Interview with Marlon and Rene Ferreira, owners
Q: How did you get involved in this business?
A: Marlon is originally from Minas Gerais, Brazil, where amazing quartz and other minerals are mined. He began selling a few pieces of quartz at a flea market in Nashville, Tenn., and then slowly built up a wholesale business over the past eight years that now provides incredible crystals to retailers in various parts of the world. Although his wholesale business got started in Nashville, there isn’t a thriving market for this material there, so we decided to move west to Evergreen. We found a small retail space at the edge of downtown and decided to give the foothills a specialty crystal, mineral and gift store. We opened at the end of September and we have been so blessed and grateful to be welcomed and appreciated by our new community.
Q: What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?
A: Whether our customers are rock collectors, metaphysical healers, artists, geologists or just appreciate the beauty of stones, we aim to have something to offer for all. We also take requests very seriously. We want our customers to feel like they are getting something special when they come to our store. We hope they will feel the love and joy that buzzes within the walls of a store where people love what they do.
Q: What do you like best about your line of work?
A: Each day is totally different. Of course, it’s thrilling to go out and find new merchandise for the store. Shopping and selling at shows is a blast. For us, you really can’t beat meeting the coolest people and looking at the coolest rocks every day. People delight us all the time with their stories, their thoughts, and even just their presence. Having a store is a wonderful way to be in touch with humanity, which is becoming increasingly more difficult in a society where social media and online shopping is so prevalent.
Q: What is your business’ biggest challenge?
A: Since we are brand new, our biggest challenge is really twofold. First, we need to get the word out to our foothills community and to the greater Denver area that we are here in downtown Evergreen. Second, we need to understand what our customers are looking for, what they are drawn to and what they will come back again and again for. Solving these issues would probably ensure some longevity for our store here in Evergreen.
Q: Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:
A: We are very serious entrepreneurs and love thinking about businesses that would likely do well here in this mountain community. We keep revisiting the idea of opening a Brazilian food cart or small buffet-style Brazilian eatery somewhere in Evergreen.
Profile
Business: The Crystal Garden
Address: 27925 Colorado 74, Evergreen
Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday
Founded: 2014
Contact: 303-862-5723; the
Employees: 1
