Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift, or simply searching for a place that welcomes you and meets you where you are, Mockingbird on Broad has you covered. Located in Southern Pines, North Carolina, this gift shop has been helping customers find timeless treasures and little delights for 15 years!
In honor of Small Business Saturday, Compendium is showcasing some of the fantastic retailers we work with. We chatted with Mockingbird’s owner, Sundi McLaughlin, and learned what inspires her about running a business and helping customers.
Tell us a bit about Mockingbird on Broad and what types of products a customer will find in your store.
I like to say we are a gift shop with a sense of humor. We also carry home décor, gifts for children and babies, jewelry, gifts for the fellas, candles, and whatever else strikes our fancy.
What do you hope people will experience as they browse?
I love seeing people wander around the shop, then hearing a random outburst of laughter over something they’ve seen or read. I enjoy when a customer rushes in panicked because they are on their way to a bridal shower, birthday party, wedding, etc., and comes to the counter and asks for help. I love being able to get a customer just what they want—along with one of our cute gift bags and lovely tissue paper—and sending them out the door ready to go to their event confident in their choice.
As you think about the magic of the holidays, what do you hope your store can offer more of in the world?
As joyful as the season is, for many the holidays are a stressful and sometimes sad time. My staff and I like to be considerate of that fact and we hope to let people relax and meet them wherever they are. If they are pumped for the holidays, that is awesome, and I am excited for them. And if they aren’t sure what they are looking for, I love helping people figure it out. I want our shop to be a place of compassion, joy, and laughter, and I will do my best to pass along my gratitude and goodwill to those who I have the chance to work with, this and every holiday season.
What is interesting about the neighborhood where your store is located?
Our shop is located in the heart of downtown Southern Pines, North Carolina. Our downtown has a variety of shops, cafes, and businesses to peruse, which makes for a lovely afternoon of browsing. We have an amazing Veterans Day Parade with Fort Liberty just down the road. There are so many heroes per square mile to celebrate and honor.
We have a train which runs through the center of town several times a day with a lovely train station lit up for the holidays. The Christmas Carriage Parade in December makes you feel like you have stepped back in time. The rest of the year, our quaint downtown resembles a Norman Rockwell painting!
Mockingbird on Broad has been around for 15 years (congrats!). What continues to inspire you about the work of running a business?
It really depends on the day! I started this business due to a lack of opportunity so I thought I would take a chance and create my own. Over the years, I have learned so much and it seems as soon as you figure something out, a new problem comes along to learn and solve. It is daunting for sure, but I love the opportunity to be creative, either through buying and putting a collection together or through a window or in-store display. I know of no other job as an adult where I can spend time gathering sticks in the woods for a nest, learning paper mâché, quilling, learning how to paint landscapes with old Bob Ross videos, and becoming a very basic carpenter, social media creator, website manager, and tech support person, just to get along with my day. It’s both fantastic and terrifying. I have found my only limitations are the ones I put on myself. It is up to me to solve the problems of today to set up success for tomorrow.
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To learn more, check out the Mockingbird on Broad website. If you’re a local, stop in and say hello. The store is located at 162 NW Broad Street, Southern Pines, NC 28387.
Keep an eye out for more Small Business Saturday features throughout November.
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