Location: Cross Pointe Centre, 101 E. Alex Bell Rd., No. 172 in Centerville
Owner's name: Kim Megginson and Brad Abbey
Years in operation: We will celebrate the shop's 40th anniversary in November! I have been here for 30 years and my husband, Brad, and I took over as owners in 2003.
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Describe what your business does: Our primary focus has always been Made in America, working with studio artists and small production vendors. We feature an eclectic mix of creative clothing and accessories, jewelry, pottery, gifts, home accessories and select local artists. In addition, we also carry Naot shoes, a wonderful handmade shoe that is made in Israel. We typically have a variety of special events and trunk shows throughout the year and are honored to participate in various community events, including Noble Circle's AWear Affair and KMC's Walk for Women's Wellness.
What inspired you to start this business? The business was originally founded by Tim Patterson as the Fifth St. Gallery (which was located in the Oregon District) to exhibit the work of local artists. After a few years, there was a move to Washington Square in Centerville and the name was changed to Woodbourne Gallery. Eventually moving to Cross Pointe over 30 years ago, the name was changed to ZIG ZAG Gallery when Brad and I became owners in 2003. It feels like a very special opportunity to own a business that has such a legacy in the Dayton community.
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How has your business embraced innovation? We have our website, www.zigzaggallery.com, which gives viewers a sampling of the ever-changing inventory that we carry. We can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and have an email newsletter that goes out once or twice a month (sign up on our Facebook page). Since re-opening, we have also had Zoom Happy Hour Style Shows and Facebook Live trunk shows. I believe applications like Zoom, FaceTime, email and social media are a wonderful opportunity to continue to connect with our customers as we all try to navigate our way through this crazy time.
What's your biggest challenge right now? After being closed for 2 months, we reopened by appointment for two weeks beginning in the middle of May. We opened for normal, although limited hours, on June 2. We will continue to expand our hours over the coming weeks.
I have done this for a long time, however it is still very difficult to know exactly what this fall and holiday season will look like. Wholesale shows have been cancelled, which makes buying more difficult. Working with reps by Zoom has helped tremendously, but it is not the same as seeing things in person. That being said, we will continue to be well stocked with exciting inventory so that we are prepared for whatever our customers may need.
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What's your biggest opportunity right now? This has obviously been a difficult year for all of us, but I think it has also given us the opportunity to reevaluate many aspects of our business, and look at ways that we can be more efficient and effective. And especially look at the many other ways that we can connect with our customer friends and vendors.
What do you want readers to know about your business today? That we are not going anywhere. We look forward to a fabulous 40th anniversary celebration in November, and we are excited to see what the future holds. 2019 and 2020 have brought unbelievable challenges to our Dayton community, but we believe that we really will come through this stronger together. I know that we are tremendously grateful for the love and support that we have experienced personally over the past several months. I am convinced that ZIG ZAG customer/friends are the most positive, supportive group that you could hope for. Thank you all!
Hours as of July 1: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Closed Mondays for now.
Dayton Innovation
The coronavirus pandemic is no match for the Dayton region's innovative spirit. The Dayton Daily News is profiling small businesses in our region as they navigate through these challenging times. To nominate a small business, email Rebecca.Mullins@coxinc.com.
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