Business Review – July 2008

Napa Valley Marketplace Magazine Business Review July 2008.

The Playful Garden
by craig smith

Mimi Glavin, owner of The Playful Garden at 1001 Caymus (west of Main, near Shackford’s and The Learning Faire), tried to retire once, but it just didn’t work out as envisioned. She and Mike, her husband of thirty-nine years, sold their business, bought the big RV, and hit the road. After two weeks, they were bored to tears. “We missed contact with people, and realized we really like working,” Mimi laughed, as she often does. “So, we chose to give up retirement.”

Mimi didn’t just want another job. She wanted to pursue work that is related to her passions in life, which include an appreciation of art and gardening. She combined those two, knew humor was also an important ingredient, and created a mission statement for her new venture, The Playful Garden: “To bring laughter and playfulness into the home and garden.”

The Playful Garden begins to express that statement before entering the store, where guests are greeted by a 5 ½ foot tall copper, overall-clad gardening frog (for which Mimi plans to hold a naming contest at some point). The frog stands next to a “succulent chair,” which Mimi describes as being for “people with flair.” (You have to see it to understand!) Step inside the store, and be greeted by one of the many whimsical items she carries – an extremely realistic looking, croaking frog. In a juxtaposition The Playful Garden pulls off seamlessly, objects like the frog are mixed with beautiful art pieces, many of a playful nature, that would look good in any garden or home. Sprinkled throughout is a unique array of garden furniture and fountains.

More than just a garden shop, The Playful Garden is also part art gallery, although a relaxed, accessible one. The Playful Garden features lots of one-of-a-kind pieces from artists worldwide. Objects come from as close as Nevada City and San Luis Obispo, and as far away as Brazil and France. Nothing in the store can be found anywhere else in Napa. Visitors will not feel like they are in a gallery at all, but in a delightful, easy to enjoy environment. Regardless of how you feel walking in, you are likely to leave smiling.

The idea for The Playful Garden was born four years ago. Two of Mimi’s sisters, who live in the state of Washington, are accomplished gardeners and artists. The three siblings used to talk about how they could all start a business together producing specialty gardening items. Although Mimi hadn’t planned on opening a retail store, it seemed like the only practical way to accomplish their dream, given the geographic distance between them.

After “retirement,” the Glavins moved to Napa to be closer to their first granddaughter. Mimi spent two years searching for artists and merchandise while looking for just the right place for her business. One section of The Playful Garden features art by renowned mosaic artists Solomon Bassoff and Domenica Mottarella of Faducci. Local artist Kathy Dennett, who created the mandalas adorning the walls of the restaurant Pearl, also shows there. The work of a Tucson based artist, who only makes whimsical bird nest sculptures, can be found at The Playful Garden. A Martha Stewart listed faux bois artist has provided pieces. And the work of several of her talented family members and friends, which sells like hot cakes, is evident throughout.

There are some pieces Mimi won’t sell. A beautiful stained glass parrot window one of her brothers created is one of them. Another, a display table that the Grateful Dead often sat around to play music, also stays.

Mimi is the first to admit that she was very nervous about getting into retail, something she has never done before, and says she couldn’t have done it without the support of her husband Mike. Taking big chances, like the time she zip lined in Belize, has always paid personal dividends, and she knew she had to open the store. Like other new adventures, it has been a very positive experience that has helped her grow as a person. Mimi encourages everybody to do something, “that takes them out of their comfort zone, whether for a day or for life.” She isn’t suggesting that everyone open a store. It could be doing something for your community or city, but Mimi suggests to people, “be proud of what you are doing. It always extends outward.”
The Playful Garden is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30AM to 5:30PM. Call 258-8880. Better yet, stop in.

http://www.napavalleymarketplace.com

Business Review – May 2008

Napa Valley Marketplace Magazine Business Review May 2008.

Think! Toner and Ink
By Kristen Kendrick

There is one job in every office or business that nobody wants. Your boss doesn’t want it so he asks your superior to do it, your superior doesn’t want it so he asks you to do it. You don’t want it so you ask the new guy to do it. This job is a menial, time consuming task, but one necessary to keep your business running. I am, of course, talking about the inventorying, stocking and re-supplying of ink and toner products. This job is especially irksome if you run out of ink or toner in your printer/fax/copy machine while knee deep in an important project. If you ever wished you could just call someone who could help you in your time of need, there is now, that “someone”. This scenario has happened to me more than once, and that is the reason I am overjoyed with the “Ink on the Spot” program from our local Think! Toner & Ink store.

