July 2008
Seven years ago, when my husband and
I decided to move our family to Turlock, I came to check
out the flavor of the town. Main Street was the first
place I went, since that shows the true heart of any city.
The shops in Downtown Turlock on Main Street so charmed
me, I knew immediately I would like it here! As I walked
into Lily’s Emporium, I fell in love…all over
again. It was a treasure trove, brimming full of beautiful
things and hard-to-find candies. They have fragrances,
fancy soaps, furniture, jewelry, home décor, and
more, all exquisitely laid out for your shopping pleasure!
Anywhere your eye rests, you find beauty. I bought a chocolate-scented
soap in the shape of a cow that first day. When I got
home, I informed my husband I’d love Turlock. I
cooed about how cute Turlock’s Main Street is and
about the most adorable shop, Lily’s. I have returned
many times, and have been delighted both with my purchases,
and the owner, Vernonne Johnston. My hope is that each
reader will discover this glittering jewel, perfectly
set in the heart of Turlock, called Lily’s Emporium.
Lily’s
Emporium
Us: What made you want
to open a store like Lily’s?
VJ: Oh, I’ve wanted to do retail
all my life. Got my education, worked, got a home, got
married, and got a house and car, then my children. I
raised my children still working in the evenings so I
could be home with them. Finally, when everyone was gone
(out of the nest), I got my chance! So, my daughter is
my full partner (Amy). We have this store and The Mission
Bell (also on Main Street). We shop and we merchandise
both stores together. She works at that one and I work
at this one.
Us: Where do you get
all your beautiful things that you sell at your store?
VJ: Well…we buy a lot of it at
market, but we also do a lot of snooping around. We snoop
around at stores that we’ve seen that are in California.
We like to go see what’s different that what we’ve
done. If they’re far enough away, they’ll
share where they buy their things from. We go to some
auctions, not too many, estate sales. Mostly those are
pieces I use for display, and the big antiques from France
and Belgium. Those were just up for display. They’re
priced, but they’re a little high. I don’t
know where I’d put my things if I sell them!
Us: Tell me about your
family.
VJ: I’ve been married forty years
this Sunday. I have a thirty-two year old daughter who
has triplets, a boy and two girls and then she has a four
year old and a seven year old (both girls). My youngest
daughter (who’s my partner), Amy, has two step-children
who are ten and twelve, a boy and a girl. So I have seven
grandkids altogether. I’ve lived in Turlock all
my life. My mother was born here. My grandparents were
some of the first settlers here.
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Us: What was the oddest
job you’ve ever had?
VJ: Oh man! I’ve had a lot of jobs!
I worked as a housekeeper, for a lady, and I did it for
one year. It was the first year I was out of high school.
I learned how to keep house. I also learned that not everybody
is functioning on all eight cylinders!
Us: For anyone who has
never been to Lily’s, what can they expect to find?
VJ: They can expect to find some really
beautiful, high-end things, and a lot of medium-priced things.
We do a lot of gifts, and a lot of home décor. The
gifts are really what keep us floating in the summer, because
as we all know, people go on vacation…the gas is sky-high
and all that. But people are shopping at home, and I have
to say, we’ve done okay this summer.
Us: Are there any changes
or big things coming up for Lily’s?
VJ: Well, our big things are our four annual
events. We’re actually doing a special event in July
for The Book Bin, who rents (space) from us. We’re
doing an event called, “Cooking up Summer,”
and we’re going to feature all of their cookbooks,
which will be out on display and for sale. For every cookbook
you buy, you get a ticket, and then we’ll have a drawing
for a beautiful, brand-new kettle-style barbecue grill.
Somebody gets to go home with that on that day! It’s
on the eighteenth of July, right here at the store. We’re
serving food and fun!
Us: What is your most
favorite item in the store right now?
VJ: Probably the fragrance. I like the
fragrance things…the perfumes and the body sprays.
Us: How many employees
do you have?
VJ: We don’t! Well, we have a woman
who works two days a week at The Mission Bell, so Amy can
be here. We keep in touch with everything.
Us: What advice would
you give anyone wanting to open a business of their own?
VJ: Do your homework. Know what you’re
getting into. Don’t use credit cards to start your
business; get a business loan. So many people do that and
they only last about four months. We see it around here
all the time. They can’t make their payments and they
have to sell everything they have to pay off their credit
cards and then they quit. Start with the banks. Keep going
until somebody says yes! Persevere. Don’t think you’re
going to make a lot of money. You’re not going to
make enough to live on for the first three or four years.
One person needs to work to support you, and the other one
works to support the business. That’s just the way
it is for a small business. |
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