened my doors at oolala at 833 Studewood on June 5, 2003.
The Years
The first year was absolutely wonderful. I was able to accomplish the mixture of unique and affordable products in the store I had always envisioned. This especially with the help of wonderful local artist that have become very dear friends and one very important creator, my mother. My mother was a seamstress and we spent wonderful agonizing hours at the sewing machine creating different items for oolala. She sewed for the store and had a hard time keeping up with the demand but our customers loved that we made some of the products our self.
In 2004 I received devastating news: The road in front of my store was going to be redone with new sewer and water lines. For the following 2 years and 1 month the road construction created a ghost town atmosphere and meant the end of some local businesses. Thanks to my wonderful customers support I came thru this construction period alive, a little bruised and battered, but nevertheless alive and kicking.
I am very proud to say oolala is still here and continuously changing. What will remain constant is the mixture oolala has to offer: eclectic, unique, creative, affordable, quality and fun.
Thanks go to...
I would like to acknowledge some extremely key people and thank them for their love, support and sweat equity in making oolala what it is today, but most of all believing in me.
- My Husband, David - Thanks for letting me do it my way, cooking dinner every night and having the patience for letting me build my own business.
- My Mother, Irene - Thanks to her understanding, compassion, shoulder to cry and laugh on, creativity and sewing. My Mother was my best friend and mentor in life. She fought a hard, courageous battle with cancer and went to be with our Heavenly Father on Jan. 29, 2010. I miss her every day; she still lives in my heart and soul. I Love You Mama.
- My Son, Keith - Wonderful creative graphic skill, marketing, and not letting me do it my way.
- My Daughter In Law, Tanita - Getting me started, arranging the store, creativity, marketing, and knowledge of getting a store off the ground.
- My Beautiful Grandchild, Isabella - What a joy she has brought even on the hardest days - one day she might be running oolala herself. She already thinks this is her store and likes to be behind the counter 'helping'.
- My Website Designer / Creator, Christoph - What a wonderful eye and vast amount of knowledge, compassion, and willingness to share. Thank you for pushing me and staying on top of things but most of all for your undying patience.
- All my friends for 'pitching' in.
- My fantastic customers for keeping oolala alive.
Without all of the above my dream and passion of oolala would not have ever been born or survived. What a wonderful rewarding journey it has been. I look forward to many years of this fantastic journey continuing and sharing my great love for oolala with you.