03: Why Some Small Businesses Are Impossible to Forget

What makes certain businesses impossible to forget?

Lately, it feels like we're all consuming the same advice, following the same trends, and watching businesses race to keep up with whatever the algorithm rewards next. And somewhere along the way, a lot of brands have started to look remarkably similar.

But the businesses that stay with us rarely do so because they mastered a trend.

They stay with us because of how they made us feel.

That idea sits at the heart of this conversation with artist, entrepreneur, and Anarchy Gallery founder Angelina Wrona. After nearly two decades of building one of the most recognizable destinations in Merrickville, Ontario, Angelina shares what it really takes to create a business people remember.

What unfolds is a thoughtful conversation about creativity, identity, and the courage to stay original in a world constantly encouraging us to blend in. From branding and customer experience to community connection and reinvention, Angelina offers a refreshing perspective on what drives lasting brand loyalty and sustainable growth for Small Businesses.

Along the way, we talk about small business marketing, building trust in small town businesses, creating memorable customer experiences, and why the strongest local business stories often begin with authenticity. Because successful businesses aren't simply selling products. They're creating connection.

Whether you're a small town entrepreneur, a creative business owner, or someone navigating the realities of local entrepreneurship, you'll find practical wisdom woven throughout this conversation. There are insights on local business strategy, small business visibility, community business marketing, and the often-overlooked role that identity plays in long-term success.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway is this: the businesses people remember most aren't always the loudest. They're the ones that feel the most genuine.

If you've ever wondered how to market local business without losing yourself in the process, this conversation offers a powerful reminder that originality isn't a liability—it's often the very thing people are looking for.

Visit the website and join the newsletter for more conversations, local business stories, and insights into the people shaping small towns across Canada, the United States, and beyond.

Thanks for listening to Small Town Stories, the podcast exploring the business behind Main Street and the people shaping small towns across Canada, the U.S., and beyond.

Each week, we share conversations about small town business, entrepreneurship, local business marketing, creativity, community, and what it really takes to build something meaningful in today's world.

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And come say hello on Instagram at @thesmalltownstoriespodcast, where we're continuing the conversation about small town businesses, local entrepreneurship, and the stories behind the places people love most.