Nick Cavanaugh and his wife Kim, owners of Think! Toner & Ink have developed a program to ensure that businesses never again run out of ink and toner supplies. “Ink on the Spot” harkens back to the good old days when milkmen delivered fresh milk every morning. Nick will personally come to your business, take an inventory of all your printing devices and their expected usage, then tailor a program that includes enough on- site stock to keep your business self sufficient for a predetermined amount of time. Because Think! Toner & Ink is local and conveniently located in Downtown Napa, Nick is able to come back to your business on regular service intervals to make sure you never have an “I could have sworn I ordered more!” moment again. The pricing from Think! Toner & ink is another bonus. With a savings of up to 65% on some items you may be surprised to find how much money you can keep in your pocket. They also offer parts and a full repair service that will come to you should your printer or fax machine feel a bit under the weather.

Service and quality are two things on which Think! Toner and Ink refuses to compromise. All Think! Toner & Ink’s products are of the highest quality and with Ink on the Spot, the stock management and delivery are free. Think! Toner & Ink is not an ink cartridge refilling source (the quality of products that are merely refilled and not remanufactured is not as high). Think! Toner & Ink uses contracted industrial remanufacturing companies that don’t just refill your ink or toner cartridge. They pull them apart, then rebuild your cartridges and make them like new. First they are inspected, cleaned, and worn parts and dirty ink sponges and screens are replaced. Cartridges are then recharged with ink or toner and fully tested before being repackaged and sent out. All of this is done in the clean rooms of state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, not in the back of a store. Nick will gladly pick up your empty cartridges.

Nick and his wife Kim have been in the ink business in Napa for about a year now and are pleasantly surprised by the community’s commitment to buying local. “We are very happy with the way we have been taken in by our community”, Nick says with a smile. One of the major advantages of doing business at Think! Toner and Ink as a walk-in customer is the convenience. Everything you need is right behind the counter and there’s no waiting in long lines. You don’t need to bring in empties and, because Nick and Kim know their stuff, any product questions are answered without having to be redirected to someone else in another department like the big box stores.

Using “Ink on the Spot” for your business is a no-brainer! Never run out of ink again. Receive Grade A service and have quality products delivered to your office. Call today and have Nick come by and make life a little easier for you. Then spend your valuable time getting to more important business needs.

http://www.napavalleymarketplace.com

Business Review – May 2008

Napa Valley Marketplace Magazine Business Review May 2008.

The Learning Faire
By Craig Smith

Thirty years ago, Lana Stanley and Sandy Jones made one of the biggest decisions of their lives, and opened the Learning Faire toy store. It was a well thought out and adventurous move for the two stay-at-home moms, but the business has been successful and is considered a community resource by many Napa residents.

Now the two partners have made another decision – to retire from their business.

“We still love it and it’s still fun, but it’s time to do something different,” said Stanley.

“I have four grandchildren, and I want to spend time with them, take some classes and try other things,” said Jones. “This has been wonderful, but it’s time for the next chapter.”

Committed to offering quality toys, books and educational games to children up to twelve years in age, The Learning Faire’s clients now include second-generation shoppers – parents who played and learned using Learning Faire games and toys, and grandparents now buying for their grandchildren. “We have always offered merchandise that we considered important in raising children,” said Stanley.

Sandy Jones, originally from Boston, moved to Napa in 1967. She taught school in St. Helena for three years, stopping to raise her two daughters. Lana Stanley, a native Californian, moved to and then back from, Texas, working as a librarian. She moved to Napa in 1977, and met Jones and Wendy Duckhorn, who was originally a partner in the business. All three were stay-at-home moms who wanted to work part time. They originally discussed opening a bookstore, but decided that Napa didn’t need another one. Recognizing that children needed interactive toys that would fully engage them, they shifted focus, and The Learning Faire concept began to develop. After much discussion and planning, the store opened in August 1978. Duckhorn left after a few years.

For the business partners, family is and always has been a priority. In the early days, the store was closed all day Sunday and Monday, so that the three young mothers could each work less than two days a week. When Stanley’s last child was born two months after the store opened, she went to work with mom. The partners rarely missed one of their children’s school events.

Initially, the store emphasized teaching supplies, but in response to customer feedback, educational toys became a priority. Today, their extensive product lines include science and nature, arts and crafts, picture books and early readers, wooden toys, Lego and other building toys, puzzles and games, along with dolls and stuffed animals. Price points vary to accommodate as many customers as possible. A Birthday Club program allows children to fill out a card with items they would like to have. “We resisted that as perhaps being too commercial,” smiled Jones, “but, families have loved it and thanked us for it.” Their strongest attribute is their customer service. “When a parent or grandparent asks, ‘What does a five year old want?’ we can easily make many suggestions in any price range,” said Stanley.

