Jenai May

A Grand Opening Throwback

It’s Throwback Thursday and today we are talking about the opening of our beloved Paddington Jewel Box.

Can you believe it’s been eleven years since its inception?!

In 2012, the Jewel Box opened in response to an overwhelming number of sales in the fashion and jewelry department in the original Paddington store.

It was co-owner Kelly Hammond’s project, and when the real estate came open for lease, she thought, “This is a really special space.” At that time, before it was the boutique we all know and love today, it was a flower shop! The space had walk-in storage coolers, walls that were lime green and purple, and ceilings that were black.

After a ton of construction and a new coat of paint, the Jewel Box opened and initially only sold jewelry, pajamas, scarves, and other small trinkets. A lesson they quickly learned is that it takes a lot of merchandise to fill up a space… and jewelry is very small!

Kelly had the idea to sell dresses, so they started with dropship dresses that were really fun. She remembers: “Every time I would bring in these silly dresses, people would say, ‘You’re not gonna sell that!’ And then I did.”

After experiencing success with these dresses, she started looking at brands other big retailers were selling. Modcloth and Anthropologie were huge inspirations for Kelly as she shopped in those places for her own clothes.

During the pandemic, the Jewel Box took the biggest hit of the three Paddington stores. At that time, the con of selling occasion-wear was that there were no occasions! She pivoted for a bit and sold athleisure, but is excited to be able to sell beautiful dresses once more.

When asked how she would describe the types of clothing sold at the Jewel Box, Kelly said that the store houses a beautiful mix of well-known national brands and one-of-a-kind artwork brands that could be handmade in Turkey! You’ll find wearable everyday fashion, beautiful occasion-wear, and everything in between at this fun and fashion-forward boutique.

Kelly Hammond

Happy Meet Us Monday, everyone! Today we are introducing the woman behind much of the fashion buying for the Paddington Station family of stores, Kelly Hammond! Kelly is a Co-Owner, Vice President of the company, and works in product management.

Where did you grow up?
I like to say I’m an Oregon girl, but I was born in Burbank, California and we moved up here when I was 5. The joke was always that I was born across the street from the Disney studios! One of my earliest memories is from when we moved and my mom gave me Retail Magic Barbie. She told me we were opening this store and I was so excited!

What is something about you that would surprise people?
My dad is such a film snob, and it might surprise people that I’ve seen pretty much every black and white movie and all of the AFI Top 100 movies. My dream job when I was a kid was to be the Turner Classic Movie host! It’s hard to choose a favorite old movie, but currently one of my favorites is The Philadelphia Story because my daughter Dinah gets her name from it.

What is the best meal you ever had?
My family went to Italy when I was 22 and we went on a bus tour that included this absolutely incredible food and wine. Another family on the tour were fighting the entire time and didn’t eat their meals, so we got to eat theirs in addition to ours! I remember how fun it was to drink wine with my parents in the middle of the day and we all had a blast together.

What is your favorite time of year?
I’m excited for Fall, mostly for fashion reasons. I love a nice plaid blazer or an oversized boxy jacket, and everyone jokes, “Oh Kelly, your jackets are here!” This year, we have these amazing Pendleton jackets coming to the store and I can’t wait for them to arrive.

Where is your favorite spot in Ashland?
I live by Kestrel Park and there’s a secret spot that Dinah, Riley, and I found. It’s right on the creek and there’s an old bench and being there is like entering another world! It’s so beautiful and such a special hidden spot for us.

What are some of your hobbies?
I’m a singer! I really enjoy the “park and bark”, where I just stand there and perform. I love musical theatre, classical, and singing Fiona Apple with my record player at home.

Tell me about your favorite pet you’ve ever had.
Toby was my dog growing up and she was the best dog ever. She was a Blue Heeler but didn’t like going outside, acting more like a Siamese cat sitting there and cuddling me by my side. I remember that she smelled like Fritos! The best part about her was how she loved me… it’s just so wonderful having an animal that you know is yours.

Who has been the most influential person in your life?
My parents absolutely; I am 50% my mom and 50% my dad. My mom is really driven and incredibly book smart and she taught me how to be assertive and my own person. My dad is such an intellectual and marches to the beat of his own drum, but I think I benefitted from having the yin and the yang of both of them as influences in my life.

What is a mantra you like to live by?
It’s a quote from a poem called The Laughing Heart, by Charles Bukowski. “You are marvelous / The gods await to delight in you.” I believe in manifestation and that mantra really embodies that.

