Welcome to this episode of Neigh Favorites.

We're kicking off our journey h in historic Old Town on King Str We're going to tap into our art side.

We're going to be inside of AR Workshop.

Come on, let's go in.

George!

Stephanie hola!

Como esta?

Bien, como esta?

It's good to see you.

Good to see you!

I This is really a lovely shop.

Thank you so much.

Yeah.

So take me on a, like, a little tour of what we have.

Let us start.

Okay.

This is our.

Number one workshop right now.

Okay.

This is Chunky Knit Blanke Okay.

So we have customers come in.

It's a three hour workshop.

You make this from start to fini This is just a small sectio of the various color yarns that We have a good time.

Okay.

And we make a beautiful product.

Oh.

That's wonderful.

This is my retail section.

Okay.

Which brings me a lot of joy, b I get to buy all the things that Okay.

And hope that the choice I make resonate with my customer So when you are choosing, what are you thinking about?

Do I like.

It?

Do.

To be completely honest.

Okay.

All the things that make me smil or make my heart sing, I have a feelin will resonate with my customer b So what was your vision about?

How did you land here?

Why did you think that?

King Street, Historic old town some place that you wanted to, y do your passion I don't necessa think it was a choice that I mad I think the choice was made for This location is everything.

It was already here.

I purchased This is a franchise, okay?

And I purchased it as a turnkey.

I retired last January.

Crafts were my passio that I discovered during the pan and I found out about this oppor I can't think of a better time than to follow your dreams and your passion than now.

So are you encouraging people wo men, whomever, like I bake cake or a big pies and I'm really goo Why don't I try to take my hand at being able to step into that entrepreneursh and do it?

What are you what are your thoughts about tha I encourag everyone from a practical perspe First, because by trade I'm an a Okay.

So there are lots of peopl who have a hobby and they want t perhaps turn that hobb into a profitable business of so but they have no business acumen whatsoever.

Okay.

And so that's why so many of the small businesses within the first year or two.

So from my perspective, I think all should be doing something th because otherwise it's just not to spend 20 or 30 years doin something that has you in the do Yeah, but you need to be very re and ensure that you have a pla So I'm looking forward to see my We're going to get your craft ta and see what I can make.

we're going to guide you through everything.

Okay?

So you're never alone.

Everything that we do here at workshop is instructor led.

I love.

So no one is left to their own d We help you as muc or as little as you need and wan So what do we have here?

This is the start of a chunky kn blanket.

Okay.

It's our most popular work All right.

We call this chunky knit yarn.

You feel it?

It's magnificent.

Okay.

It's soft and warm.

Yeah.

I can make a robe or a scarf or And I'm creating the spine.

Okay.

For a blanket?

It's 40 by 50 once it's complete Okay.

It's my most popular works What do we do?

How do we go.

For this portion of it?

The spine is what solidifies the And so we're basically pullin through the middle stitch at thi Okay.

But once you put.

It, you do it by hand.

And all my tools are no tools.

We want to eliminate all barrier to entry for anybody who's interested in doing anythi all you have to do.

Okay.

It's come through each loop and create a l Wow.

Okay so I'm just doing this like this All right.

Is that it?

That is it.

All the way across.

Okay.

And you continue this process.

And the only differenc between what you're doing now an you do to finish the blanket is you change a color, there's a pr And then at the very end, you ca Wow.

Look, my no hands.

Wow.

did you come up with this?

So fortunately, because I knew I did not want to create anythin from scratch.

I was very excited to be a part of a franchise.

Okay, so the AR workshop franch gives you all of these wonderful So what is this?

This is a wood plank.

Okay so this is a 12 by 16 wood plank Everything that we do here that is wood based, which are t all of these examples that you s Are all wood based.

And we use a stencil system.

Okay So we create all of these by ste And so the customer is the one who brings it to life by se the colors that they'd like to u So you start with a blank slate you decide what you want to do w You can color it and put paint o which gives full coverage okay.

Or you can use what we call a st And there are different hues of And it will allow for the wood g to shine through.

So this is a stai the wood grain shows through oka This is paint.

It's full coverag So you have options.

Okay.

And then my staf and I walk you through the proce Once you've done your bas and it's completely dry, we walk through the proces of applying the stencil to the w and then you make i the colors that you'd like to ma so that you can get a finished product that looks like this.

We do framed projects.

We do light up projects.

It's actually lights up.

Okay.

We do bottle painting.

We do marbleized paint pouring, which is this?

We do.

Wow.

So you have those straps?

Yeah.

These are.

We do handles.

And those are leather handles that we.

Added to the.

Handle.

Yes.

Okay.

That you can Oh, yeah.

We've got choices.

Oka What advice would you give our v that are thinking about, entrepreneurship, you know, goin starting their dreams those kinds of things at any age What what advice would you give Be incredibly realistic.