Transcript

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There's been a really interesting shift in business because of online marketing. We're all consuming the same trends, the same advice, the same aesthetics over and over again. And eventually everything starts looking a little bit the same, which is why I think today's conversation is so important. Welcome to Small Town Stories, the podcast exploring the business behind Main Streets and the people shaping small towns across Canada, the US, and beyond. I'm Jen Dishro, top-right podcast host, marketer, and small town local. And every Thursday, we're diving into honest conversations about entrepreneurship, creativity, marketing, reinvention, and what it really takes to build something meaningful in a small town today. From local storefronts to growing brands, community builders to nationally recognized names, this is where modern business meets small town life. Let's get into it. Well, hello, and welcome back to Small Town Stories. I'm your host, Jan Ditchfield. As somebody who has spent almost my entire career working in marketing and online business, one of the things I think about constantly is visibility. What makes people remember a business? What makes them stand out? What creates loyalty, and what creates connection. And lately I've been thinking a lot about how difficult that's actually become. Because we're living in a time where businesses are under enormous pressure to move quickly online. And that means following trends and optimizing everything, trying to look polished while still trying to stay relevant. And we somehow have slipped into this pattern of constantly consuming what everyone else is doing and somehow are trying to stay original while we're also doing it too. And I think that tension becomes even more interesting in small towns. Because in smaller communities, businesses don't survive just because they know how to market themselves online. They survive because people trust them. People remember them because they become part of the identity of the place itself. Which is probably why I was so excited for this conversation with Angelina Rona. Angelina is an internationally recognized artist, designer, entrepreneur, and the founder of Anarchy Gallery in Merrickville, Ontario. But what fascinated me most wasn't simply the art or even the business itself. It was the fact that she spent nearly two decades building something that feels completely distinct in a world where so many brands are starting to feel interchangeable. And sitting across from her in my living room while we recorded this conversation, literally just two women talking about creativity and branding and business, reinvention, community, I realized this episode wasn't really just about retail or art at all. It was about identity, about resisting the pressure to become a copy of whatever is currently working online, about understanding that originality is often the very thing that makes people emotionally connected to a business in the first place. And honestly, by the end of this conversation, I couldn't help but wonder if the businesses people remember most are usually the ones brave enough to become more themselves over time instead of less. So let's get into it. Angie, I have been really looking forward to this conversation because honestly, I think that you have built one of the most recognizable and intentional brands that I have ever seen. And I don't just mean that visually. I think like the um I think the visuals are incredible of it, but I mean like the entire feel of your business is so unique and so different and very immersive. And that's one of the things I'm excited to talk to you about today. Because I think it's interesting when you build something highly original in a small town. Um, I think there sometimes can be pressure that you have to play it safe or you need to kind of stay within boundaries. So I want to walk through this conversation, but I'd like to start at the beginning of it because you originally started your career as a nurse before you started Anarchy Gallery. And I've always been curious, like what made you take that leap from nursing into entrepreneurship and art? Well, yes, I was a nurse for 18 years. Um, and I did home care, I um specialized in palliative care. Uh, my last 12 years, I was a supervisor at a long-term care facility. Um and there's so many aspects of that career that I I loved, but it just wasn't fulfilling enough. I and in the last like five years um of that nursing career, I had started to paint. I took out an ad in a magazine in Los Angeles called Juxtapose, and excuse me, within two weeks, um got an uh invitation to do a show uh in LA at a gallery called Think Space. And things started to take off. Things were taking off. I was getting lots of um emails and messages about my artwork. The show was a sellout before I even arrived. Um, so it kind of emboldened me. I was, I was like, I think I can I can exit this this first career and and move into something else. And so I did it. That's it really, I think it's exciting. And um, did you time like you because you're from where we are now, like you're usually from Jasper, you're outside of Merrittville. Is that where you are? Decent Corners. Okay, that's right. Yeah, so even smaller than Merit Corners. Merrickful Wolford, we've been model mice since then. But uh yeah, I've been here for 54 years. And I think um, did you feel that it was risky to try to do this at the time, like coming from a small town to do something so bold, especially so creative? Yes, uh it yes, it was risky. Um I when I first opened up my gallery, the theme was a little bit darker than it is now. Um, I didn't have all the pinks and all of the, you know, the bright, beautiful colors. It's so it had a bit of a dark theme. Uh, I had black awnings out front. My artwork is um a bit, it leans towards the dark side. So uh I think there were a lot of people that were quite skeptical that