What is your favorite thing about working at Paddington Station?
On a literal note, I love the fashion. I grew up reading Vogue magazine at the same time as the Little Golden books. Being able to pursue something I’m genuinely passionate about alongside my family is so special. I love working with my mom and the friends along the way that I’ve made. Additionally, the ability to be a part of the institutional memory of this town is just wonderful!

Taran McGuire

For today’s Meet Us Monday post, we’re going to introduce you to Taran McGuire! Taran has worked at Paddington Station since February of this year, starting out at the main store and then moving over to Inspired by Oregon.

1. Where did you grow up?
I’ve lived in the valley for most of my life and was born in Talent. My family has also lived in Ashland and Rogue River, and I went to Grants Pass High School.

2. What is something about you that would surprise people?
I was born in a teepee in the middle of a thunderstorm. My family didn’t know what to call me for about a week until Dad opened up this book of Celtic mythology and saw the name Taranis, who was the god of thunder and lightning. That’s where my first name comes from! My middle name is Ailim, meaning tallest tree in the forest. My stage name when I perform is Green T.

3. What is the best meal you ever had?
I was visiting my grandparents in Colorado for Thanksgiving and was snowed out. I ended up having to turn around and drive all the way home and had Thanksgiving leftovers with two of my good friends. It was some of the best food I can ever remember having because I was so grateful!

4. What is your favorite time of year?
I like the summer because I don’t like being cold at all. I also sometimes get seasonal depression in the winter, so I love when the sun is out all the time.

5. Where is your favorite spot in Ashland?
I love Lithia Park, especially the Japanese gardens.

6. What are some of your hobbies?
I play lots of different instruments and enjoy performing regularly. Aside from music, I’m also really creative. I like to draw and write and I have boxes of crafts that I enjoy working on.

7. Tell me about your favorite pet you’ve ever had.
I’ve had so many great pets! When I was a kid, we had a blue heeler named Sally and she would always lick my face. Musky was a Japanese bobcat and she was such a scoundrel! At the farm right now, we have three dogs and two cats and my girlfriend and I recently rescued a little kitten named Piper.

8. Who has been the most influential person in your life?
Probably my dad, Scott, who also goes by Hawkeye. He has a very neat perspective on nature, spiritualism, and life and it was wonderful to grow up with that. He would play music all the time and it made me want to learn to play lots of instruments.

9. What is a mantra you like to live by?
I have ADHD so it’s been hard to prioritize things, and I wrote a song about it called “Pay My Dues.” The chorus is, “I wanna do what I want / My time is worth it to me / I’ve got to do what I’ve got to / To pay my dues.”

10. What is your favorite thing about working at Paddington Station?
It’s been tough to find a company that really values the work that I do. I love being here because I feel motivated by the people who acknowledge me and make me feel valued.

Shelly Hensarling

It’s Meet Us Monday and we are excited to introduce you to Shelly Hensarling! Shelly is the HR Coordinator and Executive Assistant to the owners at Paddington and has worked with us for four years.

1. Where did you grow up?

I was born in Chester, Pennsylvania and grew up in Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico. My dad was in the computer business and kept getting great opportunities and promotions! I’ve lived in several other places in my adult life but ended up in Ashland because I visited here once in May of 1981 and, as the saying goes, “If you come in May, you’ll want to stay!”

2. What is something about you that would surprise people?

I’ve got a few things that would surprise people! I used to be a model in San Francisco. I also once had the opportunity to go to the White House and have lunch with President Reagan and Vice President Bush and the First Ladies because of an award my company won. I met my husband, Gary, at our 20th high school reunion! He was Class President and voted Best Looking and I got him! We adopted a wonderful daughter, Madeline, and we have two grandkids, Myan and Royal, who we love very much.

3. What is the best meal you ever had?

Probably something my husband has cooked. In our wedding vows, I said, “I love a man who can cook!” and I feel very lucky that he is so good at it.

4. What is your favorite time of year?

Fall for sure. I just love when September hits and school starts because I love decorating for the holidays! I also love the crispness in the air and the leaves that change colors.

5. Where is your favorite spot in Ashland?

Paddington! Anybody will tell you that I just love shopping here because I believe in the products and I’ve always liked the store.

