We finally finished our tween’s room! My kiddo, bless his heart, never complained about the months of living with 1960s floral wallpaper and yellowing, falling-down rollerblinds, so I was happy to finally be able to deliver on the promise that his room would be among the first to be renovated. Here's the before:
The only probelm with working with this particular collaborator is that he had a very strong opinion that it should NOT look "like Woonwinkel, with color all over the place". He just wanted "normal" colors like blue, brown, and grey. Little rebel. So we put our heads together and came up with this bold look that has some spunk while sticking to a fairly tight, subdued palette.
Designed for how a youngster really lives, we made some strategic choices. A tidy blue and orange grid, a tailored back rest, and neat drapes balance the rumpled linen look of the bedding. The Restore Basket collects stray bits and bobs.
If you know a bed is never going to be made, or the bedding's always going to end up on the floor, I say don't fight it. Just embrace the rumpled look with linen. Our Hawkins New York Simple Linen Bedding is a staple in our house. Another key item here is the USB-rechargeable Porta Lamp, which is a perfect nighttime light with three light levels. We'll borrow this from the kiddo for the patio now that the days are getting shorter, and it'll come along with us camping as well.
We arranged the room so we wouldn't have to see a cluttered desk from the hallway. It's a decent view from the door (except when that closet is open. I'm still strategizing on that one). This darker nook provides a cozy video-gaming area, while also helping cords and desk clutter to blend into the low-contrast background.
Oversize Curve Hooks are my way of saying,"Please hang up your towel".
ALL of the big items in this room were either FREE on my BuyNothing Facebook group or otherwise thrifted. The artwork is a mix of inexpensive posters, homemade artwork, and these awesome cardboard cutouts we have at the shop (Deluxe Glider Plane and Deluxe Propeller Plane), plus one special piece bought from a friend, @karlaenglehardt. We even framed a little scrap of wrapping paper from Unwrp. Books, sporting goods and whatnot tend to be thrifted at our house. Here’s where we put our money: Miller Paint, because it makes such a huuuuuuge difference, wallpaper for impact (we use Natural Gifts from Thatcher Studio), and cozy bedding and rugs that we love (Aelfie, @tnk.objects).
We did the work ourselves including painting, making drapes, and hanging the wallpaper. The only brutal part was scraping the layers upon layers of old wallpaper in this 100-year-old house.
We used a steamer and elbow grease but next time we’re going to cave and try chemicals. We’ll let you know how it goes cause this whoooooole house is wallpapered—every last room. Dining room and living room up next! Stay tuned!
Miller Paint colors:
Blue Depths 0626 - dark blue
Pompeii Ruins 0623 - light blue closet door
Skiers View R003 - white
Ivory Ridge 0182 (not pictured but super cool on the door)
About us: Woonwinkel is an independent home and gift shop where everyday goods shine bright. We’re a bit color-obsessed. We hope our passion for color makes a visit more than just a shopping trip--we want it to uplift and inspire. Color is symbolic to us, too. It’s a colorful world and we like it that way. We believe differences within our team and our community makes us stronger and richer. We act on that through who and how we hire, how we pledge to communicate within our team, and what voices we amplify not only through our social channels but through our products as well. You can find out about some of our actions on the Values page of our website, or read our 2022 Social Impact Report . We're committed to fair and inclusive hiring practices.
We're hiring a part-time sales associate to assist in the daily operations of the store.
Job Description: Sales associates deliver high-quality customer service and will develop a deep knowledge of products, policies, and the brand. Sales Associates should be kind, friendly, customer-oriented team members who help ensure a positive experience for each visitor. Sales associates take care and pay attention to details in back-of-house operations including fulfilling web orders, receiving inventory, and moving inventory between locations.
Physical Requirements: Candidates must be able to move about the retail floor, climb a ladder and lift up to 40 lbs. They must be able to read and write via analog and digital means, and also communicate clearly in person.
Sale Associate Traits: Positive, empathetic, and assertive. Knowledge-seeking. Conscientious. Excellent communication skills. Motivated.
Details:
Position: Sales Associate
20-24 hours/week, usually with a consistent schedule
All sales associates start at $16/hour
Info@Woonwinkelhome.com
]]>Welcome to our second Social Impact Report.
Publishing a Social Impact Report allows us to self-reflect, seek advice and stay accountable on the annual goals we set for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our business.
We’re going to tell you a little bit about us, assess how we did on our 2022 goals, and set our sights on social impact goals for 2023.
Woonwinkel is a Portland, Oregon-based home and gift shop where everyday goods shine bright. You may have noticed we’re a bit color-obsessed. We hope our passion for color makes a visit more than just a shopping trip--we want it to uplift and inspire.
While the search for colorful objects is fun, our vision goes beyond what we can put in someone’s shopping bag. We also strive to metaphorically "see in color". We believe differences within our team and our community make us stronger and richer. We prioritize building an environment in which different perspectives are valued. We'll share more about our values throughout this report.
This report is a collective effort by the Woonwinkel team.
-Kristin Van Buskirk, Owner (she/her)
Representation Goals:
It’s a colorful world and we like it that way. We want our shop to reflect the world in all its rich diversity. To that end, we’re ever expanding our collections of products and publications by Black, Brown, queer, and other resilient marginalized groups that have been historically underrepresented in media and on store shelves. We aim to share our platform to spotlight small brands and artists we love, whether we carry them in our shop or not, especially those who may not have had the same structural privileges aiding their business-growing experiences because of racism and other forms of discrimination.
2022 Representation Goals:
How we did: Currently 13% of the brands we carry are Black-owned, down from over 15% the year prior (that doesn't include books with Black authors..ie: Black Food, The Hair Book, You Grow, Gurl which meet our goal of representation but aren't distributed by Black-owned publishers).
