OTBKB is thrilled to present the first installment of Buy in Brooklyn’s “Why Shop Local?” Series
Melinda Morris (pictured here with her husband Dave) is the owner of Lion in the Sun and communications and outreach coordinator for the Park Slope Chamber of Commerce, A founding member of the Buy in Brooklyn team, she will be participating in the Snowflake Celebration, Park Slope’s second annual shop local campaign, during the first two Thursdays in December by offering 10% discounts on holiday cards & holiday gift wrap items, along with prosecco, sweets and live music by the Lion in the Sun elves.
Q: When did you open for business and why did you choose Park Slope?
A: I opened the shop in June of 2002 and choose Park Slope because I had lived here for about 8 years (at that point) and saw a real need in the neighborhood for a good quality paperie and custom invitations. I was really taken by the small town communal feel of the neighborhood and was excited about getting to know my neighbors better and being an active part of the community. (I still am!)
Q: What’s a little known fact about your business that you think people would find interesting?
A: Two things: 1.) We carry a lot of recycled paper and paper made from renewable resources. Although we are a paper store, we try to be environmentally conscious. 2.) The name Lion in the Sun comes from the original store (owned by my parents on LI) who, in the early 1980’s, sold their vacation house in the Hamptons to start the business. Because they were no longer going to be lying in the sun they named it "Lion in the Sun."
Q: Which of The Sustainable Business Network NYC’s "Top Ten Reasons" to shop locally resonate most with you & your business?
A: Reason #3: Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of Brooklyn’s distinct character. At Lion in the Sun, we really pride ourselves on the uniqueness of our shop, our products and our services. We are all about personal relationships with our clients— it is what makes it meaningful for me. For instance, we are always looking for ways to customize things for our clients (and their events) that are thoughtful, specific and personal. It is much more work to do it that way, but totally worth it in the end. We also try to offer unique collections by supporting many local Brooklyn designers and artists as well as small independent companies—taken altogether, that’s what makes it possible to stand out among the "big guys."
"Why Shop Local? is a communication initiative of the Buy in Brooklyn team. To learn more about Park Slope’s Buy in Brooklyn campaign, visit their website at http://www.buyinbrooklyn.com/– the site, with its ever-growing list of participants (and discounts!), will launch this weekend and be updated regularly.
Interview conducted by Rebeccah Welch