Little Village sits down with Niki Neems, owner of r.s.v.p. (140 North Linn St.), to discuss the challenges and rewards of owning a boutique paper product shop in Iowa City. Originally hailing from small-town Iowa, Neems shares her thoughts on everything from her favorite crafts as a child to the origins of r.s.v.p.
Little Village: What was your inspiration for opening your own business?
Niki Neems: My dad was a retail pharmacist in a small town, and I grew up knowing I was from someplace because of it. I wanted to create a similar world for my own child. And I was tired of working for someone else.
LV: What were your first jobs growing up?
NN: Delivering prescriptions on my bike for my dad. I also bagged ice cubes for a dime a bag at Family Foods where my Grandma Dolly was a cashier. She got me the job.
LV: Where are you originally from?
NN: Eldora, Iowa: Population 2732, one stoplight.
LV: Do you remember the first crafts you made as a kid?
NN: I made a lot of Shrinky Dinks and Spirograph. I loved that thing. Oh, and I cross stitched — a lot.
LV: How did you discover your interest in stationery?
NN: I’ve always, for as long as I remember, been a letter writer.
LV: How long has r.s.v.p. been open? Could you talk a little about your process of getting started here?
NN: We began our 15th year in October. I was trying to change course career-wise and had the opportunity to take a few classes at the UI in the Spring of 1999 — two were in my chosen field of speech-language pathology, one was a poetry writing class, and the last, a business plan writing class. I enjoyed them all, but chose to follow my instincts when the plan panned out and showed this retail gig might be possible.
LV: What is your store all about?
NN: Connection and community. I hope that the things I sell, the events and projects we curate, bring people closer.
LV: What sorts of things do you have for sale?
NN: Greeting cards, stationery and gifts from small, design-forward studios.
LV: What sort of training did you have before going into business?
NN: I completed a business plan writing class at the UI, that is to say, not a whole lot, other than thinking things through and asking as many questions as I could, especially of those people doing the same thing I was hoping to do.
LV: What was your ultimate goal?
NN: To have a job I truly like, working with people I truly like.
LV: What were you doing before you opened your store?
NN: I was a speech-language pathologist, working in the public schools.
LV: Is running a business harder than you thought it would be?
NN: Everything is harder than you think it’s going to be, and also more rewarding in ways you never thought.
LV: What is the most difficult thing (was there anything you had to learn the hard way)?
NN: Having to explain to people that “locally made” can mean many things, not the least of which is a small business in a thriving downtown. Afterall, isn’t my shop itself “locally made?” Supporting local businesses keeps money in your own community and a brick and mortar business is most likely an active supporter of local organizations and events. Here at r.s.v.p. we donate at least weekly to something — school carnivals, UI student groups, The Englert, Riverside Theater, et cetera.
LV: What is the most fun/greatest joy of owning your own business?
NN: The people I’ve met.
LV: Is there any advice you would give to your younger self?
NN: Don’t worry so much, it’s going to be fine…just maybe not the fine you think it’s going to be.
LV: Did you have to learn a lot about paper? what’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned about stationery?
NN: I certainly have learned a tremendous amount, especially about the art of letterpress. For many years, when my shop was on Washington Street, Shari DeGraw of Lagniappe/Empyrean Press used my back room as her studio. Watching her work allowed me to see the craftsmanship involved in even the smallest printing project.
LV: Do you have any favorite designers/websites?
NN: I love Letterpress, but we have a lot of Letterpress in the store, so picking one would be difficult.
LV: What do you think is the strangest item you have for sale?
NN: The Japanese don’t mess around — even the smallest product is perfect in its details. We have pencil caps, for instance, so that that the lead of one’s sharpened pens don’t break off while carried. They all slide together (of course) so that all the pencils stay bundled and easy to find.
LV: You have many titles: owner, buyer, marketing, sales representative, etc. Could you talk a little about these? How do you get inspiration for what to buy?
NN: It’s in a small business owner’s best interest to be able to multitask, as the operating budget can be slight. As far as my own store, I think of boutique shopping as the opposite of the vast options available online: people come in for an experience, not simply to make a purchase. My job is provide a well curated selection of goods, and present them in a sensory pleasing way.
LV: What has been your strangest customer request?
NN: By strange I assume you mean charming. We once provided beautiful personalized stationery for D.R. Shane, P.W.C., a corgi who apparently corresponded voluminously.
LV: What do you consider the best card you’ve ever given/received? The worst?
NN: Any personal, handwritten correspondence is ok by me…what do they say about pizza and sex — even when it’s bad it’s good? Real mail is like that.
LV: How does the chaos of the holidays affect you?
NN: The inventory of my little shop more than doubles. People just shop more at this time of year. It’s a bit crazier, sure, but for many small shops, myself included, the holiday season allows the doors to remain open during the slow months. I can’t stress enough how much of a difference it makes to small businesses when folks choose to keep it local during the holiday season.
LV: Have there been any people in particular who have shaped your success?
NN: My family is pretty great. They regularly talk me off the ledge.
LV: Do you have an important partner/employee?
NN: My employees are the greatest, past and current. This is a family and everyone matters.
LV: Outside of the storefront, are you involved in any other business ventures? online or craft shows for instance? (Etsy? Pinterest?)
NN: Not a single one.
LV:Are there any exciting upcoming events or sales coming up for you?
NN: We are currently participating in the downtown “Giving Book” project: 10% of the profit from jewelry sales November 29 through December 7 will be donated to the United Way. And on December 7th we are part of the downtown “Celeberate the Season” holiday open house.
LV: Do you have any advice in finding the perfect card or gift?
NN:Think about the person you’re choosing something for; sentiment matters more than bling.
LV: Any special holiday plans/traditions?
NN: We are firm believers at r.s.v.p. of champagne o’clock.
LV: what are your favorite parts about Christmas? New Year’s?
NN: See above. Additionally, one of my employees is a Blue Ribbon Iowa State Fair baker. Need I say more? It’s great to see our regulars more regularly as well.
LV: Any New Year’s resolutions?
NN: The only one I’ve ever kept: celebrate more often…with champagne.