How we did: We maintained visual representation of Black and Brown bodies and expanded our representation of queer, disabled and bigger sized bodies in the several publications and artworks we added to our collection.
How we did: We think we were fairly consistent on spotlighting artists and small brands through pop up shops and social media shares, but losing a key staff person who managed our social media has made it a little more difficult for us to quantify those efforts.
NEW Representation Goals for 2023:
Community Goals:
We tangibly contribute time and money to organizations in our community that advance diversity, equity, inclusion and justice.
2022 Community Goals:
How we did: We continued our quarterly donations to She the People and we also added a monthly donation to the ACLU this year, specifically to fund state campaigns to strengthen abortion protection laws.
How we did: We closed on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. After doing a little research, we decided not to limit our staff volunteer day to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but instead we enabled staff to choose a day this year on which they can skip their Woonwinkel shift in order to volunteer in the organization of their choice, while still getting paid for their shift. We did this because of the need for volunteers all year long.
NEW Community Goals for 2023:
Team Goals:
Diversity within our team and our community makes us stronger and richer. We prioritize building an environment in which different perspectives are valued. We act on that through who and how we hire, and how we pledge to communicate within our team. We cited as our number one goal in 2022 to Be A Great Place To Work so we had a lot of goals in this category.
2022 Team Goals:
How we did: Our owner completed the Portland Means Progress 5-Week Intensive Course for Executives, which is based on the TechTown Executives Best Practices for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Toolkit and one associate completed the 5-week Intensive Course for Internal Champions of DEI
How we did: Every staff member* completed a 2-day DEI Training conducted by Court Morse of Action Path. A huge thank you to Sarah Shaoul, of the Bricks Need Mortar group of small business retailers, for working with us on creating this class that enabled several small business to pool their resources and complete this training together. (*Black and Brown employees had the choice of opting out since the work of overcoming bias and re-creating workplace cultures and policies to be inclusive needs to be primarily shouldered by white people).
How we did: We succeeded in writing a mission for the DEI committee, but failed to fully form or activate the committee in crafting a 3-year DEI Plan. In the absence of a committee, we still made sure to seek a broad range of perspectives on our DEI actions and policies, including consulting with DEI practitioners on our Team Culture Guide and pay policies.
How we did: We added quarterly all-staff meetings and employees report that the methods and tools for daily communication are working
How we did: We started conducting exit interviews
How we did: We did not yet start conducting anonymous employee experience surveys. The smaller our staff gets, the more we wonder how anonymous a survey really will be. Readers, do you have any ideas for us on how to enable staff members to share their experience here, in a way that feels safe for the employee?
How we did: We have a strong draft of the Employee Handbook but need to finish it and share it with the staff
How we did: We added a conversation about the Team Culture Guide and our values into employee onboarding, and reviewed it with staff in one of our quarterly meetings
How we did: We shared the details of our pay policy so employees know exactly what the starting pay is for everyone, and how increases are determined (when specialized responsibilities are added, and by seniority). A conversation about the policy was added to employee onboarding.
How we did: We chose an external Human Resources firm that has DEI at its core, but have not yet introduced it to the entire staff or explained how/when an external firm might be called
How we did: This year was up and down in terms of keeping our team comprised of a well-rounded mix of skills and perspectives (across ages, race, identity). Because of a challenging year financially, we decided not to rehire after some natural attrition, and we also had to make the difficult decision to lay off a valuable member of our team. Losing team members meant losing some diversity in our team’s makeup. We’re down to 5 employees from 10.
NEW Team Goals for 2023:
Sustainability Goals:
We’re committed to selling and using products that are eco-friendly, recognizing that adverse environmental impact is often felt most directly by the least powerful people.
2022 Sustainability Goals:
How we did: We added eco-friendly products. We challenged some vendors to be more sustainable with their packaging. We continue to obsessively re-use packing materials for our web-order fulfillment.
NEW Sustainability Goals for 2023:
Financial Equity Goals:
2022 Financial Equity Goals:
How We Did: We hired our federally-funded Worksystems intern and took on another intern through the same program and we were able to hire her recently as well.
NEW Financial Equity Goals for 2023:
This year brought many challenges. 2022 ended with a tough financial report, and the layoff of a valuable team member. We lost a handful of other dedicated team members through attrition, and didn't rehire those positions for financial reasons. So we're down to a skeleton crew and that means we have fewer resources with which to meet our goals. A big part of 2023 will be about figuring out what our biggest priorities are for making a positive social impact, and to make sure we're equipped to do each one well, and in a spirit that would make our former team members feel proud.
We’re pleased to report that we’ve had incredible external support from the Portland Means Progress organization, of which we became members in early 2022. By becoming members of this group, we pledged to 1. Pay at least $15/hour 2. Create work experiences for underrepresented youth and young professionals of color 3. Create culture change in our organization by providing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) training and tools for our staff and leadership 4. Complete Portland Means Progress annual reporting every January. We greatly appreciate the programming and assistance PMP provides in meeting these pledges.
Our Commitment to Transparency
We’re publishing this report on our blog so anyone can find it anytime. Writing this was a group effort; we asked for input from our entire team.
Our Call to be held Accountable
We’ll share this report with the public, and also our customers, who we ask to keep us accountable.
Our Request for Feedback
Will you share your thoughts with us? Please connect with us at info@woonwinkelhome.com. We’re all ears.
Thank yous
Thank you, thank you, thank you to the mighty little team of 5 here at Woonwinkel who spent time thoughtfully contributing to this report by helping assess how we did on our goals, by editing, and by enthusiastically crafting goals for 2023.