6. What are some of your hobbies?

Lately I’ve been working with my grandson on these rainbow bracelets and we gave them away at the event we had at Paddington on July 15th. I like to paint and make jewelry and knit scarves- it’s fun to be busy!

7. Tell me about your favorite pet you’ve ever had.

We’ve had some wonderful Shih Tzus. Our current rescue is Phoebe and it’s a funny story how we got her! The Humane Society called and said they had a new Shih Tzu and we went in to see her and said, “That’s not a Shih Tzu!” However, we wanted to adopt her because she was so little and cute.

8. Who has been the most influential person in your life?

I just lost my mom but I would have to say both my mom and dad. They instilled a very strong work ethic in me and my siblings, as well as the Golden Rule. My mom taught me to put myself in someone else’s shoes, which really helps in my role in human resources. I need to be able to be accessible to people.

9. What is a mantra you like to live by?

How would you want to be treated? Treat people that same way.

10. What is your favorite thing about working at Paddington Station?

I’d say the people (and the employee discount is nice too!) I just love coming to work and being with such wonderful people.

Ryan Jackson

For today’s Meet Us Monday post, we are introducing you to one of our newest Sales Associates at the Jewel Box, Ryan Jackson!

Where did you grow up?
I grew up on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, but was originally born in the Philippines. My family is a military family so we moved around quite a bit. I came to Ashland after meeting my husband, Paul, online in 2001. This was right when online dating first showed up on the internet and I’m so glad I took the risk coming here!

What is something about you that would surprise people?
I’m a hula dancer! It’s not just a dance form, it’s cultural storytelling, and I have the deepest respect for the heritage of the Hawaiian people. I started learning hula when I moved to Ashland to honor that part of my childhood and it’s something that brings me so much joy every time I take part in it.

What is the best meal you ever had?
I’m a foodie so it’s hard because there are so many good meals! I’ve got to say that my favorite meals are always home-cooked because you can feel the effort put into them.

What is your favorite time of year?
Summer! I’m a sunshine person and hate the cold, so I like being able to dress in comfortable clothes.

Where is your favorite spot in Ashland?
I’d have to say downtown, from Lithia Park all the way to the fire station. I like walking around everywhere and I’m a community-oriented person, so I like being able to be a part of the people here and know what is available.

What are some of your hobbies?
I like to catch up on my knitting! [Interviewer’s note: Ryan pulled out his current project to show me and it was wonderful!] I like art and I like gardening- fruit trees and vegetables in the garden beds. We also try to plant flowers for the pollinators and we love roses because they are beautiful and so hardy.

Tell me about your favorite pet you’ve ever had.
I don’t have pets because we’re actually allergic!

Who has been the most influential person in your life?
The cartoons of the 1980s and 90s, X-Men and Captain Planet in particular. I really related to the X-Men because I loved their motto of doing good for the benefit of all despite not being understood. It really resonated with me as a child of so many different cultural heritages.

What is a mantra you like to live by?
I’m currently in a huge life transition after moving on from teaching for 13 years. My motto currently is “Where you are is exactly where you are supposed to be” and that has brought me much comfort.

What is your favorite thing about working at Paddington Station?
Paddington has felt like a wonderful and safe place to land as I figure out what to do next and I’m so grateful to be here.

Jackie McGarry

Happy Meet Us Monday, everyone! Today we will be sharing an interview with yet another beloved member of the Paddington family, Jackie McGarry.

1. Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Marshfield, Missouri.

2. What is something about you that would surprise people?

I hate chili. I dislike everything about it- the way it smells, the texture, everything.

3. What is the best meal you’ve ever had?

The first time I had sushi. I thought I would hate it, but it’s now my favorite food.

4. What is your favorite time of year?

Fall because it’s not too hot or cold, it is just cozy and the leaves are changing.

5. Where is your favorite spot in Ashland?

I’ve only been here for 2 months, but Lithia Park is my favorite. It is pretty and it is a great place to read and think.

6. What are some of your hobbies?

I love reading and talking walks and going to concerts. I’ve seen the Smashing Pumpkins and Kill Hannah (a band that is no longer together) 6 times!

7. Tell me about your favorite pet you’ve ever had.

My dog, Bowie (named after David Bowie), he passed in October. He was the best ever, he was a Boston Terrier/Pix mix.

8. Who has been the most influential person in your life?

My Grandma. She was a liberated woman- She went from a 50’s housewife to a 70’s gal. She got divorced and went to work for the first time, taught herself how to drive all on her own. She met the real love of her life later in her lifetime. She was amazing.

