Lisa Sherratt owns Serendipity …for cards and gifts you didn't expect on Valencia Street in San Francisco. Established in 2010 they have a wide range of products that reflect the cool diversity of The Mission district and The City as a whole. Their extensive card collection is deeply varied with more than 200 vendors (yes they counted). Most of their greeting cards are sourced locally or from within the USA. They have gifts for every occasion and some that you might just need (solar powered queen anyone?) They also source much of the gift items locally and from independent artists earning a living wage.
Tell me how you got started with Serendipity:
I had long wanted a store on Valencia street, as it was always my favorite place to hang out.
I had another store in Noe Valley for 5 years previously. Just as I was signing my selling papers on the old business I saw a listing on Craigslist. It was, and is Serendipity:)
How do you find and decide which lines to carry?
Finding lines is easy there is a lot of talent. It comes from walk ins, customers, reps, emails, website and so on. The hard part is finding the room and money to stock it all! Editing is very important, and I honestly have no idea how I do that.
What is the best thing about owning your own business?
I had my hair done on Wednesday with blue highlights. The dude that does it says he is always super busy for Burning Man doing crazy styles. Then he is super busy on Monday getting it back so people can return to work. My hair will be staying blue. I like my own way.
Tell me a little about the people who work at Serendipity:
I have had the pleasure of working with some great people. Usually students supplementing their incomes as they progress through school. Everyone brings a little something, we are friends and without them we would have closed a long time ago.
What is your favorite time of year at Serendipity?
My favorite time of year is probably Christmas because it's just so crazy busy and fast. But then there's Halloween. And all the tourists in the summer and all the lovers on Valentine's and so on. When I go into my store in the mornings and the lights are off I love the way it smells and it's peaceful. I like that too:)