Harriet Greene sees beauty in imperfect objects. The nicks and scratches on a piece of furniture provide character and show that an item was loved and used. Greene wants to help customers find those beautiful objects for their homes by opening a gift shop that offers a little bit of everything. She’s putting her business idea up against 12 others to see if she can earn some cash to open up that shop. Launch Padis a venture of the Gaston Regional and Montcross Area chambers where the best business ideas win.
The first place winner receives $12,500. Second place earns $7,500. The third place winner receives $3,500. Recipients can use the cash to either start a business in Gaston County or enhance an existing small business.
Greene plans to open Silhouettes in the fall of 2014. She wants to give herself a year to get ready, but she’s already looking at some places in downtown Gastonia. The shop will feature an assortment of “shabby chic” items. The shabby chic movement involves taking pieces with “good bones” and painting, recovering or repurposing them. Shabby chic items look beautiful in a home, but allow guests to feel welcome rather than worrying that they’ll damage something pristine, Green said.
She salvaged an old footstool by painting it and recovering the top with fabric. She turned an old seat into a bridal chair by recovering the cushion with fabric from a sequined bridal gown. The shop will reflect Greene’s creativity with baskets, furniture, art, knickknacks, jewelry, china, linens and seasonal and Christmas decorations.
“This is for the person who loves beauty,” Greene said. “I see art in everything.” Greene started sewing at age 6. She asked for art supplies and books every Christmas. “When I was a little girl, I can remember not wanting to eat,” Greene said.
When her grandmother served her food on ornate plates, Greene began eating because every bite revealed a piece of the picture on the plate. Silhouettes will offer consignment and rental space for artisans. Pieces must be handmade and made well, Greene said, because she doesn’t want anything in her shop that doesn’t look as good as something she could make herself.
She plans to keep prices reasonable, with the average item in the $25 to $50 range. She’ll have items above and below those levels, but Greene said she wants a place where people can afford to shop.
Nan Bridgeman, owner of Blythe Gallery in Belmont, is working with Greene as a Launch Pad mentor. Greene said Bridgeman has provided a wealth of information to help her achieve her dream of owning a business. Greene started thinking about becoming a business owner around 2005. She learned about Launch Pad through a friend who’s also in the competition and decided it was now or never.
The Gastonia native left her hometown in 1986 to become a flight attending for Piedmont Airlines. She lived in Greensboro and then came back to the area in 1998. She now lives in the Weddington area.
You can reach Amanda Memrick at 704-869-1839 or twitter.com/AmandaMemrick.