The partners say that educational toys are more important today than ever. Children’s lives are more heavily programmed now than in the past, and they need imaginative play. “Toys are the tools of childhood,” said Stanley. Asked what the most important toy is, both answered quickly, “Parents. The time they spend with their children is very important.”

Stanley and Jones both credit their manager of twenty-six years, Judith Irwin, for much of their success, saying her motivation and energy helps them stay enthusiastic. Another employee, “Mom”, is Patte Dunn who has been with them fourteen years. Making their families a priority has been extended to their employees – school activities come first, and work schedules are adjusted accordingly. “The Learning Faire is family oriented in a very real sense,” said Jones.

The women are not in a hurry to leave the business, and are open as to how that will happen. “Ideally, we’ll sell the business to someone who is as passionate about children’s education as we are.” The partners feel an obligation to a community that has been good to them. “When people tell us that we have become a community resource, it’s quite an honor,” said Jones. “We’d like to see that continue.”

The Learning Faire, open seven days a week, is located at 1343 Main Street, and can be reached at 253-1024.

http://www.napavalleymarketplace.com

Business Review – April 2008

Napa Valley Marketplace Magazine Business Review April 2008.

Cake Plate
By Craig Smith

Cake Plate, at 1000 Main Street in Napa (near First) had only been open a few weeks when a cab pulled up and a woman disembarked. Blind, she walked into the store with her dog and asked, “Am I in Cake Plate? I’m in my eighties, and my niece is getting married. I would love something special.”

Cake Plate owner Lindsay Kroll began showing her dresses. Kroll described the colors, drawing attention to those that would look good on the woman, as both explored the designs with their hands, feeling for fabrics, necklines, buttons and special features. They picked out four, and the woman began trying them on. She herself knew when something wasn’t quite right. Likewise, she and Kroll both knew instantly when she had found the perfect outfit. The woman loved the dress, but was worried that the cost of the dress and the turtleneck that complemented it perfectly were just out of her price range. Kroll had a solution.

“It was early in the day and she was my only customer. I locked the door, and she and I took the dress across the street to Mervyn’s, where she found a great piece that brought the outfit together for her. She looked fabulous,” she said.

Kroll had a slightly different twist on playing dress-up as a little girl. She’d organize everything, get her friends and sisters to play with her. Kroll always played storeowner. She’d pick out dresses for everyone else, and then ‘sell’ them to the other girls.

Kroll opened Cake Plate on October 1st, 2007, and is now living her childhood fantasy. Asked to describe the business, she smiled. “You are in my dream. Cake Plate is for women who appreciate classic, contemporary, sophisticated fashion.” Kroll herself has a great sense of fashion, and doesn’t believe in selling a dress unless the woman “looks fabulous and feels pretty” in it. But that’s just part of what Cake Plate is.

One of Kroll’s goals was to create a comfortable place for women who might not have anything particular in mind, or might just want a place to escape. As the mother of two, she appreciates a place where she can just relax. Customers occasionally come in with something older from their closet, asking if they can still wear it or what it might take to make it work. Kroll welcomes them all. If a woman is buying an outfit for a particular function, she and the staff keep track of what the event is so they don’t sell the same outfit to someone else also attending that function. She’s surprised when people remark on her great customer service. To Kroll, it’s just the right way to do things.

Kroll had a couple of forks in her career path to Cake Plate. After graduation, she taught kindergarten and second grade. She left to join Vintage Bank, using her teaching skills to develop training programs in Human Resources.

Kroll wanted to open a store in 2002, but she wanted to open in downtown Napa, but her market research told her it wasn’t the right time. When she found out that Vintage Bank was going through a merger in January of ’07, she looked into it again. “My husband told me to write a business plan. I think he thought that would put me off,” she smiled, “but I bought some software and got started. I interviewed other shop owners, designers I liked – anybody I could think of for research.” When she took the completed business plan to the bank, they laughed. “It was a real corporate approach, kind of overkill. But they approved it immediately.” After a family pow-wow with her parents and husband Erich, she decided to go for it.

Kroll had a two-foot high stack of pictures she had taken from fashion magazines, and made two piles – “fabulous” and “not so fabulous.” She literally called every designer from the “fabulous” stack and asked if she could carry him or her in Cake Plate. The lines she ultimately chose are classic and contemporary, such as Milly. She also carries some new lines, including Kirribilla, designed by two women in San Francisco and offered only at a store there and Cake Plate. She carries a Napa jeweler, Mollymdesigns, (McGraph) of Napa, and Carolyn Rasmussen. New spring lines will include Kate Spade, Orla Kiely, Paul & Joe Sister, and Alice & Olivia. She will continue to rotate lines in and out, always focusing on clothes and accessories that can be worn here in Napa and complement a Napa lifestyle.