it would be a success. But Merrickflow is a place where, you know, we get a lot of day trippers out from the city, from the larger centers. And there was that growing trend of this kind of artwork, the, you know, the pups surrealism and and that sort of thing. And uh and people were coming out in droves. So it was working really well. Did you find there was a moment where you realized, like, okay, this is gonna take off, like this is gonna become my career and my future? Oh, yes. Uh, well, I signed with a um a company out of Montreal who did mass production of my artwork. And so from there, it catapulted me into all over Canada, predominantly resonated with Western Canada for whatever reason. Um, and I and so I started to do uh touring. I did lots of signings and that sort of thing. Um, I can still remember when the new one of the new iPhones uh was coming out, and uh there was a huge lineup for this iPhone. Um, or more so I thought. I walked into this this uh um shopping center and I saw the huge lineup and didn't even think twice that that lineup was for me. And it was down the hallway, right out the door. Um, and and I think there's a bit of me that was starting to pick up on. I could hear somebody saying, Oh, I think that's her. Um, so that was yeah, it when that happened, I was like, Okay, yeah, I think that this is gonna be a success. Yeah. I think when you're a creative, one of the pe things that people don't realize is how attached you are to the work because it's deeply personal and you want to be excellent at it. Like my podcast to me is my creative outlet, it's what I do. And so when you get that recognition and the success that comes from it, it's validating on multiple levels. Did you feel the same way? Oh, absolutely. Yeah, it's it's it it, you know, my artwork comes from within me. It it definitely, I'm putting myself out there. My I'm being vulnerable. You know, one of the things that I feel deserves real acknowledgement is the fact that you've been in business for nearly two decades. And 18 years, yeah. 18 years. It's crazy. And it's well, it's rare, right? When you sit and think about something like that. But I think, especially in a small town where the markets shift and tourism changes and things have changed drastically in the software. Economy, COVID, yep. All of it. What do you think has been the biggest key to your longevity? I think, you know, I'm always evolving the store. I uh when you're when you're inside the store, I it's well curated. And everything you you touch in that store or see, that's me. It's me. And I like to think that what I've created is memorable. So people that are coming in from like the larger centers, uh, you know, they want to come to someplace that they can't find everywhere else. You want to make it memorable. The outside of the store is it's you know visually enticing as well. The aesthetic is is good. It's all pink. Every little girl wants to come out and have their picture taken in front. And so you create that experience. Uh, and I think that's how you you maintain that longevity. You keep making it a memorable experience. Have there been moments over the years where you realize that your business had to evolve in order for it to continue to grow? I know we talk about COVID, but I'm sure there's ones outside of that as well. Absolutely. I mean, uh, I am the first person. I get up in the morning time and I do read a lot about trends. They have to appeal to me too. Like I'm not gonna bring just anything in because it's on trend. I have to love it too. Uh the things in my store, I I'm gonna wear them. You know, the artwork, of course, of course I would buy my own artwork. It's amazing. It is. But uh yeah, I think with any business, you really you have to be constantly evolving. You can't have a boutique or a store or a business that lines its shelves with the same thing all the time. You want people, especially your regular customers that are coming out, they don't want to come out every two weeks and see the same thing on the shelf, you know. So you you you do. You have to be constantly bringing new things in. For example, um the clothing that we have in, uh, I only generally get six of that one item. Uh, you know, that way people also think, well, not everybody's gonna be wearing what I have. It's not American Eagle, where they have 150 pairs of jeans, you know, right there. This is gonna be a unique piece. There's only gonna be six of them, and I think I think that's important. Yeah. It's interesting you say that because I get out, I shop at your store, you're my treat store that I go to all the time. I'm like, I'm gonna treat myself to something pretty and down the road I go. But people ask me where did I get it from? And it's because it is so unique, and you don't look the same as everybody else walking on the street. Like there's something very elevated about what's there. Exactly. And you know, it's not disposable fashion either. This is I only like linens, cottons, uh rayons, things like that that are breathable, that are good for your body. I don't like plastic clothing. Yeah, because none of us do. No, no. So speaking of your store, um, because I do spend so much time in there, and we know a lot because we enjoy it so much. But one of the things I'm always struck by is that I generally think the way that you've approached branding is on a level that most businesses never reach. And I have been struck by that since the moment I met you. And I've been around this for my whole career. Like this is what I've done, right? Branding, marketing, we have these conversations. But when you walk into your space, like I said earlier, everything is intentional. Yeah. And it's right down to the paint color on the floor. And I had that conversation with you. I came home and I was like, Angie, and I just stood there and applauded because I was like the paint on the floor. But was branding an atmosphere always something that was very instinctive