Interview with Georgia Thompson, president
Q: How did you get involved in this business?
A: I was very crafty and my husband really loved radio-controlled airplanes. His job then was becoming obsolete, so hobbies and crafts seemed the logical way to go.
Q: What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?
A: We have a wide variety of different items. We have been using and learning about our inventory for 50 years. We have more knowledge to answer our customers’ questions.
Q: What do you like best about your line of work?
A: We enjoy interacting with our customers and helping them with their projects. It is fun to see the new products that come out in our industry.
Q: What is your business’ biggest challenge?
A: Our biggest challenge is competing with big-box stores and the Internet. Many people think that the big stores have the better price, but that’s not always the case. Small businesses are being forgotten and replaced by Internet purchasing.
Q: Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:
A: We consider many of our customers as friends. Some of them even bring us birthday pies and other goodies. We sincerely appreciate their business and goodwill for the last 50 years.
Profile
Business: Thompson’s Hobbies and Crafts
Address: 1585 Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood
Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday
Founded: 1965
Contact: 303-238-5821, thompsonshobbiesandcrafts
Employees: 4
