Today we’d like to introduce you to Xenia Mateiu.
Hi Xenia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I opened Village Rock Shop in November 2018 in Carlsbad, CA. It is a small store where we are selling crystals, crystal jewelry, gemstones, and locally handmade products: natural candles, soaps, essential oil sprays, sage for smudging, dreamcatchers, and local honey.
My life experiences and choices have brought me to this point; university, college with an AA in photography, Ayurveda, massage certificate. Before I started my business, I worked in retail in a management position, but I wanted to have a flexible program that works well with my lifestyle and my passion for photography. A significant part of the decision to have my business was that I wanted to be in charge of my success.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic strongly affected my business. For a while, I was struggling to meet my rent obligations for the store.
Once the shutdown happened, I focused my efforts on strengthening my e-commerce platform, upgrading my website, and investing in search engine optimization (SEO) to increase my business visibility.
I’m also grateful for the support our customers have given us.
It was a challenging period, but I have learned a lot about social media, customer service, trying new things as far as business, and all that has grown my business so much. Today, the store is open daily, following the county and state health mandates.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Village Rock Shop?
Crystals have always fascinated me by both the geology and the energetic aspect; frequency and vibration. So I wanted to have my own store where I can make crystals and minerals from all over the world accessible to people. Opening Village Rock Shop allowed me to grow on a personal, spiritual, and community level. I can keep learning about crystals, organize community events and collaborate with local artisans.
What sets us apart from other gift stores? I love to collaborate with people who have small businesses, just like mine. Because of these partnerships, we grow our businesses together. My store is a place where local artisans can share their work and products. This is how we support each other and our community.
I’m also a photographer; I love to take pictures of my products, upload them on Instagram and other social media platforms.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Crystals have increasing popularity these days; you can see them all around, incorporated into fashion designers’ collections, home decor trends, cosmetic products, and beyond. I believe this tendency will grow over the next few years.
I’m always open to new possibilities; during this last period, I’ve been trying to process how to do things differently. We just finished a patio and a garden for outdoor events – small gatherings, concerts, art shows, workshops.
I want to continue upgrading my website, my e-commerce platform, and being more active with posts on social media platforms.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.villagerockshop.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/villagerockshopofficial/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/villagerockshopofficial/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsjrtyQ7UF7lagYt6gaq1yg
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/village-rock-shop-carlsbad
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/villagerockshopcarlsbad/