for you? Or did you realize at some point that that experience itself was going to be part of what people came to see you for? Yeah, you're absolutely right. I think, you know, it is very intentional. Um, I in fact, you know, when I started this business, I didn't even actually think about branding because I was just, I think you have to be very authentic and honest with yourself about what you're going to do. You have to be very passionate about it. And if you're authentic and real about what you're putting in there, the branding itself just evolves organically. Yes. You know, for example, I, you know, I of course I paint the little girls, I do all of the popsy realism. But if even when I paint a floral, people will say, I knew that you painted that. Because I'm in there and they know it, they can feel it, they can see it. So yeah, I I take a lot of pride in the store and how it looks. I love the aesthetic, and it's all me. So I am in itself the brand. Um, I provide a very good experience when you come in. So I'm hitting every part of that. I'm I'm I'm stimulating your your visual. You're going to be greeted. Everyone is personally greeted when they come into the store. Um, obviously, sometimes some people get missed because there's it fills up on weekends like crazy. But for the most part, my girls will come out from behind the counter and greet people. And that's that's important. I want to make it memorable. Yes. And again, the the authentic part of it is really, I think, where it begins. Yeah. There's a smell even to the store. And I know this, I think something on a podcast is a weird thing to talk about, is like the, but that it's that experience when you walk in. Cause I always know when we walk by the store and I'm like, oh, Angie's open. I don't even have to look because you can smell that that it's just, and it's hard to you have to go there if you really want to understand because it's beautiful, the entire thing with it. And it's the same. The music plays, the jewelry that you choose to come in, bring in everything with it, is like you said, it's intentionally done. It's very intentional. Yeah. The music that we have, for the most part, we put in uh electric swing. Oh, so it does have that uh kind of 1920s, 30s vibe to it, um, but also uh techno as well, you know. So we're trying to appeal to every age range, yeah. And it works. People love that music and it suits the the store and the vibe and everything, everything is thought about very clearly. Yes, yeah, absolutely. Um, how important do you actually think that atmosphere and visual identity is in retail now? Because I think a lot of people have become so used to shopping online and they've missed out on what it means to go shopping and experience what it means. Like there's something pleasurable about it, right? Yeah, it's an experience. Yes, and that trend is coming back, and I can see it. Uh you know, people want to come in, they want to touch it, they want to uh try it on. You know, when you could order, I mean, I order things from Amazon all the time. Uh, but clothing, no, you definitely I've I've made some mistakes. You you get it in, it's not the size it says it was, it's not the quality you thought it was. So people are leaning toward coming back and having that experience. Yeah, absolutely they do. Um, just a total side note, but I think one of the things that's so interesting every time we walk by are women are on the phone talking to other women about what they're looking at. I don't know if you you picked up on that, but I always seen that anywhere else except your store where people are like, they have this and it's this size, I'll get it for you because you'd look fabulous in it. Like there's something that's amazing. I love it. Yes, I do hear that quite a bit too. Yeah, and then there are times uh like I'll I'll come out and stand in the doorway and and people are they're having a photo shoot done in front of the store. Yes, yeah. Because it's I think it's very unique. Yeah. Are there things that you feel are like unrecognizably anarchy? Like when you look at something and you're like, that is an anarchy brand, or that is part of that, like that belongs in my store. Like what lens are you looking at when you think of those things? Yeah, I definitely when I'm doing my sourcing, yes, and I do that first thing in the morning time with a cup of coffee. Uh, I am looking for something different. Color, style. Um we like several years ago, we sold a lot of pinup dresses. You know, that A-line is beautiful. We still have some in. We'll probably always keep those. We've got a little bit more um leisure wear now. I carry a brand called Poco Loco. It's so comfortable, and that garment will just last forever, as long as you'll keep it. But yeah, it has to be well, it has to be like a cotton, a linen, something that's breathable, but I like an edge to it. And that edge is anarchy. We've got dresses coming in tomorrow, and they're beautiful cotton, they're bright colors, red and green, and right on the side is a little circle here, and it ties, and then it's a flower. There's a flower coming off the side. You can't get that anywhere else. So when I see something like that that's really unique, I'm ordering it in. Yeah, it's like art for your body is what it is. Art for your body, yeah, absolutely. Yeah, we've had some conversations before in the past, um, because uh we we chat a lot. I hang out at your store too often. Um, but one of the things that you said before that was really stayed with me is that you feel that a lot of new businesses and small communities often feel that the shortest path to success is by trying to look like what everybody else is doing instead of really getting clear on understanding what makes them unique and makes them stand out within it. Why do you think it matters so much to be original, especially when you're building something in a small community? Well, you know, I've seen a lot of stores open