Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Tabbush.
Hi Sarah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My love for wide open space, dark skies, and wild creatures brought me to the desert seven years ago. Having worked many years in marketing and advertising, I was ready to slow down. Pioneertown is peaceful, community-minded, rugged and beautiful all at the same time- it was exactly what I was looking for. I’ve always had a passion for antiques and vintage, specifically pieces with lots of wear that seem to tell stories. I’ve always been interested in fashion as a form of expression. However, I was troubled by the trend of fast fashion and its impact on our environment — the production, manufacturing and transportation of clothing emit harmful pollutants into our air and water. Clothing manufactures often do not provide a safe workplace environment or a living wage. And with the low price of fashion goods, many items are discarded after just a couple of wears-increasing the amount of trash that goes to landfills. I started Pioneertown General Store 4 years ago with the intention of helping people see the value and quality of vintage clothing while supporting other local small businesses.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Most small business owners in Pioneertown rely a great deal on tourists for income. Pioneertown has grown a lot over the years, especially since Covid, as tourists flock from LA and other cities to escape the crowds. Tourism is very seasonal in the desert. Summer sees little to no visitors, which means sustaining a business year-round can be difficult. In addition, the increasing number of tourists presents a catch-22 situation for most of us who live and work in Pioneertown. While we are grateful for the influx in customers, we also work very hard to maintain the serenity of the desert that we love so much. With more visitors, we see more light pollution, traffic, waste, and the depletion of natural resources. It is our job to educate visitors on how to respect our fragile desert environment. It’s a balancing act — one many small town are no doubt experiencing.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Pioneertown General Store sells Americana-style vintage as well pocketknives, jewelry, books, and handmade apothecary items. We’re proud to carry many local brands such as Joshua Tree Candle Co., El Oro Madre aromatherapy and wellness products, handmade patches by Tina Vines, locally authored books such as “The Desert Oracle’ by Ken Layne and ‘Too Far Gone’ by Todd Blubaugh. We strive to carry products that reflect the diversity of the Americana style- including body butter by Smile Natural Products, which is a Black owned company whose products are vegan, sustainable, and for a cause. All of our vintage pieces are one-of-a-kind. We offer gender neutral clothing with the common theme of utility. This includes jeans, workwear, hats, cowboy boots, and bandanas.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Living and working in Pioneertown has reinforced the importance of teamwork and community as a small business owner. A great example of this was the last big snowfall this winter. My neighbors know how much I dislike shoveling the long entryway to the store. I arrived early that day, prepared to shovel snow in the cold and wind. But when I got there, one of my neighbors had already shoveled it for me! Many small businesses have supported Pioneertown General Store through recommendations, and we aim to do the same. We’re also incredibly grateful to our customers. During the first round of our Covid shut-downs, many customers purchased gift cards and placed online orders, allowing us to get through that very difficult time. We continue to see an outpouring of customer support through social media posts, purchases, and words of encouragement. We wouldn’t be here without the support of our community!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.pioneertowngeneralstore.com
- Instagram: @pioneertowngeneralstore
- Facebook: @pioneertowngeneralstore
What to check out next:
Aleasha Bahr is a sales & marketing strategist known for showing introverts and ambiverts the Secret Art of Subtle Selling. She personally sold millions in revenue while discovering introverts are usually top sales people – as soon as they stop trying to act like extroverts. We’ve partnered with her to produce Introverted Entrepreneur Success Stories. Check out episode 1 below:
