Julie Bennett - UrbanXchange
Julie Julie Julie, so what do you think…. how is downtown Tacoma working out for your business UrbanXchange?
I love the community and wish people would stop going to the mall but till there’s more retail downtown I have to peddle twice as fast in the marketing dept!
For the people who are unfamiliar with UrbanXchange could you give us your elevator pitch?
It’s the renaissance store. What else needs to be said? No really here it is: Rethink, Refashion, Recycle. Spend smart and live rich. Buy, sell and trade your unused clothing and fashion accessories with the rest of Tacoma. We carry men and women’s up to date and vintage apparel and shoes.
(to make it fun, we’ve thrown in new fashions by local artists too, many who recycle clothing in their process).
What is at least one thing you have found hard about being a downtown business?
No one comes downtown without constant cajoling, special events, and giveaways. It’s the combination of there being little to do here (other than go to museums, which isn’t high on my college age target market’s list of entertainment), perceptions of safety and difficulty in parking.
Name one local Tacoma business (other then yours of course) you feel has had a positive impact on our city and why.
I want to say Indochine, not just because they are practically next door and I can’t stop eating gelato or spring rolls, but because they are such a high visibility destination spot with superior quality environment and food to most of Pierce County’s offerings, BUT then I remember that long before the fragrance of Curry hit Pacific Ave, long before anyone dared come downtown, there was the fragrance of hamburgers and hops at the Harmon. With their grit city attitude they probably pioneered the district I am in as far as getting foot traffic going,our biggest downtown hurdle. They did it before their was any museums, heck I think before the UW was even up and operating….they are pretty amazing.
What are three words to describe people that shop at UrbanXchange
diverse, thrifty, non-traditional.
Do you have any other hobbies that don’t involve thrift shopping?
My biggest concern right now is helping to nurture the music scene and find ways for those amazing SOTA alumni to share their talents with the world. People are my hobby. Taking pictures of them a close second.
Jack and the Box or Taco Bell?
excuse me, I just threw up a little.
Abella’s pizza slice special for $2.49. Now that’s quick, cheap, good eats. Or infinite soups.
Did/do you have any other business? If not what did you do before UrbanXchange?
I’ve had too many jobs to count but I did have another business: commercial Christmas decorating. For 7 years I ran a firm that decorated a few Tacoma spots like The Regence building and The Lobster Shop but most of my focus was downtown Seattle. The Port of Seattle and The Columbia Tower being a few of my bigger clients. When my labor ready workers started doing crack in the bathroom of the Columbia Tower I started questioning my career choice. That and my 9 year old son calling the Port of Seattle “The devil building.”
My last job before this? Attendance lady.
If you were able to transplant your business to any other area in the world where would you choose /why?
Either someplace in Europe or Georgetown in Seattle. They are the only places that seem to have a similar culture to Tacoma.
Favorite type of cupcake?
MOCHA!
Well that’s it! Thanks Julie any last shout outs or words of advice?
The final missing piece in Tacoma is retail and I don’t believe it will be possible for little mom and pop places to be the catalyst. It’s just too hard to draw the needed volume. We need to RECRUIT one or two well recognized retailers that will bring the right atmosphere to downtown (we don’t need to be an extension of the mall). It’s working for rester aunts with The Matador and Paddy C’s.
The ultimate? Urban Outfitters. They are building more of them in Seattle but there is nothing clear to Olympia and when I bring liquidation UO product to my store it flies out the door! People here are desperate for true fashion.
My second choice? Surprisingly: Buffalo Exchange. I would love to be right across the street. All the traffic they draw would definitely come shop my store too.
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Check out The UrbanXchange Blog: http://urbanxchangetacoma.blogspot.com/
Website:http://www.urbanxchangeonline.com/
Myspace:http://www.myspace.com/urbanxchangetacoma/
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