and close. Yeah, I find some businesses they have the idea, well, they're gonna have the run this beautiful shop. It's very it's it's it's wonderful. I mean, I dreamt about it too. Um, but I was well aware of the work that goes in behind that. And some of the stores I've seen close were were kind of like, you know, this product over here, and then they pulled something from like an idea from another store, from another store. So it's just like kind of like this mishmash. It doesn't have any continuity. So you can tell when you go into these stores that everything is just not right, it's not put together well, it's not set up to sell. You already know it's it's not it's not gonna work. It's too confusing. You need to have like a clear idea about what you're doing. In terms of uh opening up a business in a small community, I the first thing I would recommend doing is find out what the community needs. That is so uh huge. Go around and ask the locals, what do you think this town needs? Because I I find people have some kind of idea, well, I'm gonna open up a store and it's gonna be completely different. They won't know what to do with themselves. They already have this, this, and this. But I'm gonna be so different, so different. And if you focus on being different, but completely different, you're not really um it's not uh you're not addressing something, you're not addressing a need. Right. Like I agree that uh you can be different, but have your your main focus, have that focus, uh, clear idea of what you're gonna do, and then create different around it as a draw. Yeah, you know, yeah. Do you think a lot like while we're on this topic, people tend to really romanticize the idea of living in small towns and small villages and coming in and I think opening up, like you said, I'm gonna start a boutique or a store or what it is. Um, sometimes I think that it has to do with that second act, you know, that people are having many times. Um, but there's a lot more reality, as you mentioned, to sustaining a business. And this is something that I've heard a lot since I've moved here is you don't know what you're in for until you actually open up a store, especially with the idea because you need to be there seven days a week. It isn't something that you get to do, like what I do, where I'm like, well, set my hours and doot do do, I'm on, I'm off. This is year on, right? I'm open seven days a week, and that means that I'm working eight days a week. Yes. So, and I mean that's not a bad thing. I'm not uh it's not something that I'm complaining about because I absolutely love it. Yeah. So it doesn't feel like work to me, but if you're not willing to put in the hours, if you if you open up a business that you're not passionate about, then it is work. It's it it is work and and uh and you won't last. I I had a friend open up a business uh a while ago, and and one of the first things that she did was she hired someone. And that's great. But I when I opened up my boutique, I worked for the first three years by myself. Any money I made went right back into it. Just kept on plugging away and building it and building it and building it, and you have to do that. My husband, um, when we first met, he was a bartender here at the Baltican. And uh a lot of uh the older gentlemen coming in were like, you know, I've got a couple years till I retire, and I think I'm gonna open up a bar. I'm up a place like this. This will be amazing. And uh Chris would say, Oh dear, you've never worked in this industry. No, I've worked in that industry. Yes, don't open a bar. Oh dear. Yes, a restaurant bar. Like if you have never worked in that industry, you can forget about it. I mean. I mean, everybody dreams about having their own their own store, but you have to uh you know look at within yourself and and really be real. This is this is a major commitment. It is. Do you think that people actually underestimate how strategic it is to own yes, yeah, to own a small business and a small community? Absolutely. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, it's it is strategy. There's no doubt about it. Like I said before, you can't just willy-nilly open up a store, throw a few things up against the wall, and expect people to come in and buy it. There's so many layers to this. You know, down to like we spoke earlier, the music, the aesthetic, your your product. You know, I I mean we carry really high quality products and we stand behind them. You can't be, I mean, I've been in a few stores where all the trinkets are like they're just garbage, you know. And that's uh that's not what we are providing. You can get that stuff in in the city and any dollar store or anything else like that. If you're gonna open up a nice boutique in a small town, then you want your small town to be proud of that too. Right. You know, yes, I'm from Merrickville. Yes, I that is the place where anarchy is and this other business and this other business. You want to make your community proud to have you there. It's it's really important. Yeah, it's interesting you say that because I have uh one of your purses that I bought at your store, and I wear it all, I carry it all everywhere. And people always stop me and they say, Where did you get that? And I explain where I got it, and everyone goes, Oh, I know that place. Oh, I've heard of that place. It's just known, right? Where you and so you have this pride too, where you're like, Yes, I am wearing something from anarchy. That is correct. Um, there's something lovely about it. And I think that's an interesting point to bring up too, which is that balance between tourism and local business. Yeah, because there's two sides to it as well. And and I've talked about this on the show before is you know, do you feel you need to pick a side, or do you think that there's blending of two, that we can you can exist in the community while still serving a tourist space? Absolutely. Yeah, it's a blending for sure. Yeah, no, no