As to the name, Cake Plate? “I’ve collected vintage cake plates forever, and gave them as gifts. Cake Plates are what you use to show off your prettiest treasures, and that’s what we do.”

Joining Kroll in the store is Maria Gomez, who has a great sense of fashion and of people. “Maria gets so many compliments. People love working with her.” Stop in and visit – even if just to escape for a while. Cake Plate is open seven days a week. (707) 226-2300.

http://www.napavalleymarketplace.com

Business Review – March 2008

Napa Valley Marketplace Magazine Business Review March 2008.

The Arrangement
By Craig Smith

For Terry Brown, owner of The Arrangement at 821 Coombs Street, the decision to move to America was literally decided by a coin toss.

Terry was living in Northern England. She had two sisters who were married, one living in Fairfield and one in Australia, both of whom had sent Christmas cards bragging about the terrific weather and great lifestyle at each location. The weather in England, to put it mildly, was awful.

“Let’s emigrate,” Terry said to her mother. Neither cared which place they chose, so a coin was tossed and it came up America. They packed up and moved in 1963.

“I’m so thankful that we ended up here,” Terry says.

Terry had just completed a three-year apprenticeship to become a journeyman hairdresser and thought that with her years of training, getting a job here would be easy. However, she soon discovered that she needed a license first, so she went to cosmetology school for nine months. During a student competition, she met a salon owner who was impressed with her technique and hired her. Terry worked at several salons over the years, and became good friends with two co-workers, Lena Beal and Wendy Bosson. The three used to help Barbara Wiggins, owner of the Mustard Seed clothing store, stage fashion shows. They would talk over wine of how much fun it would be to all go into business together. Things got serious and they began looking for a location.

Their Realtor showed them several places, but Terry’s favorite was just as bad as it was good. The site had been a tractor store, garage and pool hall. The ceiling was yellow with a century’s worth of cigarette smoke. At one time the building was so large it had to be partitioned to form two spaces. The side that Terry liked had no utilities. Still, she could see the potential in the 16-foot walls, tin ceiling and beautiful tiled façade, so they signed the lease.

“I have always been one who loves a challenge, but I really had no idea what I was in for,” she recalls. “I hand-drew a building plan on a piece of paper and took it to the planning department. They were very gracious in that they didn’t laugh (at least not that I am aware).”

Friends pitched in and helped to build the business. “I have so many wonderful memories of watching it transform,” Terry says. The Arrangement opened the day before Thanksgiving in 1985. Sadly, three months later, it flooded, along with the rest of downtown.

“As a result, we had our first of many experiences of sand bagging,” Terry says. “Although it may seem like a complete catastrophe of sorts, I found the situation to be gratifying on so many different levels. As water had risen three and a half feet deep at our windows, neighbors and friends were all there to help. Even strangers would walk by, lend a hand for a while and then move on.”

Partner Wendy Bosson left The Arrangement when she got married, Lena Beal left a few years later and Barbara Wiggins relocated to the Napa Town Center, leaving Terry as the sole owner since the mid-nineties.

Terry saw the changes as an opportunity and expanded her business to include a boutique.

Today, The Arrangement is a strong business and includes a full-service salon, spa and retail boutique. There are ten hair stylists, two manicurists, two estheticians and four part-time receptionists.

Terry credits the staff, some of whom have been with her from the beginning, for much of her success. In fact, when Terry left for Europe on a six-week holiday, as she was walking out the door she realized that she had forgotten to leave a to-do list – but then realized that she didn’t need to.

When asked what she believes to be the success of the business, Terry replied “education, education, education.” She and the staff attend trainings in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The Arrangement specializes in Vidal Sassoon technique and Bumble and bumble (of New York) straight-edge razor-cutting.

On-site, day-long workshops are held and the staff meets regularly to share business and hair-related ideas. One result of this effort is that numerous receptionists have become interested in the business and are now hair stylists themselves.

Terry has volunteered for, and is a past president of, both the Napa Humane Society and the Napa Valley Wildlife Association. She also organized a toy drive at Napa State Hospital for eight years, until the children’s ward was closed.

Terry can’t imagine doing anything else. “I love this industry. It continues to challenge my creativity and growth.”

The Arrangement is open Monday through Saturday until at least 8 p.m. (707) 253-2811.

http://www.napavalleymarketplace.com

Business Review – February 2008

Napa Valley Marketplace Magazine Business Review February 2008.