- Kristin Van Buskirk, Owner
artwork by Shanalee Hampton, at Gallery Go Go
Would you like to join the Woonwinkel team? We're hiring a part-time seasonal sales associate to assist in the daily operations of our joyful little corner store. We have a small, hardworking team that does more than just clock in. We have a deep sense of responsibility to each other and to our community so we take our roles seriously. As a sales associate, you'd be an important part of our team.
Learn more about our values and social mission here.
Sale associates deliver high-quality customer service with a deep knowledge of products, policies and the brand. Sales Associates should be kind, friendly, customer-oriented team members who help ensure a positive experience for each visitor. Sales associates take care and pay attention to details in back-of-house operations including fulfilling web orders, receiving inventory, and moving inventory between locations. Candidates must be able to climb a ladder and lift up to 50 lbs.
Woonwinkel is committed to fair and inclusive hiring practices and we'll seek a wide variety of applicants before conducting interviews.
Sale Associate Traits: Positive and empathetic. Knowledge seeking. High personal standards. Excellent communication skills.
Sales Associate Responsibilities:
Create a welcoming atmosphere. Engage with visitors in a friendly, knowledgeable, and empathetic manner. Move physically around the store and interact. Manage the cash wrap area and POS. Clean and organize. Receive and organize inventory, move inventory between locations. Fulfill web orders.
Physical Requirements: Stand for long periods, climb a ladder and lift up to 50 lbs. Read and write via analog and digital means. Communicate clearly in person.
Details:
16-24 hours/week, through mid-January 2023
$15/hour
Deadline: November 8, 2022
Bring your resume in person to 935 SW Washington Street, Portland, 97205, 11am-6pm.
]]>Youkyung Kaycee Woo in her studio
Woonwinkel | 935 SW Washington Street | Portland
exhibit closes Oct 31
We have a creative staff here at Woonwinkel and we enjoy sharing our creative pursuits with each other. Now, our very own Lauren Huie is ready to share her creative passion with YOU! This engineer-turned ceramicist is bringing new work to the winkel on July 9th. Come check it out!
]]>
This month includes celebrations that commemorate both the struggles and joyful accomplishments of two marginalized groups. While it's fun to join in the festivities, we also want to tangibly support these, and all, marginalized communities, since inequities, bias, and even hate continue.
A simple way for any of us to make a positive social impact is to put our money in the hands of the communities we support. That means shopping Black-owned products to put money into a group that's been historicially underrepresented on store shelves. It means buying products that challenge convention, like our new book Women Painting Women, which includes over 50 trailblazing portraits by women artists that challenge the archetypes painted by men in a male-dominated art world.
We've made it easy for you to support different groups with your dollars. Go to our home page and find the Shop Your Values dropdown menu.
This month we're launching a new Shop Your Values collection: LGBTQ+. In it you can find the brand new local magazine, Keeks, created to build bridges and break barriers.
You can find books for kids that remind them that they're a-okay just as they are; you can find beautiful portraits of lovers by Mexican artist Enrique Larios, and more.
If you want to learn about additional ways to tangibly support Black Americans, go to the websites of the NAACP, or Color of Change.
If you want to learn about additional ways to tangibly support LGBTQ+ Americans, go to Movement Advancement Project's LGBTQ+ resource page. or the Human Rights Campaign website.
Thank you!!
Kristin and the Woonwinkel Team
#colorfulworld
]]>
Welcome to our first Social Impact Report.
Publishing a Social Impact Report allows us to self-reflect. It enables us to seek advice to get past hurdles. And it helps us stay accountable. We know we’re not big and we’re not blessed with an abundance of resources, but we still want to make as much of an impact within our business, in our community, and in our world as we possibly can.
“If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way” ― Martin Luther King Jr.
We’re going to tell you a little bit about us, what we strive to do, and we’re going to welcome your input. This report is a collective effort by the Woonwinkel team. Thank you for being interested in what’s important to us. First, a little background:
Woonwinkel is a Portland, Oregon-based home and gift shop where everyday goods shine bright. You may have noticed we’re a bit color-obsessed. We hope our passion for color makes a visit more than just a shopping trip--we want it to uplift and inspire.
Color is symbolic to us, too. It’s a colorful world and we like it that way. We believe diversity within our team and our community makes us stronger and richer. We prioritize building an environment in which different perspectives are valued. We act on that through who and how we hire, how we pledge to communicate within our team, and what voices we amplify not only through our social channels, but through our products as well. We’re going to tell you more about our values as you read on.
We strive to inspire our customer through joyful aesthetics. We believe that comfort, color, and levity make a home feel just right. Over twenty years in the color design industry have taught me that color is powerful. When our eye takes in color, it sends a message to our brain to decipher it. As it’s doing so, the brain releases a hormone which affects moods, focus, appetite, energy levels and more. Every color benefits us in some way, and at its best it ignites a powerful emotional reaction. But it’s not enough for us to simply source “colorful stuff”.
We look for objects that SHINE BRIGHT. They’re…
While the search for those objects is fun, our vision goes beyond what we can put in someone’s shopping bag. We also strive to metaphorically "see in color". And, we ask our customers to do the same. When we source products and publications by people who belong to groups who have historically been underrepresented on store shelves, we ask our community to see in full color. When we set ground rules within our team for how we’ll communicate with each other, we’re also ensuring that each individual perspective carries weight so we can see in full color.
Now we're going to share details about goals we've met, where we’ve fallen short, and what we want to accomplish in the future. There are so many more ways we need to embed our values into our business and we have a lot of room for improvement. I’m hoping you’re going to have some ideas to share with us.
Now I’m going to hand it over to some of my team members.
-Kristin Van Buskirk, Owner (she/her)
______________________________________
PRODUCT/VENDOR GOALS:
Values Statement: We’re a little biz who works with other little businesses and we intend to stay small. We seek out independent designers and small companies and enjoy getting to know the people behind the brands. We believe that small brands are often more transparent about their social and environmental responsibility, and it's easier to get straight answers to hard questions from them.
