Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Salzman
Hi Melissa, 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?
I started out as a customer at Lovelyarns, then started teaching classes, after some time I got some part-time hours, and then in 2016 before my husband and I left for an artist residency program in the Caribbean, I made an off hand comment to Sue, the original Mrs Lovely, about how “I would love to come here everyday” and she remembered that! So then right before we left she told me she had a business proposal for me if/when we came back.
Well, we did return and I asked her what this mystery proposal was. She said, “I have a deal for you that’s so good it’ll make you drop your panties!” and it turned out to be an offer for me to buy the shop!
I was stunned. It was not what I was expecting at all! So I told her that I would have to discuss it with my husband. He said I should go for it! I had always wanted to run my own shop and this was a huge opportunity that I should take. So, I did! Sue and I began to go over the details of day to day shop running and figuring out how the transition would work and then my grandmother passed away.
My gram was a knitter in her prime and before she died she was thrilled about my new path as a local yarn store owner. She had left money me and my cousins in her will and I used mine to purchase the business outright. Here we are today 8years and 3 months later and I get to think of my beloved Gram everyday I go to work.
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?
Small business ownership is rarely without its challenges and there’s definitely a learning curve when first starting out. Covid was a crazy time for everyone and it changed aspects of how we do business at the shop. We had to immediately pivot to become an online shop, which we still have, as well as free delivery services within 5 miles of the store, curbside pick-up, and free shipping. We also launched a YouTube channel so we could continue to offer instruction and do virtual video tours of our trunk shows that feature local and regional hand-dyers.
We’ve been impressed with Lovelyarns, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a small local yarn store located in the historic Hampden neighborhood. We specialize in locally and regionally hand-dyed yarn and fiber for knitting, crochet, spinning, felting and weaving. We teach an array of classes for all levers of crafter in knitting, crochet, spinning, weaving, needle felting and we even have macramé and basketry classes!
We also have a wonderful community of fiber folks who support the shop and come to our bi-weekly “Sip’n’Stitch” for social stitching time. All social stitching events at the shop are free and open to everyone so come join us!
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Be kind to yourself and give yourself some grace to make mistakes because you will. Also give yourself time away from work for your mental health. It’s ok to not be at your shop 24/7 it will still be there when you return. When you can afford it, get some good employees to help you out and treat them like family because that’s what they will become.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lovelyarns.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovelyarns/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovelyarnslys
- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/lovelyarns.bsky.social
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/lovelyarns/
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/ISxObyJHGZ
- Other: https://www.ravelry.com/shops/lovelyarns