Baker Street Downtown
By Craig Smith

Baker Street Downtown, at 1018 First Street (just west of Main) is a radically different business than it was when Brenda Roberts bought it in 1986.

“The business was originally on Jefferson near Mary’s Pizza Shack. The store was only 600 square feet, and was strictly a tobacco shop. I was the fourth owner, and I let things run as they had until I got a sense of the business,” says Roberts.

Baker Street is now one of the premier cigar stores on the West coast: for example, it was the first to be allowed to carry Fuente Opus X in the mid ’90s. Today, however, Roberts also carries an extensive line of clocks, women’s purses, men’s and women’s jewelry, flasks, walking sticks and canes, card cases, games, decorative accessories for the home and more. Why all these products as well as tobacco?

“My customers have asked for these things, and I always try to accommodate them. Listening to people who shop with you is the single most important thing a business can do to be successful,” Roberts says. Other factors contributing to her success include staying open at night (“We need to be available when people want to shop,”) and truly enjoying her customers (“We want to provide people with a positive experience in their rushed lives”). Roberts says her staff, which has become like a family, is a large part of the reason people like to shop at Baker Street.

A self-described Air Force brat, Roberts grew up in Colorado and moved to Napa in 1982 to be the production director for KVON. She did on-air work there as well, and is still the voice of Baker Street ads. Roberts left radio to work in a mergers and acquisitions firm in San Francisco, tried modeling for a couple of years and ran a communications firm, but it wasn’t until she had the chance to buy Baker Street that she found her niche.

“I always liked retail and this was the ultimate challenge.”

As a business owner, Roberts was initially shocked at how much there was to do, and says that it never lets up. “I love it, but retail is hard work.” She built the business on Jefferson and opened a second location in St. Helena, which she operated for five years. All the while, she was paying attention to what was going on in downtown Napa, and eventually decided it was time to close the other two locations and open up on First Street.

“I used to say that if you want to kill a business, move it to downtown,” Roberts laughs. “But the changes going on now are amazing. Downtown is a good place to do business, and it’s getting better all the time.”

Roberts was one of the first women to successfully run a tobacco store, and was featured in a 1998 issue of Cigar Aficionado. If anybody is going to have something special, it’s she.

Roberts loves what she does. “Cigars are about relaxation and socialization. I travel a lot, and have met some fascinating people over a cigar. That’s why I do this.”

Although her “off hours” are few, Roberts spends much of her free time volunteering in the community. She’s been a Soroptimist, which she considers to be her number-one commitment, since 1995, and is a past president of that organization. Currently, she is on the board of the Napa Chamber of Commerce and the Napa Downtown Association. The best place to find her, however, is at Baker Street. “It’s a busy life, but I love it.”

Baker Street is open 7 days a week and every evening except Sunday. Call 255-4434 or visit www.bakerstreettime.com.

http://www.napavalleymarketplace.com

Business Review – November 2007

Napa Valley Marketplace Magazine Business Review November 2007.

Ubuntu
By Craig Smith

Sandy Lawrence doesn’t refer to her restaurant, Ubuntu, as a vegetarian restaurant. Like most characterizations, she thinks the term limiting. “Ubuntu is a celebration of vegetable inspired cuisine,” she said. Smiling, she adds, “Our food is well received by omnivores and herbivores alike.” Any characterization of Ubuntu as a restaurant is also going to fall short of the mark because it is also a world-class yoga center. Ubuntu offers over 50 classes a week to beginners and life long practioners alike. The roster of instructors includes both well-known local and international names. (In 2008, Sri Dharma Mittra, and Sharon Gannon & David Life, whose students include rock musician Sting, will be offering several workshops.)

Call Ubuntu what you will, but food critics have raved. Michael Bauer from the SF Chronicle said, “Not since Greens opened in 1979 has a restaurant like this held so much promise. Everything Fox produces has perfect pitch. Yet, what Fox is creating at Ubuntu is truly extraordinary. He’s taking vegetable-based cuisine to a new level.” And, Wine Spectator Online said, “… just one bite of Ubuntu’s vandouvan-spice cauliflower in a cast-iron pot might inspire you to get up and stand in warrior two pose. It’s that good.”

Food for Ubuntu is grown in their own organic, biodynamic gardens, under the direction of curator Jeff Dawson (formerly of COPIA.) Executive Chef Jeremy Fox (Rubicon and Manresa) and his team begin each morning walking through the gardens to choose the day’s fare. Ed Puccio (Plumpjack’s) is responsible for the great wine selection. Pastry chef Deanie Fox (Jeremy’s wife) finishes the perfect meal with the perfect dessert (including a chocolate offering that any serious chocoholic will recognize as to-die-for good.) A meal at Ubuntu should not be considered optional – it’s a must do.

