Ep. 2 - San Francisco's Resilient Retailer with Monica Urick

In this episode of Leaders of Hope, I talk with Monica Urick: a dear friend and fellow small business owner in San Francisco. She is the one-woman show behind Monkei Miles, a children’s resale shop that has become a family favorite in the Sunset district and beyond. We discuss how the pandemic has radically altered her business model and how she quickly evolved to keep her business alive. There are so many incredible bits of wisdom peppered throughout this conversation, including my favorite quote from Monica: "I've taken the word 'pivot' out of my dictionary. Now I call it RESILIENCE." Key Takeaways March 2020 lockdown and escape to Joshua Tree: starting an online shop with curated clothing bundles Working with landlord and government aid to stay in business during Shelter in Place closures   Monica explores setting up calendar and appointment-only shopping with personal stylist. Adjusting as pandemic and wildland fire smoke continues Why you don’t need a large number of followers -- it’s about authentic connection Navigating the changes happening in San Francisco as small businesses close and people move out Why it is vital to balance hope and not being in denial about the reality of our current situation The importance of living pandemic times in community and Monica’s self-care routine A Leader of Hope is the one who connects people, listens and cares