In this week's installment of Gettin' The Skinny, I sit down with Threadless Retail Manager, Donella. We chat about retail awesomeness, the comical negotiating skills of parental customers and the power of Bjork. On with the show...

GTS: Welcome back to another kick ass installment of Gettin' The Skinny - today's guest is Donella. How's life treating you, Donella?

Donella: Wow, well, personally life is throwing me a few lemons... I'm just glad that January is DONE!!!

GTS: Yeah, January was a wacky month but at least you'll have some killer lemonade

Donella: killer is right...

GTS: So Donella, please tell the folk at home what you do at Threadless.

Donella: Of course! I'm the Retail Manager. I run Threadless Chicago and Threadless Kids!

GTS: What are some of the biggest challenges about running Threadless' first brick and mortar operations?

Donella: Well... I would say that the biggest challenge is not knowing what the brick and mortar world would throw our way! We really had no solid expectations before opening our doors. Other than that, we're just facing the same economy that the rest of America is facing, so we're doing our best at coming up with creative solutions to common problems.

GTS: If you had to guess, how many people have you had through the doors of the main store and the Kids store?

Donella: Wow, that's a tricky guess. Do you want to know how many people we've had EVER? I could only say thousands. I really have no way of guessing. I would have to check our sales program. We have a really solid core group of local shoppers, but we also get people in from other cities and countries all the time! We've had people come in from Singapore, Australia, Sweden, Mexico, the list really goes on and on!

GTS: It sounds like the stores are an international hit! Aside from the wildly anticipated Black Rock Collective show, can you let us in on any upcoming store events?

Donella: Haha! well, you nailed it with the Black Rock Collective show; But following that show, we've got this really amazing artist, Alexis Anne Mackenzie, from San Francisco. Her solo show is March 6-April 1. You can check her out at: http://www.plantimals.com

GTS: Have you always been in retail?

Donella: I've been in retail since I was 16! I've taken small bits of time away from it, working in offices, but I always come back!

GTS: How long have you been at Threadless?

Donella: I started with Threadless in May 2007, so i'm coming up on my 2 year anniversary soon!

Sweet! could you describe a typical day in the life of a Threadless retail manager?

Donella: A typical day in my life... I run around CONSTANTLY!!! for example, this morning, I took the bus over to Threadless Chicago, which is in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood. I grabbed a few things, went through my mail, etc. Then I grabbed 2 more buses over to the kid's store, which is in Wicker Park. I spend time at both stores ensuring that they both look great. And I spend time behind the scenes too, making sure we've got everything we need to continue to run smooth. This week, I'm spending some time taking down the show that's up in the Threadless Chicago Gallery, and I'll be ordering the food and beverages for the opening on Friday!

GTS: How many folks work at each store?

Donella:Well, we've got 11 total. 6 at Threadless Chicago, and 5 at Kids!

GTS: Any plans to add more stores in the near/somewhat near future?

Donella:We're leaving the door completely open at this point. We definitely want to give the two current stores time to incubate. We want to push them to their limits so we can know exactly what to expect with future stores, if that's where we want to go.

GTS: Very awesome - a store around Albany, NY would rule by the way

Donella:haha! You're not the first to ask for a store within very close proximity to one's home...We've had requests from NYC to some small town in Mexico.

GTS: Mexican Threadless for the win!

Donella: HAHA! I will TOTALLY move there to run it.

GTS: I've got some blogger questions for you. Ready?

Donella: I'm totally ready

GTS: Chipmnk asked: What's your favorite part of California?

Donella: wow, well, the timing is perfect; I just got back from a trip to Los Angeles, where I rented a car to drive up to San Francisco and back down to Los Angeles. I think my favorite part of Cali is just north of SF, in the redwoods. OR, San Diego. It's a really close tie. Because California is a beautiful state. Highway 1 is a really intense drive, just in case anyone didn't realize!!!

GTS: jess4002 wants to know: What's the most memorable thing/customer/event that has happened since the opening of the Threadless Chicago store?

Donella: hmmmm...I feel like we have one of these every month.But a few things that stand out are: Getting 3 dozen mini cupcakes free from a local cupcake shop, just because we're cool.Having what felt like 2/3 of the total Lollapalooza crowd come to the Threadless Chicago store over that weekend.Getting a letter from a man in prison, because he wanted to join forces with Threadless; I won't go into details...And really NEVER having a difficult customer to deal with. All of our customers that come into the stores are so excited to be at the Threadless retail store, so they really all are a dream!

GTS: That's some wild stuff!

Donella: haha! I wanted to go with variety!

GTS: Maltzmania asked: If you could go on tour with one band or singer and sing backup vocals (past or present), or just be a part of the band who would it be and why?

Donella: wow, that's a good one! I would absolutely never hesitate to go on tour with Bjork. She always has the most amazing choir accompaniment, and I would do a LOT of things to be part of that. I really have been so inspired by her crazy music since I was a kid. I think that if you listen to her lyrics you can change the way you see the world.


GTS: Fellow staffer Ayca asked: what's the funniest thing that has happened so far since the opening of the kids store?

Donella: hmmm, well this one might be at the expense of the kids... But I really love seeing how parents deal with the removal of their kids from our coloring corner. Parents really come up with the best things to trade their kids for the crayon bucket on wheels that they usually want to take home. These moms will search through their purse for pens, keys, receipts, literally anything!
Dads always trade their cell phones. without fail.

GTS: hahah. it's a little disturbing that kids prefer cell phones to crayons nowadays

Donella: well, I think it has a lot to do with the fact that they can't otherwise play with the cell phone.
they're getting it because they're about to throw a temper tantrum, and the dads don't want that at all!
so the kid gets to play with the coveted cell phone.
lol

GTS: donella, it's time for Pick One™. Are you ready?

Donella: haha is that "tm"? lol. I'm ready

GTS: Hell yes it's ™. I've officially taken this interview series to the next level!

GTS: #1 Wild Weather: Flash floods or avalanches?

Donella: avalanches

GTS: #2 Rad Robot: Johnny 5 or Wall-e?

Donella: johnny 5 - that totally spills the beans on my age... lol

GTS: #3 Dynamic Duo: Will Smith & DJ Jazzy Jeff or Hall & Oates?

Donella: hahaHAHAHAH! will smith & DJ Jazzy Jeff

GTS: # 4 Breakfast Sides: Hash Browns or Sausage Patties?

Donella: hash browns! yum!

GTS: #5 Alternative Career: Firefighter or Pro Athlete?

Donella: firefighter - seriously

GTS: #6 For the Love of Cosby: Jello or Pudding?

Donella: pudding - tapioca

GTS: #7 Break the Habit: Nose picking or Nail biting?

Donella: ewwwwwwwww! BOTH!!!! I don't do either, but i hate nail biting more.

GTS: #8 Party Preference: Host or Attend?

Donella: attend and not have to clean

GTS: #9 Loveable Loser: Homer Simpson or Peter Griffin?

Donella: homer simpson!!!!!!! xoxo!

GTS: #10 Parting Words: "Adios!" or "Bon Voyage!"

Donella: adios amigo!

GTS: It looks like our time is up but before this installment of GTS says adios, I need two more things from you. First, who would you like me to interview next?

Donella: oh, the pressure! How about Sean Dorgan? he cracks me up.I would love to hear his answers!

GTS: Sure thing! And secondly, do you have any pearls of wisdom for the folks at home?

Donella: Well. all I can think about right now is being cold. (it's 16 degrees right now, feels like 1). so I would like to remind people coming to visit Threadless Chicago that they should check the weather, and always bring layers.
xo,
mom