Lawrence is a Miami native who moved to Napa in 1995. In her previous life, she developed conferences to educate investors where to do business in the world. Over a twelve-year period, she hosted 121 large seminars, attracting 2,000 to 6,000 attendees and 100 speakers at each event. The seminars were designed to show attendees the best places on the planet to work in the area of natural resources, and her clients were a virtual Who’s Who in the business world. It was challenging, fun, and required extremely long hours. Her yoga practiced allowed here to balance the travel and work schedule and improve the quality of her life. She sold her business in 2005 and completed her contract with the new owners in 2006.

In recent years, Lawrence invited friends over for what became a regular Thursday night potluck dinner and yoga practice. This Thursday night group was outgrowing her home studio when she and a group of visiting yogis walked down Main Street last summer and saw a For Lease sign in a window. Lawrence looked inside at the beautiful stone structure, and knew immediately she had found the place. She began an ambitious program to bring together a team of talented and experienced restaurant and yoga studio professionals to open Ubuntu.

Lawrence’s vision for Ubuntu is of a world-class destination for food and yoga. She has created a space that holds good energy, and people seem to enjoy just being there. “I love it when one of the staff says this is the best place they’ve ever worked,” said Lawrence. She has indeed created a gem.

http://www.napavalleymarketplace.com

Business Review – August 2007

Napa Valley Marketplace Magazine Business Review August 2007.

Giles Family Chiropractic
By Julie Gordon

As a teenager, Kristen Giles enjoyed figure skating, yet she found it gave her headaches and shoulder problems. She tried physical therapy, acupuncture and medicine but nothing seemed to help. When a friend of hers recommended she go to a chiropractor, she finally began to see some results.

“It made a difference where nothing else had,” she explains. Dr. Giles was so impressed with how much chiropractic work helped her that she decided to go to chiropractic school and now runs her own business in Napa with her husband, Dr. Paul Ruscica.

The couple, who operate Giles Family Chiropractic at 2441 Imola Avenue in Napa, spends their days adjusting people’s spines. A spinal adjustment can help people who suffer from a variety of conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome, back pain, shoulder injuries and knee, ankle and hip problems. It can also help people who have been in car accidents or have fallen off a bike.

“Chiropractic work is non-invasive and you get really quick results,” says Dr. Giles.

To determine whether someone’s spine is functioning normally, Giles Family Chiropractic uses a computerized tool called Insight Millennium that provides a variety of functions.

“The thermography scan will check the balance of your nervous system and the surface EMG checks muscle function and balance. Based on these readings, the computer will display easy-to-read graphs of your particular findings.”

Dr. Giles and Dr. Ruscica have worked with people of all ages. They’ve treated newborns all the way to people in their 90s, she says. In fact, their eight-month-old daughter, Kiera, received a spinal adjustment as soon as she was born.

You don’t need to use as much force when you’re adjusting the spine of someone who is young and don’t need to do it as many times, explains Dr. Giles.

Dr. Giles says one of the rewards of running her business is seeing the positive results in her patients, noticing how their lives and personalities change for the better. “They’re happier when they’re out of pain,” she says. “It actually rewards their entire family.”

Meanwhile, one of the challenges she faces is educating people on the benefits of chiropractic work. “It’s the same as eating organic vegetables. It’s something we should be doing to increase longevity.”

It’s also a challenge to get people to see chiropractic work as more of lifestyle change than a quick fix.

Andrew Davis, president of Napa-based Synergistech Communications, a company that recruits high-tech professionals, has been a Giles Family Chiropractic patient since the spring of 2006. “They’re focused on the education,” he says. “They’ve answered all of my questions and been very detailed in their answers. They’ve been very forthcoming and that has led to my trusting them. I feel like we have owning small businesses in common.”

Davis, who is more than six feet tall, says his long legs have made car and air travel uncomfortable, but thanks to chiropractic work, he’s doing better. His grandfather had spinal problems that were left untreated and he saw the effects of that, he says.

Yountville resident Lisa Pedersen came to Giles Family Chiropractic at the beginning of the year suffering from headaches and now doesn’t have them nearly as often. “They’ve definitely been a life-saver,” she says. “There’s days when no amount of aspirin can do the trick and I’ll go and get an adjustment and be fine. I’ve recommended them to many people who tell me they get headaches or back pain.” Pedersen says she’s even called when she needed an adjustment on a weekend and they’ve opened the doors. “They’re really sweet people.”

