We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelli Newsome and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelli, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Self care and balance is just as important as everything else. If you never take a day off or invest in your physical and mental health, your business won’t be sustainable and you’ll burn out. It’s your business, you make the rules and you identify values to what’s important to you, you can’t wait for someone to tell you what to do or how to run your business. Hiring employees to help with day to day responsibilities allows more time for us as owners to step back and create a balance so we can trust the process and make time for ourselves and each other.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Common Dear is a queer women-owned and operated feminist and self empowerment gift shop in downtown Oklahoma City. My wife and I first created our candle brand, OKcollective, in 2016 and then opened Common Dear in 2019. We both had retail experience, but these are the first wholesale and retail businesses we’ve owned. We are extremely motivated and love finding new ways to innovate and evolve both brands. You have to have drive and fire to own your own business and sustain it. We motivate each other and we really balance each other’s strengths and weaknesses. It’s important and valuable to find or create your community. You’ll find support and be able to also provide support to each other and connecting is so important. We love sharing wins from other businesses, events they’re doing, products they’re offering, etc. Community over competition 100%.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love this question! We have the same question on our job application, because we want our shop to be a local tour guide. We get a lot of travelers coming into our shop and it’s so fun being able to tell them where to go and experience from a local point of view. We’re on 9th Street in downtown Oklahoma City, which is an off the beaten path, artsy and creative mini district within a bigger district called Automobile Alley. Places to visit that are a must, are our neighbors Katiebug’s, which is a mother and daughter owned bake shop in the cutest two story mint colored house with the prettiest vintage vibe. Across the street, are our friends at Cargo Room, a women’s boutique inside a pink shipping container. There is great food at Nashbird, Iguana and S and B Burger Joint, just a few steps away. Factory Obscura is an artist owned and operated immersive art experience that is a destination point for many travelers and their starting place before exploring the district. If you want to explore more of Oklahoma City while you’re here, you can hop on the Streetcar and visit Midtown, Bricktown, Deep Deuce, Film Row, and West Village districts with even more local, small business retailers and restaurants. Paseo and Plaza District are also very unique and a short drive away.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Our local organization called ISA, Independent Shopkeepers Association, has been an incredible resource and avenue for collaboration. Not one business owner knows everything or can do everything alone. This organization connects independent business owners to incredible local resources and support to help all of our businesses grow and thrive, and they love celebrating our successes with us, too!

Website: shopcommondear.com

Instagram: @shopcommondear

Facebook: Facebook.com/commondear

Other: TikTok: @shopcommondear

Image Credits
Kelli and Jessi Newsome

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