We believe that good design and quality can be attained at a moderate price, and that saving for something well made is worth the wait. We believe that everyday goods can shine bright and bring joy when a little more care is put into their design and manufacture. We believe in owning fewer, better things and have a strong preference for items that are long lasting or recycleable to reduce our environmental impact.
We believe diversity makes us stronger and richer. We act on that through our product purchasing as well, and we expanded that effort this year.
2021 Product/Vendor Goals:
How We Did - Product/Vendor Goals:
Product/Vendor Goals for Next Year:
Values Statement: We’re committed to selling and using products that are eco-friendly, recognizing that adverse environmental impact is often felt most directly by less powerful people.
2021 Sustainability Goals:
In addition to this main goal, we continue to adhere to the following principles:
How We Did - Sustainability Goals:
Sustainability Goals for Next Year:
Values Statement: Hi, this is Blue, the Community Outreach Coordinator. We created my position to bring greater focus in the ways we celebrate the voices of marginalized communities (so we can "see in color"), and reform the ways we financially contribute to our community.
2021 Community Goals
How We Did - Community Goals:
Community Goals for Next Year:
In 2022, we’d like to expand and grow the ways in which we uplift organizations chosen for the Monthly Donation Program.
Value Statement: We believe diversity within our team and our community makes us stronger and richer. We prioritize building an environment in which different perspectives are valued. We act on that through who and how we hire, and how we pledge to communicate within our team.
2021 Team Goals:
How We Did - Team Goals:
Team Goals for Next Year:
It’d be hard to overstate how challenging 2020 was for Woonwinkel, financially and otherwise. But thanks to our customers (and plenty of help from the federal government), WE SURVIVED. So in 2021 we were able to re-set our sights on goals that reflect our values of creating financial stability for our employees, with a fair pay structure in which the people who put the most into the business (the full-time managers who work in it daily), earn wages commensurate with the owner.
2021 Financial Goals:
Our 2021 financial goals were created with the intent to :
In addition to these main goals, we continue to adhere to the following principles to ensure equity in pay:
How We Did - Financial Goals:
Financial Goals for Next Year:
______________________________________
Blue:
In our successes in creating a structured program around donations, creating a role dedicated to community outreach, and prioritizing our focus of our role in our community, I’ve seen a huge change in the way we, as a business, have grown to embrace our values in a whole new way.
I’ve seen a huge shift this year in the way many our staff members communicate about issues within our community, and the frequency in which social and human rights topics are brought in to conversations about how we can do better. Within our shop, there’s also been a call to draw attention to some of our own work culture practices and communication structures that were either inequitable, or just weren’t working. I believe that when a business pledges itself to the holistic betterment of individuals and community, inside and outside the workplace, it means that business must hold a magnifying glass to the business itself first, and shed a light on the bridges between it’s own values and actual workplace practices. It’s an uncomfortable part of taking accountability and striving for better, it’s also a necessary part of actually creating that “better” future.
We still have areas that call for improvement- I believe that we’ll always have more work to do, and I believe that we’ve grown quite a lot in the last year with how we dedicate ourselves to that work. I feel hopeful about all the efforts we’ve made this year for the betterment of ourselves and our community, and motivated by the places we have not yet fully succeeded or grown into the goals we set for ourselves.
Kristin:
Blue pretty much said it. The only thing I'd like to add is a quote from Dr. Thela Thatch. "The more leaders work on themselves, the more we create a culture of vulnerability and transparency", which is part of the foundation for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workplace. I so appreciate the way in which my team supports and challenges each other and me, while I try and sometimes fail to be a better leader. If we ever feel like we've finally fully embedded our values into this business, it will be in large part because of this team's commitment to each other.
______________________________________
Our Commitment to Transparency
We’re publishing this report on our blog so anyone can find it anytime. Writing this was a group effort by several of our team members, and we asked for input from our entire team.
Our Call to be held Accountable
We’ll share this report with the public, and also our customers, who we ask to keep us accountable.
Our Request for Feedback
Will you share your thoughts with us? Please connect with us at info@woonwinkelhome.com. We’re all ears.
Thank yous
A huge thank you to the Woonwinkel staff who worked hard to meet our goals in 2021, and who put a lot of enthusiastic effort into creating this report for you. I especially appreciate Lori Caldwell, our Retail Manager, who did extensive research on what should be included in an SER Report, created a framework for us, and organized the team to make it happen. I'd also like to thank Blue Granby, our Community Outreach Coordinator who put a lot into this report, just as she puts passionate effort in building community within and outside of Woonwinkel. Lastly, thank you to the whole team who gave input along the way and who were ready and waiting to contribute ideas for future goals. Ya'll are a fine, fine team.
- Kristin Van Buskirk, Owner
_______________________________________________________________
KEY PRINCIPLES:
A culture of empathy, support, and respect for each other.
A culture where we value differences to make us stronger.
A culture where goals, roles and expectations are clear.
A culture of open communication between all levels.
_______________________________________________________________
None of us will be perfect at upholding this code. We fall back onto old habits, cultural differences, and default modes easily, especially in times of stress. When this happens, we'll hold each other accountable in a supportive way.
_______________________________________________________________
CULTIVATE OPEN COMMUNICATION:
_______________________________________________________________
MAKE GOALS, ROLES and EXPECTATIONS CLEAR:
Be clear about what's needed and expected. This goes for small quick instances in the moment, yearly goal-setting, and everything in between.
_______________________________________________________________
VALUE DIFFERENCES:
We’re excited to share that we’re taking part in Small Shops Big Hearts Holiday Shopping Event Friday, November 26th and Saturday, November 27th and we would love to see you come out for it!