doubt about it. And I mean, you know, when I'm at work, there's tons of locals that just pop in and say hi. We have a really awesome conversation. There's never any um, I don't feel that they feel that they have to buy anything to come in. They're just coming in saying hi, and and it's a wonderful thing. It's uh, you know, I go down to the post office, could be there for an hour. It's true. Yes. And that's awesome. I love mingling with community. Yeah. And yeah, I mean, I don't do it just because it's good for business. I do it because it's me. That's what I do. And then do you feel that it's important? Because we talked about this, you know, when we were preparing for the interview about an investing back in your community as well. Because you've you've been a strong supporter of the community for years and years. Absolutely. And by on a personal level, but also through the business as well. And you feel that that's an important thing to have an identity within your own community. Absolutely. We we do donate and give to so many organizations. We don't brag about it online. It's not something I'm into. I'm not trying to profit off of my donating to certain things. Um, hospices, children's programs, you name it, we we give a lot and I'm quite proud of that. Uh, I do not, I, you know, I mean, uh, you could give all day. Let's be real. Um, I make sure it's within, you know, the Kempfall, Smith's Falls, Merrickville area. Um, places I don't give to or are um or organizers of events that profit. I do not support those. And that's where I draw the line. It's gotta, if I'm gonna give something, it's gotta go to that back into the community. Yeah, I'm not gonna line your pockets because you're throwing an event. Right. Yeah. That's where I draw the line. So one of the things that I really admire about your business is that you didn't stay attached to one version of it. And that goes beyond just like going black to the pink brand, and that it's that you've expanded it into so many different revenue streams because you started with art and then you went into fashion, and now you have hospitality on top of it because you also have the rentals for your your Airbnb that you have as well there, and you're expanding the store this year, it's growing even more, and there's so many different arms to what you do. And it always makes me curious about how important has adaptability been to the survival and success of your business. And that's what like you know, because most people sometimes I get stuck or stagnant with thinking this is what I do and that's all we do, and yet you continue to play and evolve. Yes, I think that is definitely the artist in me for sure. I do believe in evolution, and I'm always coming up with new creative ideas. It's just it's in me, and so it has to come out. Um, yes, we did turn the upstairs to our gallery into what we call the gallery loft, and it's probably the biggest single unit in town on the main drag that you can rent. And I've decorated that as well really nicely, and it rents so well. Uh, so that is another revenue stream for sure. So, based on how well that did and how well the store was doing, we decided this year we are going to put an expansion on the store. So we're gonna double um the space downstairs for the store and also put up another um Airbnb because it just does so well. Uh, and it's important for me as a person. I think I would just get very bored. I have to be constantly doing something. I we even bought a piece of property on the water outside of town and plan on putting um a beautiful Victorian style cottage on that, and that again will be another source of revenue. And that's that's just me. I I have to be again, it's in me, so I have to get it out. Yeah. Uh you came and spoke last year to my retreat that I did on my entrepreneur retreat. And one of the reasons why I really wanted you to come to talk is because you have had such a success as a creative. And I think often creatives get placed into that you're poor, don't make money there, right? You just know it's a hobby. And you're like, hang on a second, right? Like, no, no, we're here to make money with what we can do. Yeah, you have a very different view of it. Yeah, you're right. A lot of artists don't know how to promote themselves. The business side of it is lacking. Now, I'm very lucky. I I have a wonderful husband, Chris, and and so we're really a dynamic duo. He, you know, where I'm lacking, he picks up. I am good in business. Um, but I mean, these things they do take a lot of effort, and it does help to have, you know, to bounce your ideas off of someone. And and he's just so good. I mean, this weekend he'll be in there painting the walls upstairs and just things like that. So really it's it's a team effort for sure. Yeah, I wouldn't know anything about that at all. So I know we forget sometimes to talk about the people behind the scenes who helped to make us successful as well. That's true. He's been there the whole time. Yeah, yeah. It's I think it's beautiful to see that support and to have that ability of someone who sees the same dream, right? And yes, they are as invested in it as you are. Absolutely. I mean, I I can still remember the last time we painted the house because we have a clapboard Victorian. Um, we painted it a beautiful sage green, and I absolutely love it. But Chris was like, if you want to paint it pink, that's fine too. Oh, he's such a good man. You're amazing. You know, I'm not going to. No, no. But you have pink door. So for the record, you have a pink door. I know. Um, so what do you think happens when um businesses come into small towns and they only focus on that idea of I'm gonna compete instead of connect? Because that does happen. I think sometimes people come in and they can start a, you know, and sometimes I don't want to poo-poo on city mentality because I know I I went from small town to city and back, but we sometimes have that laser focus of starting