Entrepreneurship is all inclusiv So if the toilet is clogged up guess who's unclogging that toil Unless you have a plumber on spe And if you have a plumber wants to be down, then you have to have money in y to pay the plumber.

So be very realistic.

And there are paths to entrepren that are not brick and mortar.

Brick and mortar is a heavy lift But it's so worth it when you'r incredible environment like King King Street.

Yeah.

Old town and old town.

King street.

Yeah.

So, yeah, it's, It makes it.

It makes it worth it because there's foot traffic.

It makes it worth it becaus you meet people from all over th Because it's such a destination for tourism.

And then you get to hav lovely interactions with locals.

Who walk by and see things in your window and discover they are my number one question.

What is this place.

Where I was really when I was when I was like, once I saw people at the table like, what are they doing?

I was leading, right.

So, you know I saw some, you know, drinks or But this has been amazing.

And I want to thank you for wha because you are adding to the co and providing a space for peopl for an outlet and for creativity Stephanie, I love it.

I love it so much.

I want to thank you so much Wouldn't that cozy knit blanket be so cozy for the wintertime?

Let's go to our next stop her on King Street, which is Pippin I haven't been to a toy store in Come on, let's mark down.

up.

Keep going keep going, keep going, keep goi To one.

me get some party on this.

Hello.

Hello.

Welcome in.

Thank you.

Glad to have you.

Thank you, Amy, for welcoming me I have not been to a toy store s Yeah.

Yeah.

Abraham and I were going to scho with our lunch pails.

So can we start you and see what here?

You know, you've come to us just right as we're starting ac today is the very first day of s Okay.

All right.

This was our back to school sec for small children or for any ch really, it's really about explor So I see the puzzles here kids, do they love puzzles now with p you're working on spatial relati you're working on fine motor ski You're you're doing a lot with t It is a little more closed ended but you're each thing that you p has you learning something new.

Okay.

What was your goal to say?

How are you going to stand diffe from the other, like big?

You know, they can driv in the parking lot and you know.

Yeah.

What says the loyalty that I want to come to Pippin and buy my kid and let them tour and hang out.

Yeah, well, we are the old alter to a big box store like you won't find, Disney princess in here.

You won't find Legos you won't find electronic goods, you'll find, artisanal you know, not cheese, but toys i Right.

Of fun, artistic based, well-designed products.

Not just visually, but the play Just that alternative to mass pr Okay.

You know, it was.

We just didn't want to do that.

I have a funny story.

My friend Freddy, is a gallerist, and I didn't rea that much about art.

And I was furnishing my apartmen and she, my friend Jan, they both came over and I said, what do you think about this?

And were like, oh, do you like i And I was like, yeah but I want to know what you thin And, you know, Freddy goes u and she says, you know, she fill She says, you know I think they mass produce these, these like, you want to get a pi that's authentic.

You want to do an art.

And that's what I feel that you telling me that you're specializ in teaching.

Offering products that are well- and, you know, education.

Yeah.

Yeah yeah yeah.

What are what are some of the th that could be challenging?

Because we have, our audience.

I try when we say neighborhoods and go into businesses.

Yes.

We see the success.

Yes, we se all the things that are pretty a What are some of the thing that could be challenging for pe that are thinking about a busine or just as an owner, you know?

Yeah, yeah just for starting starting a new Well, right now we're dealing with tariffs.

So that's for us.

That's a bit of a problem.

But if you're starting a new sto it's really knowing what your what your vision is executing it I always say the design of a spa the design of your branding is so important.

So if I were giving advice to a I would say spend money on that.

I would also tell people to, spend money on the right locatio you know, do you may be going ou of your comfort zone for that s but just push it a little furthe How did you know this was the ri Well, that's a really good quest So back to when I started Red ba I was off on a side street.

I almost didn't make it.

That was really hard.

But then I walked it.

Then I just moved a block over to King Street, and that's when the store started to really take off.

Because of street traffic.

Or street traffic.

Yeah, yeah.

Going half a just half a block o King Street was hard.

Okay.

I had to spend rent.

Might have been good, but I had to spend more money, on marketing to get people over So being on King Street, was a big difference.

And the other thing I did it was manage my inventory.

So those are the two big thing that, other than spending money and design that I would.

Advise.

Advise a new perso who's opening a business.

There.

what.

Was or what is the feeling that the kids to have when they come Oh, I love that question.

I lov I mean, we just want them to hav They want to have be able to ex and not only run around but run And I want to go in this room because I have.

A little daughter.

Yeah, I can the kids open this?

And walk right in.

Is that fun?

That door gets open and clos 100 times a day, especially on a Wow.

Yeah, Well I'm excited to and see the, you know, the red d I mean, right down here.

Yeah.

Y So what's he.

Oh so we see is this more of traditional traditional room or.

Well so the way we've got thing set up is and, and we're still, only we're only not even two yea so November.

Well congratulations.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We're excited.