Here’s How it Works:
Prizes include ipad, hotel stays, concert and performing arts tickets, dining experiences and gifts from Venture Portland, Travel Portland and nearly 100 participating small businesses.
*Note that discounts may not apply for custom, special order and in addition to other offers. Some regulated goods may be prohibited from discounting by state regulations.
Small Shops Big Hearts is built on 4 pillars:
-- Kristin and the Woonwinkel Team
]]>
Through her platform, Otherly, Julia "seeks to celebrate the vastness of Blackness, while critiquing the very unhelpful ways in which we categorize it." Using color, fashion, dance and videography, she creates other-worldy installations in which the viewer is struck by the odd proportions of her apparel designs, while at the same time is mesmerized by playful colors, textures, and sounds.
A giant-sized puffer jacket on display in this show. Created by Julia Bond. Photo courtesy Julia Bond.
In this show, Pink, Purple, Polka-Dotted, Julia challenges the idea that you can justify being color-blind to race. When you say “It doesn’t matter if you’re black, white, red, yellow, pink, purple, or polka dotted,” it actually means this:
“I refuse to deal with how our culture and society treats people of color because it makes me uncomfortable. I don’t want to understand how having a different skin color or ethnicity affects other people because that means I would have to think and consider other points of view. What I want is to not have to think. I prefer to believe I live in a fantasy land where no one ever pays attention to skin color, ethnicity, culture, or religion.” (Source: stuffwhitepeopledo.com)
It's harder to replenish stock quickly, so once items sell out, that might be it until the new year. This is the case especially for small shops who don't have a lot of warehouse space to hold backstock. Shop the small shops early.
Yes, you should shop early, but that one product you really want might still be slowly en route to us. So sign up for our waiting list. You'll see this tag (below) on items that we're expecting to come in before the holidays (that timeline is probable, but not guaranteed). Click into the product, scroll down, and type in your email address for an auto-notification when your desired product's in stock.
Do your part to unclog the shipping pipeline. If you can, order your items online and then come pick them up in the shop for free. This frees up the busy package carriers to deliver packages that really must be shipped. We have two free 5-minute parking spots right outside our shop on 10th Street. We can have you in and out in a flash. Plus, we'd love to see your smiling eyes.
If that special something isn't in stock, how about purchasing a gift card? We can send you a digital version via email or a paper version by mail.
Good luck with your holiday prep this year! Above all, remember to enjoy it!
We're hiring a part-time sales associate to assist in the daily operations of the store.
Sale associates deliver high-quality customer service with a deep knowledge of products, policies and the brand. Sales Associates should be kind, friendly, customer-oriented team members who help ensure a positive experience for each visitor. Sales associates take care and pay attention to details in back-of-house operations including fulfilling web orders, receiving inventory, and moving inventory between locations. Candidates must be able to climb a ladder and lift up to 50 lbs.
Sale Associate Traits: Positive, empathetic, and assertive. Knowledge-seeking. High personal standards. Excellent communication skills. Motivated.
Sales Associate Responsibilities: Sales Associate Responsibilities: Create a welcoming atmosphere. Engage with visitors in a friendly, knowledgeable, and empathetic manner. Move physically around the store and interact. Sell products with deep product knowledge and story-telling. Manage the cash wrap area and POS. Ensure the accuracy of the inventory and POS systems. Clean and organize. Receive and organize inventory, move inventory between locations. Ability to independently open and close the store. Fulfill web orders.
Physical Requirements: Stand for long periods, climb a ladder and lift up to 50 lbs. Read and write via analog and digital means. Communicate clearly in person.
Woonwinkel is committed to fair and inclusive hiring practices and we'll seek a wide variety of applicants before conducting interviews.
Details:
20 hours/week, usually with a consistent schedule, but with some variability during the holidays
$15.00/hour
Deadline: March 31, 2021
Bring your resume in person to 935 SW Washington Street, Portland, 97205, 11am-6pm.
]]>We're also highlighting two specific groups of products in the shop with stickers:
This collection of products celebrates seeing things from different perspectives and highlights underrepresented voices. 10% of your purchase of these products will go to She the People, an organization that elevates the political voices of women of color.
Fifteen percent of the brands we carry will be Black-owned. This sticker identifies those brands.
For us, "see in color" are words to live by. It's a colorful world and we love it that way. Not only that, but we don't think we can fully see till we see from multiple perspectives.
"See in color" is what our LGBTQ+ friends ask us to do when they carry a rainbow flag and march in pride. That’s what women say when they wear a hot pink pussy hat and march to make their voices heard. That’s what our Black friends mean when they say,”Black Lives Matter” and march for their lives. There’s not just one narrowly-defined perspective of the world and these movements are helping us see that more clearly.
The Fifteen Percent Pledge is a commitment to ensure at least 15% of our brands are Black-owned. The Fifteen Percent Pledge was created by Aurora James, the founder of luxury brand Brother Vellies, to urge major retailers to do the same: stock their shelves with at least 15% Black-owned brands. Why? Black people make up nearly 15% of the country's population but their businesses are vastly underrepresented in the retail industry. The Fifteen Percent organization seeks economic equality and prosperity for Black Americans rather than accept the wealth gap that currently exists between Black and White Americans.
Please consider shopping from these collections. Thank you!!
]]>Can't you just imagine sangria or sparkling wine in these gorgeous glasses? Estelle colored glassware is available in store only, but it's worth it. Direct message us, call, or email and we can make the purchase easy for you. 503-334-2088. info@woonwinkelhome.com
This dishwasher-safe glazed stoneware works beautifully in a neutral house or with a colorful palette. It's a lovely cream-colored glazed clay with tiny grey speckles. Its elegant foot elevates the design, adding a floating expression to the collection. Order online; it ships directly from Ferm Living.
