Q: What makes your store unique?

A: Santa Barbara is a unique town for retail. People really support buying local and not from the big chain stores. As a result, my store is very much like a boutique. I try to find unique items, besides all the regular souvenirs, to make it an exciting shopping experience.

Q: What is your retail background?

A: I came from the Williams-Sonoma/Pottery Barn world. I started out with them more than 20 years ago at the 59th Street store on the East Side of NYC. I was studying menswear design and marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology and then ended up in children's wear for 10 years.

Q: What is the most popular product you sell?

A: Of course 12-inch plush giraffes and name-dropped T-shirts sell best, but so do name programs from Scandical and pendant necklaces from DM Merchandising. Squirmles saved my summer at $5 a pop.

Q: What is your favorite part about working in this industry?

A: I love retail in a non-profit environment because everyone is so willing to share ideas. There's no competition between each other like there was in the garment industry.

Q: What advice do you have for other retailers?

A: Nurture your intuition and then follow it. Make your store uniquely your own. As Joseph Campbell said, "The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are."