You know that we're her and everybody's just taking to u So that's good.

But the way we set it up was sort of by theme.

Right.

So no we're running to our outdoor the And then we've got her jungle t then our, you know, doll sort of Okay.

water nautical.

So when you come in, you're so b to what they're interested in.

My kids interested in oceanograp I'm going to send them over her you to say, okay, well, what wha How old?

You know, what are they What were they like?

You know, b What's your budget?

Yeah.

And then we can always.

What's your budget?

Yeah.

Parents.

Right.

Yeah.

So we, we go over here and we work tog to find the right thing for, for So things have changed.

A little Like, you know, when I was a ki you went in for, like, a G.I.

Jo Yeah, for a doll.

Maybe if you were a young girl you know, it was so based on gen Yeah.

So are we seeing that that's not that they're kind of enmeshed, t kids can kind of play interact.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I mean, we're not we we don't th things like, this is for a boy, and this is for a girl here because it's for everybody.

Right?

just.

What do they.

What do they fund?

Right.

What are they going to what's going to spark their c curiosity or their creativity?

What's going to give them asking questions and, just, exploring their own little Right.

So that's what's important to us That's then gender normative.

So do you have like, what is wha Oh, so this is this is our fun.

Like, now we're in our mobile se our vehicles.

Great line of, cars.

We just cars and trucks that we And what's so great about thi is that it's good for adults to.

The adults are collecting these because look how beautifully des they are.

You know, that's not the the toys and trucks.

It's not the matchbook cars that We have there already come toget Yeah.

Yep.

They do.

There's different like put yours put it together whatnot.

But, what we, what we really look for, and this is true of all three o our stories, is the design aspec And I think you probably appreci being from the fashion worl that it's, it's not just functio It's pretty.

Yeah I know, yeah, really.

But no, it's not, it's becaus when you come into a store like I as an adult you've opened up my mind to wand and to think and to look, you k as an adult, like, oh, what's th Do kids still build models?

They probably do.

We just don't have them.

Yeah, y but there are hobby shops.

There's a fact.

There's a really.

So they they consider that, like a hobby That would be more from a hobby Yeah, yeah, because they're so and detailed and there's a coupl of wonderful stores here in Alex that do specialize in that.

Yeah, that' what I would find out at the toy Yeah.

So but that's.

Not this on But that but still that's considered like Yeah.

But but agai it's back to the interests of th And they're there might fin that airplanes are fun to put to And so they're going to find tho at a hobby, something that we do over in our section.

Have some things that we can put like, a little model dinosaur and things like that.

So I guess.

Yeah.

Let me just step back a minute.

And yes we do have some of that, but not When I think of hobbies, I thin you know, World War Two airplane Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Models.

So how do you do you look each m Do you say what's selling?

What's popular would you change for that, or is it kind of a mainstay or a little bit of all of that.

Yeah.

Well, I mean, we still sort of within our categories of what, y always have books, will always products, we always have art pro But we are looking and drilling It's that inventory management that I was talking about earlier but drilling down to see what is what are people responding to.

And we close out the stuff that where can we bring more of what is working in and, you know, build upon that and then try something new?

We're always trying something ne We got to stay relevant because not necessarily trend but there's always new stuff com So yeah, yeah the people may come in and ask f and you want to make sur that you either have it or can g Yeah.

Yeah.

So what it is as we went up I you know I could stay here and what is something that you feel inside yourself that you bring to your store and that you have imparted to yo because it's one big family, like if you're not here, you kn when I came, your staff was very And, you know, to talk to me and give me history.

What is it about you that when you had this concept that you bring to your business, that you give not only to your staff, but you the people who come through the Well, I well, first, I think you're better to ask them than t but I think the one thing that we try to impart and to our and to our customer is that this is a welcoming plac We want you to feel like you com and you're you're being greeted warmly, that you're coming i and you're at someone's house, r We're welcoming you into our wo and we want to be part of yours.

And I think that's very importa as a leader of the staff, but al in the community and giving bac and being just being part of all And you believe that this area Alexandria, Old Town, King Stree Yes.

Partners with.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, this is a great I mean I feel so fortunate to do what I do it with the people I do it w and then do it here in Alexandri I, I love Alexandria I live here, my kids went to sch Hopefully they'll come back here I the the community is great.

The business community is wonder The city has been good to us.

So we're we're very fortunate.

Very fortunate.

Yeah.

Well thank you, thank you.

I have to bring some kids and my and something to walk around.

But thank you so much, for giving us this tour and talking about this industry that's very valued.

And, we're glad you're here to t Well, thank you for coming in.

I'm glad you came to.

Thank you.

I enjoyed it, I enjoy I definitely had fun today.

Hopefully you did two and a hour and Pippin Toy Story company.

There's so much to explore here on King Street.

I hope you will tune in to our next episode of Neighborhood Favorite as we explore what someone King