A more casual dining option is our collection of bamboo plates and bowls. We looove these for lunches on the patio, snacks, entertaining...well, we use them at our house for just about everything, really. They're perfect for the eco-conscious couple; they're 80% bamboo and 20% plastic so they break down in the landfill, that is, if your friends are ever willing to part with them. Dishwasher safe. Top rack recommended.
These colorful napkins can go with the fancy OR the fun dishes. The bold fabrics hold up extremely well in the wash--we love the quality. Available as dish towels, too.
Still not sure what to get? Let us mail a paper or digital gift card and your couple can choose for themselves. Or try shopping any of our collections below:
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Kel Cadet-Lyons believes that "a life filled with color, pattern, and texture is a life well-lived" and believes color has the ability to heal. We couldn't agree more. She draws on elements from the West Indian and African diaspora to create richly colored and patterned personal and home accessories. SHOP R-KI-TEKT.
photo courtesy R-Ki-Tekt
photo courtesy R-Ki-Tekt
Artist K'era Morgan's work "is a reflection of her mood, with color and brushstrokes and mark-making heavily representing the essence of a feeling, emotion or thought in the exact moment." She creates original artworks for sale, and translates some of those into beautiful textiles for the home. SHOP K'APOSTROPHE
photo courtesy K'Apostrophe
photo courtesy K'Apostrophe
Julia Bond of Otherly uses color metaphorically in her work, as a way to explore the vastness of the Black experience. Creating items that are one-of-a-kind, she challenges the idea of Blackness as monolithic. She says, "Every black experience is a black experience". SHOP OTHERLY.
photo courtesy Otherly
photo courtesy Otherly
photo courtesy Otherly
Candice Cox says orange is her color because it brings JOY! We agree! It pops up in her branding, in her space, and on her. We're obsessed with her blue tassel Lola Earrings because, of course, they create some fantastic ZING with complementary orange. SHOP CANDID ART.
photo courtesy Candid Art
photo courtesy Candid Art
photo courtesy Candid Art
Ashley London Fouyolle says her brand is "where all my favorite things combined--art, fashion and vibrant colors". She partners with artists and designers from around the world to create luxury wrapping papers and re-usable fabric wraps that make a bold statement. SHOP UNWRP.
photo courtesy Unwrp and West Elm
For graphic artist Janell Langford, representing Black women and girls is very important. Having spent the majority of her adult life in white spaces, representation of Black women in media has been noticeably absent. Janell says the name of her brand "comes from the word Obsidian, which is a protective stone that shields against negativity and also is a truth-enhancer. Black women and girls need to be encouraged to stand in their truth even when the world is not ready to listen". SHOP OBSIDIOPOLIS.
photo courtesy Obsidiopolis
Estelle Colored Glass was born out of nostalgia for owner Stephanie Hall's colored-glass-hunting trips in small South Carolina towns with her grandmother, Estelle. Hall decided to give colored glass an update, creating minimal, elegant styles that work with all kinds of decor.
Available in store only. Contact us at info@woonwinkelhome.com to purchase.
photo courtesy Estelle Colored Glass
Folkus is highly sustainable gift wrap "inspired by the Black aesthetic and experience." Each double-sided wrap has a name with a story to tell. Ola, for example, "is a mood, and that mood is celebration, especially the sonic sounds and vibes of Black Folk. Ola or rather O-la is a common suffix uttered by Black folks in our jubilation especially in song -- Hip Hop, Gogo, Samba, Mergenue." Other wraps include names like Khadijah/Zakiyah and Malcolm/Betty. SHOP FOLKUS.
House Dogge's perfectly edited line comes from owner Angela Medlin's years of collection-building experience in the apparel design industry. She designed for companies like Levi's, Nike, and Adidas, and Eddie Bauer before launching the House Dogge brand and the FAAS Design Collab, a "learn while doing" apparel design program created, in part, "to close the gap between under-represented creatives and the footwear/apparel industry." SHOP HOUSE DOGGE.
photo courtesy Schoolhouse.com
photo courtesy House Dogge
Sara Ekua Todd's "functional clay ware exhibits a reverence for shape and surface — and is often bursting with juicy color." Todd says "her taste comes from her multi-ethnic upbringing. Having grown up in an artistic household, she discovered the importance of individuality. Living and studying in Antwerp gave her a very keen sense of style that translates into all the objects she produces." SHOP EKUA.
photo by Lowell Ervin Ong
photo by Lowell Ervin Ong
Wow, we are 10!!! Our proudest accomplishment of the decade is SURVIVING the PANDEMIC (you helped us do it!), while also managing to meet the big GOAL we set for ourselves at the beginning of that year. We were determined to make our VALUES more apparent and active in everything we do. Here are some of the things we've been working on, and we'll strive to improve these every day:
Thank you, again, for giving us 10 YEARS. We're going to try every day to give back to you.
Best,
Kristin and the Woonwinkel Team
Would you like to join the Woonwinkel team? We're hiring a part-time sales associate to assist in the daily operations of our joyful little corner store. We have a small, hardworking team that does more than just clock in. We support each other, we learn from each other, and we depend on each other to put food on our tables. We have a deep sense of responsibility to each other and to our community so we take our roles seriously. As a sales associate, you'd be an important part of our team.
Learn more about our values and social mission here.
Sale associates deliver high-quality customer service with a deep knowledge of products, policies and the brand. Sales Associates should be kind, friendly, customer-oriented team members who help ensure a positive experience for each visitor. Sales associates take care and pay attention to details in back-of-house operations including fulfilling web orders, receiving inventory, and moving inventory between locations. Candidates must be able to climb a ladder and lift up to 50 lbs.
Woonwinkel is committed to fair and inclusive hiring practices and we'll seek a wide variety of applicants before conducting interviews.
Sale Associate Traits: Professional. Positive and empathetic. Knowledge seeking. High personal standards. Excellent communication skills.