a business where we're like, it's about me and not thinking about the beyond. And I know we talked about the donations part of it, but also I think there's a people underestimate how much community buy-in impacts your success. Do you feel that's true? The community, uh, like every business, you've got your highs and lows. Uh this particular community, you know, we suffer low low times in the winter. Yes. Um, and you really depend on your local community to really help you through. And we're so lucky. We have the best community that's so supportive of our businesses. I can't imagine someone coming out, opening up a pink store like mine, and trying to like replicate what I'm doing. I think that they'd probably be boycotted because it's not right. Yeah. No. I think that probably one of the biggest themes running through this entire conversation that we've had, Angie, is that successful small-town businesses aren't just selling products, they're building trust and they're creating identity and they're also investing in relationships that build over time. Yes. And so, what I would ask you, really kind of looking after two decades of building and evolving and reinventing and growing this business, if someone is listening to this right now and dreaming about starting a creative business in a small community, what would you want them to understand before they begin? Um, definitely have a focus. You have to be passionate about what you're doing because you're going to be doing it every day. Absolute authenticity. If you're coming into a small town, find out again what the community needs. Uh, that's really important. Get to know your community, be involved in social events. Put yourself out there. You have to. It's important. You can't come in, open up a business, and leave town every night after you're done work. There's more to it than that. You know, you want to create, if you're gonna open up a, you know, a business in a small town, you know, uh you have to make it memorable. You have to um the it has to be an experience when you walk into when people walk into your business, they want to come back. You know, before they've even left, they're like thinking of that next time they're coming back, you know. So absolutely. What do you think is the thing that actually makes a business last? Do you think it's the person who's running it? Yes. Yeah. Do you think it's a little bit of fire in the belly? Yes. Yes. Yeah, yeah. You definitely have to be very passionate about it. It can't feel like a job. Yeah. It just can't. Yeah. Because you'll burn out. But if you're not doing the right thing, it will eat at you. I think that piece that you just said about it not feeling like a job is that's incredibly important because that is true. That I think in in any point of entrepreneurship, at some point, we start to feel as though it's getting the rote, or we have to do this again, or I'm not super happy and I'm not feeling inspired. And maybe instead of pushing through, we should be listening to that as a trigger. That now that that's actually when we should be reinventing. Then you really have to refocus. Definitely refocus. And you know, I mean, there's the old saying, too, you know, if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life. And that is facts. Absolute facts. Because I I really don't work every day. I'm enjoying my life every day. Yeah, in a store that is the most beautiful store on the main street uh called St. Lawrence, by the way. Our main street is not a main street. So I like we talk about main streets, then we're like, we have St. Lawrence Street, is what it is. Yes. Yeah, people do get confused by that. They do, yeah, absolutely. Wonderful. Angie, I am so grateful that you sat here with me today and had this conversation. And this is one that I've been wanting to have for a long time with you. So I'm so honored that you were here. I'm honored to be here. Yes, and uh really truly uh let people know where they can find you on social media, and I'll put it, we'll also include it all in the uh the show notes as well. But where can people find you and connect with you when they come to the village? Or even if they want to find you if they don't come to the village? We are located at 147 St. Lawrence Street here in Merrickville. You cannot miss us because the entire store is pink, yes, but not a tacky pink. Yeah, it's beautiful. It's a light ballet pink, I'd like to think. And online, uh Angelina Rona. Beautiful. Angie, thank you again. Thank you so much. You know, after we stopped recording, I kept thinking about something Angelina said during this conversation. The idea that businesses become forgettable when they start looking too much like everybody else around them. And I think that's probably the tension so many business owners are quietly feeling right now. Because online marketing moves incredibly fast and the trends move fast and the algorithm moves fast, and it can become really easy to slowly drift away from your own instincts while trying to keep up with what seems to be working for everybody else. But sitting across from Angie in my living room, listening to her talk about originality, reinvention, branding, and creative identity, I think what struck me most was this reminder that the businesses people remember aren't the ones trying the hardest to fit in. They're just the ones that feel the most honest. Anyway, just that we did noodle on. Until the next time we talk. Thanks for listening to Small Town Stories. If you've enjoyed today's conversation, make sure you're following the show wherever you listen to podcasts. And if you haven't done so yet, I'd be really grateful if you left a rating and review. It really helps more people discover the show. You can follow along on Instagram at the Small Town Stories Podcast and visit us online at the Small Town Stories Podcast.com. All right, I'll see you next Thursday for another conversation about the business behind Main Street.