| Serendipity: Creating Creative Community |
| Articles - Business Feature |
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by: Dustin Heron Urban 1. Noun: a gift or talent for accidentally finding the perfect solution or making a happy discovery. 2. the ability to make unexpected & fortunate discoveries; finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for.” So reads a wall mural at Serendipity’s spacious new location on West Main Street. This yarn and gift store is aptly named. Serendipity carries such unique and clever items that it is a pleasure to simply browse the islands of creative displays, making your own happy discoveries as you go. Whether you are gift shopping or looking for just the right supplies for your next knitting or crocheting project, you will not leave empty-handed. The shelves abound with a full spectrum of quality and novelty yarn colors and hand-dyed pieces; the entire second story is dedicated to Serendipity’s extensive stock of yarn. While it specializes in quality yarns, hip accessories and  small gifts bring a flare and witty humor to the store’s ambience. It is impossible to stroll through Serendipity without chuckling to yourself as you come across various vehicles for witty humor; where else can you find a flask which reads “Oops, I forgot to be good”? The Serendipity experience is certainly no accident. Owner and founder Tami Yinger says that the store’s name was a foregone conclusion. ‘Serendipity’  was a common concept in her family, and “Anyone who knew me knew that the store would be called serendipity.” The store’s success owes to Tami’s ability to create for others the type of fortuitous experience for which she and her family have developed such an appreciation. That combined with Tami’s ten years of retail experience prior to Serendipity’s opening in 2005. But Serendipity is not just a place to discover valuable and agreeable objects. It is also about providing the space for people to make connections. Serendipity offers weekly knitting and crocheting classes for all skill levels, private instruction and a knitting group which meets every Monday from 6-8 pm at Mother’s Bistro on Main Street. In Tami’s words, it is about “creating creative community.” Specifically, Serendipity fosters a creative community of women. “I make it all about women,” she says. “It’s about honoring women… recognizing that a woman can never have too many bags.” For her, helping a woman learn to knit, as she was when I stopped by on an average Wednesday morning, is about more than just passing on a skill. It’s about giving other women the sense of accomplishment and empowerment that comes with creating something beautiful with their own two hands. This focus on women’s well-being carries over into Serendipity’s fundraising efforts as well, which benefit organizations like the Chaffee County Mammography Fund and the Chaffee County Alliance Against Domestic Violence. Asked what advice she would give others interested in starting a small business in Buena Vista, Tami emphasized putting great care into the planning phase: do the market research, visit other businesses you would like to emulate, create a business plan and be sure you have the financial resources in place. That Tami has regular customers from all over the front range is testament to Serendipity’s success in these areas. If you are looking for a special gift, knitting tips, or if you just want to have a coffee in a welcoming and pleasurable environment, Serendipity is well worth the visit. Hours are Monday- Saturday 10-5 and Sundays 12-5. You can also stop by the website and sign up for the e-newsletter at www.serendipityyarn.com. Each month South Main sends out an eUpdate which features new articles for and about the local Buena Vista community. To subscribe, please visit our contact us page. |