Sales Associate Responsibilities:
Create a welcoming atmosphere. Engage with visitors in a friendly, knowledgeable, and empathetic manner. Move physically around the store and interact. Sell products with deep product knowledge and story-telling. Manage the cash wrap area and POS. Ensure the accuracy of the inventory and POS systems. Clean and organize. Receive and organize inventory, move inventory between locations. Fulfill web orders.
Physical Requirements: Stand for long periods, climb a ladder and lift up to 50 lbs. Read and write via analog and digital means. Communicate clearly in person.
Details:
20-24 hours/week, usually with a consistent schedule
$14.50/hour
Deadline: May 30th, 2021
Bring your resume in person to 935 SW Washington Street, Portland, 97205, 11am-6pm.
]]>Our brains are wired to avoid risks. Hard edges and surfaces warn our brain away, to reduce the chance of a hard knock. Give your brain the cue to relax by balancing hardness with plushness, straight edges with rounded forms.
image by Woonwinkel
photo by Woonwinkel
Light affects our cycles of waking and sleeping, our moods and our productivity. Add reflective surfaces in small or dark rooms and you’ll dramatically increase the light and add a feeling of expansiveness. Mirrors are especially helpful because humans like seeing their reflections. It's not a vanity thing--it stems from a basic need to connect and achieve a sense of self.
photo courtesy Ferm Living
image by Woonwinkel
There are physical benefits to having real live plants around (more oxygen), but if you don’t have a green thumb, even a bowl of fruit is a sign of abundant life that satisfies our human brain’s drive for “plenty”. Keep a bowl of fruit on the table as a visual cue, but also as a way to add beautiful color and encourage healthy eating, too.
image courtesy Ferm Living
You can give your brain a similar feeling when you decorate with pattern. Repetition in patterns tells our brains that there’s lots of something—and that helps satisfy that primal need for abundance. But the repetition of visual elements within a pattern also brings a sense of order.
image by Woonwinkel
photo courtesy Areaware
This one's our specialty. Color is an immensely powerful tool for affecting mood. Color comes to our eye through various wavelengths of energy. Short wavelengths tend to be calming and soothing (violets, blues, greens), while longer wavelengths tend to be energizing (yellows, oranges, reds). But within any color there are ways to produce a mood effect you want. Add white to a color to get a calming pastel. Tone down the saturation (intensity) of a color to feel grounded. Use colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel to add energy, and colors near each other on the color wheel to feel harmony.
photo by Woonwinkel
Studies show a link between viewing art and improved mood, so if playing with color in a whole room sounds daunting, start smaller. Affordable art can include a colorful school project, a digital print, a small original painting by an artist, or even a build-your-own beetle you can send scurrying up your wall.
photo courtesy Meow Wolf
photo courtesy Studio Roof
Cue your brain's pleasure center at home. Go big or go small. Save up and invest in a large piece, or go low-cost and DIY. The time you take to add joyful aesthetics to your home will pay dividends for your well-being.
Hi! I‘m Kristin. I’m the owner of this little shop. And I’m only saying a quick hello before introducing you to the rest of the Woonwinkel in-store crew. We’re a tiny but mighty team of four who does more than sell goods. We lift each other up, we put food on each other’s tables, and we talk about what we want Woonwinkel to be and DO in the bigger scheme of things.
Not usually eager to talk about myself, I’ll tell ya the highlights real quick. I’m a mom and a wife, a color designer, an outdoor enthusiast, and a total klutz. Ask Molly—she’ll confirm.
(And yes, this is an old photo of me, cause I’m almost always the one behind the camera, so we have very few photos of me looking like a semi-respectable boss lady).
And next up....
Hi, I'm Lori! The newbie to our little family of 4 badass ladies. I'm also the store manager (and, so excited about and proud of that). A few things about me: I used to have my own business here in Portland for 5 years, called Minnie + George (named after my parents), I love making things (from clothing to accessories, to home decor DIY projects), and I am the proud mom to my 9 year old fur baby, Miles- the cutest lab/pitt mix ever. Most importantly, I am committed to furthering social and racial justice by being as involved in my local community as I can. #blacklivesmatter #goodtrouble
I’m Molly, your friendly Woonwinkel Operations Manager. A few years ago I left a career in Art College Administration to earn my MFA from PNCA and OCAC. While in school, I began working at WW part-time. I knew it was the perfect job for the student version of me, but what I didn't know was how much it would bring me post graduation.
I can’t imagine my life in 2020 without this place and the people who work here. In addition to providing me a safe working environment while so many were homebound, I became part of a mini community of fierce women making it work during unusual times. Without it, my year would have been much worse. I feel fortunate and I am so excited for what 2021 will bring to our sunny corner and for what this amazing crew can accomplish.
Btw, you may have bought some of my creations at Woonwinkel. I’m artist and a maker —follow my studio @materialloop.
Hey! I'm Blue, the Community Outreach Coordinator and Lead Associate at our lil' shop. I'm a passionate advocate for mutual aid and direct action, and I’m dedicated to spending time and sharing experiences with local organizations and communities that strive for a more equitable reality and future.
Just like our other three leading ladies, I love engaging in a range of creative things in any and all ways I can, whether it’s expressing my love for color through creating and styling clothing, music or any kind of multimedia art. I'm also a huge bookworm and always looking for a new read! Luckily, I get to incorporate all those little passions in our colorful little shop, which sometimes makes 'work' in our shop feel a lot like 'play' :)
We're your in-store crew. Let us know how we can help you by emailing us at info@woonwinkelhome.com or calling us at 503-334-2088.
]]>Spend $25 and we'll give you a voucher for 2 hours of free parking, courtesy Portland Bureau of Transportation and Parking Kitty. Vouchers can be applied to a current or future Parking Kitty session. Vouchers are good until January 31, 2021.