Dr. Giles holds a bachelor’s degree in science from the University of Waterloo and Dr. Ruscica holds a bachelor’s degree in biological science from the University of Western Ontario. Dr. Giles also holds a degree in prenatal and pediatric care through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association.

The couple met at Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas TX. She graduated in 2000 and he a year later, in 2001. They dated while they were in school and then decided to start their practice together. Dr. Ruscica, too, decided he wanted to get into the chiropractic field after he found it helped him overcome allergies and chronic strep throat as a teenager.

Drs. Giles and Ruscica are involved in the local community. Dr. Giles visits local elementary schools and talks to kids about how to carry a backpack correctly while Dr. Ruscica visits local high schools and gives presentations on the nervous system. In addition, Ruscica coaches the Vintage High School cheerleading team. Both are in their 30s and involved with Napa Active 20-30 Club. The couple also donates money each month to the National Vaccine Information Center in Virginia.

They are both members of the Chiropractic Leadership Alliance, The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association and the Napa County Chiropractic Association.

When they’re not in the office, the family who lives in Napa with their dog, Dakota, enjoys exercising, skiing and being outdoors.
http://www.napavalleymarketplace.com

Business Review – July 2007

Napa Valley Marketplace Magazine Business Review July 2007.

Abbey Carpets Unlimited
By Julie Gordon

Are you in the market for some new carpet? Do you want to replace your carpeting with hardwood floors? Abbey Carpets Unlimited can help. The full-service flooring store, at 1145 Jordan Lane in Napa, sells and installs carpet and hardwood floors and also laminates, tile and stone, says owner Janice Clifton.

Some people who come into Abbey Carpets are remodeling their home. Others need to replace their carpet because the family dog or a flood has damaged it. The store also attracts people who are selling their homes and want to install new carpet so their homes will sell more easily.

There are several different styles of carpet from which to choose, including textured, Berber and plush, says Clifton, noting that textured is her most popular seller. In terms of fiber, nylon carpet sells the best. “We sell mostly nylon carpet because we believe it in general has the best performance for the most value.”

Wool carpet also is a good option, and the store has an extensive collection of wool carpet as well. “Since nylon prices have increased tremendously in the last few years, wool carpet has become a better value,” Clifton explains. “It’s also the best carpet for customers who want an environmentally-friendly carpet in their home.”

Abbey Carpets gets most of its inventory from Georgia and some from Los Angeles. It takes an average of two weeks from when customers order the carpet until it’s installed. Some in-stock carpets can be installed in less time.

Clifton estimates that about half her business comes from carpet sales and the other half comes from “hard surface” sales. Hardwood and tile make up the biggest portion of the “hard surface” sales. “Hardwood has been a consistently strong product in our market and ceramic tile and natural stone continue to grow,” says Clifton.

Laminate floors also have become more popular over the past few years. “The look and feel of these laminates has greatly improved,” she says. “Many of these laminates have the look of exotic wood including the beveled edge but are more durable than wood for an active family.”

Abbey Carpets shares the purchasing power of more than 700 stores, which enables Clifton to sell her products at reduced prices. The store has 18,000 square feet of space, of which about 10,000 is devoted to showing product. “We have one of the larger stores in the area and are able to show large samples of our carpet and still have a large selection of tile, hardwood and laminate,” says Clifton. “Our tile showroom alone is almost 2,500 square feet.”

The company has 23 employees as well as a group of installers. “I am blessed to have an excellent sales staff and group of installers that try very hard to make the entire experience from choice to installation a pleasant one,” Clifton says. Saleseople don’t work on a commission basis, which provides customers with a relaxing, pressure-free environment.

Clifton, who is on-hand almost daily to give personal assistance to customers, runs the business with her husband Jon. She works on the sales floor, helps with office duties and supports her employees while Jon, who is a technical and mechanical person, keeps all of the computers, printers, vehicles and equipment working.

“It’s a family-owned business and I like that,” says Maureen Paladini, who has been an Abbey Carpets customer for more than 20 years. “I like the idea of the owners being on-site. The staff has been there a long time. They’re extremely knowledgeable about their products. I like the fact that they have upscale products. You don’t have to go outside Napa. Their prices are competitive. The showroom is well set up. You can see all of the goods they have. It’s well displayed. If you’re budget conscious, they can serve that need. I’ve never been unhappy. There’s always someone there who can help you. They’re helpful, but not pushy.”