9. What is a mantra you like to live by?

Be kind to everyone.

10. What is your favorite thing about working at Paddington Station?

The people I work with and the people I meet and all their stories. Life here is like controlled chaos, there is always something happening here!

Maddie Stokes

Happy Meet Us Monday! Today we’ll be introducing you to Maddie Stokes, a Sales Associate from the Jewel Box, who has worked at Paddington since October of 2021.

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in the Bay area and lived there my whole life before coming to school here at SOU. I’ve been coming to Ashland every year since I was ten with my family and it’s always been a great place to be. I have family friends up here that make it feel like home!

What is something about you that would surprise people?
I grew up road tripping and have been to over thirty national park properties! A very meaningful trip was with my mom when we drove cross-country to the deep south to learn more about Black history and slavery. My favorite national park was the Redwoods because I have a love of trees and I loved how close it was to the coast as well.

What is the best meal you ever had?
The Pad Thai at Happy Thai Express is to die for! I get it as often as I can and it’s a treat every time I have the opportunity to go.

What is your favorite time of year?
I definitely love Fall, it was what brought me to Ashland as well. The trees are just beautiful!

Where is your favorite spot in Ashland?
I love the environment downtown because there are so many people, wonderful places to eat, and things to do, especially this time of year! I love showing it off to people when they come to visit.

What are some of your hobbies?
I took a drawing class in school this year! I used to doodle when I was younger, but I definitely wanted to find a more creative side of me and have been trying to get more into it. Now that school is out, I’ve also started reading a lot more for pleasure! I like romance novels and John Green’s “The Fault in Our Stars” is what made me fall in love with books when I was younger.

Tell me about your favorite pet you’ve ever had.
I’ve had quite a few, including many dogs and cats and even a pigeon named Ruby. The closest relationship with a pet I’ve had is with my dog back home, Heidi. She’s a Doberman and Greyhound and a very sassy girl, but also very cuddly and sweet. She’s a giant lap dog!

Who has been the most influential person in your life?
I’m very close with my mom, she’s taught me a lot. She has her own photography business and has spent the last few years working on it and rebranding. She’s very resilient and I look up to her so much.

What is a mantra you like to live by?
“If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.” I’ve realized that if someone isn’t going my way now, it will happen in the future if it’s meant to be. I’m trying to be more present in that and accept what is.

What is your favorite thing about working at Paddington Station?
I love my fellow employees and coworkers. I also really like that we can build a connection with the customers and try to help find them their best option whether it’s a dress or a necklace. Even some of the people that I’ve only gotten to work with once have sometimes made a really big impact on my life!

The 2014 Store Events Retailer Excellence Award!

Did you know that, in 2014, Paddington Station received an award at the 63rd annual Retailer Excellence Award gala in New York City?

This gala honors the retailers, manufacturers’ representatives, and vendors in the gift and home industry for their achievements. Pam, Kelly, and Nick were present to receive the Store Events REA (Retailer Excellence Award), honoring their year-long celebration of the store’s 40th birthday.

This celebration was kicked off by free monthly children’s events in collaboration with other local businesses, as well as three larger store celebrations. A fun theme was chosen for each event, such as “Talk Like a Pirate Day” and “The Starwalkers Presents May the 4th Be With You.” Our partner businesses, TreeHouse Books, Northwest Nature Store, Zoey’s Cafe and others, were asked to engage the public with a simple craft, game, or demonstration that worked into the event’s theme and everyone was encouraged to dress according to the theme!

The first of the store’s three big 40th anniversary celebrations began with Paddington Station’s participation in Ashland’s 4th of July parade, which included forty current and past employees, a baton twirler, Uncle Sam, Rockette-style dancers, an umbrella twirling drill team, musicians, and a life-size Paddington Bear on a float.

A week later, the store held its second celebration: a block party behind the store, complete with popcorn and hot dogs, craft tables, carnival games, a local big-band jazz group, and a photo op with Paddington Bear.

The third celebration was Our Annual Holiday Open House. Open House looked different ten years ago! Back then, it was a one-day party with sales representatives, food samples, door prizes, music every hour ON TOP of everything else we do today.

Pam Hammond credits the success of these events to “a perfect storm of enthusiasm among our staff and loyal customers, who treasure their small-town emporium!”