Through December 26, park for free at Smart Park on Satudays. We have one close by!
Picking up an order? We have two spots right out in front of our shop, by the mailboxes on 10th Street--just for you.
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Shop Woonwinkel from the outside! We have windows on 10th Street and Washington Street that are filled with some of our most popular products so you can safely shop from the outside, under the cover of our awnings, anytime night or day.
1. Scan the QR code on the window, with your phone camera, to link to the window collections on our website. Or use this link.
2. Add the items to your cart and check out online.
3. Choose your delivery method. Want to pick it up right away? Choose "In Store Pick Up" and call us at 503-334-2088. We can usually have it ready in the time it takes you to grab a coffee, lunch or dessert. Shopping after hours? We can mail it to your doorstep or you can come pick it up later.
Spend some time shopping our neighbors' windows, too. You can shop Tender Loving Empire, 11:11 Supply, and House Dogge from the outside, right on the same block.
Maurice - a light and lovely pastry luncheonette
Stumptown - fancy coffee
Heart - even fancier coffee
Ruby Jewel - yummy ice cream sandwiches
180 Churros - the real deal for authentic Spanish churros and skinny baguette sandwiches
Fills Donuts - Berliner style donuts - sweet and savory
Shalom Ya'll - delicious Israeli street food
Grassa - artisanal pasta and vegetables that will make everyone in the family happy
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Hinoki benches are used in Japanese bathhouses because they resist rot. They also smell great, and each purchase contributes money to sustaining Hinoki forests in Japan. Designed by Jasper Morrison and Wataru Kumano. Also makes a great Portland porch bench.
The long-lasting, cool-burning LED lights in this pineapple make it a perfect nightlight. It comes in several tropical colors to add cheeky fun to your bathroom.
Two of our favorite sustainable products help you DITCH PLASTIC. This sculptural shampoo bar comes in a recyclable paper wrapping instead of a plastic bottle. And the recycled plastic soap stand makes a perfect landing pad for your new bar soap habit. Ditch the liquid and ditch the plastic.
Even plastic can be sustainable when it's MADE TO LAST (#reduce). You only need to replace your toothbrush when the bristles start to bend over and can't clean your teeth anymore. These bristles last a LONG, LONG, LONG, LONG, LONG, LONG time and the toothbrush feels great in your hand.
Don't actually feel like getting clean? Boy, do we hear you. Try this uplifting hair perfume in between shampoos. It's all-natural, safe, and locally made from exceptional ingredients. You can also spritz it in the air and wave your mask through the mist for a little aromatherapy. 4 scents, all amazingly good.
We love Hawkins New York's waffle hand towels for their quick-dry texture and reaaaally good colors.
But we can't fit that many customers into the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas. So help us spread out our customers!
Sign up for our mailing list ASAP to get on board.
Limited capacity might mean lines at the door. Want to avoid those? October's the time to start shopping. Early November should work great, too. Between 4-5pm is our slowest hour.
Our web order fulfillment center is us, our scrappy little sales team of 5. Packing up web orders takes a good bit more time than popping things into a bag.
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How about putting a holiday shopping appointment on your calendar for later?
October is Portland Textile Month! Check out the Portland Textile Month calendar to find out what you can see and do in windows and spaces (virtual and IRL) around town.
At Woonwinkel, we're honored to have the work of Lindsay Jordan Kretchun through the end of the month. After years of working primarily as a painter and illustrator, Lindsay began an exploration of quilting as a leap into a long time love of textile and pattern.
Having drawn most of her inspiration from dark humor and folklore, the act of quilting brings a deep sense of storytelling through material, tradition and intimacy in a familial object.
To the artist, each piece must be practically useful (intended to be used, washed, and loved) as well as aesthetically and technically captivating. Like her paintings, playful nuisance, surprise and an underlying narrative make their way into each textile piece, pared down into shape, color and pattern.
With technique and time, each quilt records the process of combining multidisciplinary practices as it patiently unfolds. Lindsay works and lives in Portland, Oregon. Follow Lindsay on Instagram.
Author's Note: Lindsay's quilts fit perfectly into the range of colors I describe in our previous blog entry. This color family is one to invest in for the decade.
]]>The color is CLAY.
It’s a range of colors that all derive from the NATURAL WORLD—literally from the earth. And that’s significant, because the earth and climate change are one of the big issues of our time. Subconsciously or not, we feel grounded by this color.
Clay also relates to the colors of SKIN. The grounding feeling that we get from this immense range of colors might have something to do with the way human color vision evolved. New studies support the idea that we might see color to help us detect subtle variations in emotion in human faces. This helped us form the social bonds necessary to the survival of the human race. This might be why our eyes can detect more variations in warm colors than any other color range.
It’s not surprising that colors that evoke something as fundamental as human touch and social interaction would feel good to us right now. And since we're at the pivotal beginning of the decade, we're likely to continue seeking similar comforts for awhile.
Clay relates to another big issue of our time, GENDER, but not in the way you might be thinking. On the pink side of this spectrum, we have a natural pigment called Potter’s Pink. Does it remind anyone of Millennial Pink? It might, because it does derive from that color phenomenon that's named after a generation. But this is how Millennial Pink has evolved, and grown a little more grounded.
I say it’s related to gender because Millennial Pink, of course, was the beginning of a long lasting trend toward genderless pink that I'm predicting will be around for good looong (historically significant) while.
So why is clay going to stick around for the next decade? We’ve been seeing these colors evolve and morph for awhile now, but precisely BECAUSE we’re looking for the stability of the ground beneath our feet, and we’re seeking things as fundamental as a healthy earth and a healthy society, I believe we’re going to see these colors form the foundation of our palette for years to come.