Two generations of Drew Coburn’s family have worked with Abbey Carpets. “Everyone is polite, professional, well-mannered,” she says. “There’s not a lot of competition (because staff work on a non-commission basis). Everyone has a positive outlook. They know their business. They know their products. Every one of those people is wonderful.”

Joan Pieper turns to Abbey Carpets when she has flooring needs for rental properties she owns in the area as well as her own home. “They live by The Golden Rule, do unto others as you would have done to you,” she says. “They have longevity in their staff. They have excellent installers. They stand behind their products. They are courteous, and above all they are honest. They’re just nice people. I’ve recommended them to everyone I know.”

Clifton points out Abbey Carpets is very involved in the local community. The store donates to nonprofits such as The Boys & Girls Club and Aldea. “The Boys & Girls Club and Aldea are great resources for the youth of our community and we try to give them a great deal of support,” she says. Abbey Carpets also gives area rugs to schools and nonprofits for auctions. “Last year, we gave over 30 rugs to local nonprofits to use in their actions.”

Abbey Carpets actually started out Carpets Remnants Unlimited. Clifton and her dad, John, purchased the business in 1985 from previous owner Pat Sibbett. It worked out perfectly, since Clifton, who has an accounting background, had been the store’s accountant. “My experience as an accountant has been an invaluable help in managing this business,” she says.

http://www.napavalleymarketplace.com

Business Review – May 2007

Napa Valley Marketplace Magazine Business Review May 2007.

DJ’s Growing Place
By Julie Gordon

Spring is here, which means it’s gardening time. If you’re looking for the perfect plants for your garden, DJ’s Growing Place in Napa has just what you need.

Located at 4074 Big Ranch Road, the nursery sells geraniums, annuals, perennials, shrubs, petunias and hanging baskets and many other types of plants. For spring, DJ’s has water lilies and hyacinths. And the good news is a trip there won’t break your bank account. Everything is reasonably priced; you can even find some plants for under $10. “We’re offering a quality product at a fair price,” says Debbie Gore, who operates the nursery with her husband Curt.

DJ’s is unique in that it grows what it sells on-site, explains Debbie. “We’re a grower that’s open to the public. What’s nice about that is your plants are acclimated. It’s going to do better in your garden.”

The plants are grown in a more than 7,500 square foot greenhouse. “We let everyone tour the whole nursery, including the greenhouse,” says Debbie. “People like to come to DJ’s and take their time and walk around. They get to see plants in all different stages.”

Springtime is the busiest time of the year for DJ’s, with the nursery generating between 60% and 70% of its business this time of year. The majority of DJ’s business is repeat and word-of-mouth.

In addition to plants, DJ’s, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, also sells herbs (such as rosemary and lavender) and vegetables.

Sally Wentworth has been coming to DJ’s since it first opened. In the spring, she buys impatiens, cosmos, Dahlberg daisies and profusion zinnias, and in late fall, she buys pansies and snapdragons. “They use the very best,” she says. “Everything is quality. I have complete confidence in everything I buy from them.”

Wentworth says likes that the staff is knowledgeable about what they are selling. “They’ll give me proper direction. They make it fun. I appreciate that I can talk to them about problems and they’ll diagnose it and offer a remedy. The staff is super-friendly. They never make me feel that I’m taking too much of their time. I like the fact that it’s locally-owned and the plants are grown on-premises…They take such care and they have such love for what they are doing. You feel like you’re contributing to nature and their business in one transaction.”

Carolyn Roberts, one of the owners of Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley, is another long-time DJ’s customer and refers many of her clients to the nursery, she says. Roberts really likes plants but admits she doesn’t know much about them. Her husband, Al Sherwood, is a friend of Curt’s. “He and Curt are always sharing tomato seeds and ideas,” she says.

Curt’s family had owned a nursery in Illinois, so he was raised in a greenhouse atmosphere and had always wanted to start a nursery, Debbie explains.

Debbie handles sales for DJ’s while Curt, who likes to have his hands in the dirt, does cuttings and divisions. The nursery’s manager, Michael Meredith, oversees production and handles DJ’s wholesale and commercial accounts. Debbie and Curt’s daughter Danyel, 30, occasionally helps out as well.

DJ’s has a tradition of giving back to the community: The nursery has donated product to schools, nursing homes and Dreamcatchers, Debbie explains.

While the Gores spend their days selling a variety of plants and herbs, for them, the business goes beyond that. It’s a way to publicly remember their son, Dustin James, who was killed by a speeding driver nearly seven years ago. Working with the soil has helped them heal and move on with their lives after their son’s tragic death.

“I don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t start this nursery,” says Debbie.

For more information about DJ’s Growing Place, call 252-6445.
http://www.napavalleymarketplace.com