Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor King
Hi Taylor, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
If you would have told me five years ago that I’d have a small business I probably would have laughed and said you were crazy. My bachelors and masters degree are both in Education so this truly was a leap in faith. After completing my fifth year of teaching I decided I wanted to walk away from teaching. It truly felt like an identity crisis, as I always thought that was what I was meant to do along with many other family members on my Mom’s side of the family. Also, that same year, my mom, who also taught alongside me at Valley View Primary, in Germantown retired after teaching 34 years. I couldn’t imagine going back without her. However, home decor and making your space a representation of yourself has been something I have been passionate about since purchasing my own home back in 2020. I decided to chase my dream, and believe me when I say I’m not a risk taker, but with the love and support from my husband I decided to go for it. It also felt like the stars were aligning as a corner space in the downtown Germantown area became available to lease while we were beginning to look at spaces and options for our small business. I knew I wanted to stay in the Germantown community since teaching three out of my five years in Germantown, I had grown to love the small town community. I knew if I didn’t take this space/spot in Germantown I would always live with “what ifs” a few days later we signed a lease for the opening space in Germantown, and got to work. Fast forward almost a year and a half later, and I have no regrets, and still can’t believe it at times!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t think starting any small business takes you down a smooth road, especially when it’s your first small business. There are many “what ifs”, uncertainties, and not to mention, the huge learning curve when you are first getting started. Some days can be extremely humbling while others remind you why you do it. I often compare having a small business to a roller coaster, and you just have to enjoy the high days and really let it soak in because other days can be really hard on yourself mentally and emotionally. I think the biggest struggle for us is simply being in a small town, and just getting the word out that we exist and have so much to offer. We have tried to get creative by offering classes like sourdough, charcuterie, and water coloring with flowers just to name a few. I think this has helped us get people in the door, and spreading the word about our small business.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Harvest Moon ?
Harvest Moon is not just a home decor and gift shop, it’s a shop that aims to spread love and joy in a practical way. I achieve this by hand picking every single item in the shop. my curation process starts with me searching for items that contain empowering quotes, daily mantras, or the perfect gift that will surely put a smile on someone’s face. The things I select for the shop are curated from the heart. This often leads me to products you can’t find anywhere else, whether it’s something handmade from a local artisan or something completely unique!
Aside from the products on shelves we are starting to grow in customizations and experiences. We have found that our customers don’t just want a place to shop, they want a p[ace where they can make memories, spend time with loved ones, and come out of an experience with something totally unique and custom. During these events we partner with local artisans to provide their expert knowledge as they instruct the attendees. During the experience we at Harvest Moon make sure everyone is having a wonderful time by creating an exquisite atmosphere, offering complimentary refreshments, and providing an exclusive discount on all items in the shop during the experience. on top of our classes we are working to offer more walk-in experiences as well. We started last March with our custom trucker hat bar, where customers can come in during normal shop hours and make their very own custom trucker hat. We off a variety of hat colors and have thousands of patches for our customers to choose from. Not only has this been great for our customers, but it is also a great joy for us to see their endless creativity as they make hats that perfectly fit their style. Currently we are looking into other walk-in types of experience we can offer to further establish ourselves as not just a shop, but a place where people can come to spend time with one another and express themselves freely!
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I would say being driven and persistent are two characteristics that have made me go out of my comfort zone and start my own small business, and most importantly, my strong faith in Him.
Pricing:
- Check us out online for pricing www.hmoonco.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hmoonco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harvestmoonboutique/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550094751788
