Why Small Businesses Matter
Shop small, do big things for your community
Why Small Businesses Matter puts a spotlight on the local merchants who donate their time, talent, goods, and services for the betterment of our community. The shop local movement spreads virally as local businesses who are “tagged” have the opportunity to share their story!
You're IT SUKI SHIMA shop!
Three questions with Kelly Benenati, founder of SUKI SHIMA shop.
Why did you start your business?
We are best friends since high school and have collaborated on many artistic projects over the years. We both had a secret fantasy of owning a store, and quarantine allowed us to explore the possibility of opening a shop together. Embarking on this journey has allowed us to expand on our strengths and creativity in ways we never could have imagined, and has also been a fantastic way to strengthen our bond as friends.
One of the missions of our shop has been to highlight and support our friends and family who are talented artists and craftsmen. Creating a space for their products and skills to be showcased has been extremely satisfying and important to us. We are only just getting started, and as we see it- the sky’s the limit for Suki Shima!
How many local businesses do you use to support your business (products and services) and can you name them?
While we are currently an online-based business, we have found ways to connect with our local community. We have participated in multiple Popshop Markets in Fairfield, Milford, and Stratford, as well as the Farmers' Market of Black Rock. This has allowed us to connect in person with customers and other small businesses. We also are working with local family and friends to supply handmade products for our shop.
Have you "reimagined" your small business?
We started this business amid COVID quarantine, a time when our lives and the world around us were already not where we imagined they would be. In a way, that gave us the freedom and permission to dream up this shop and work toward what we hope to achieve while remaining open to all its potential paths and opportunities.
Kelly and her team would love to nominate Alchemy, the Salon - "Imogene Wilson is the owner and a dear friend who is also a Fairfield native. Her family has had several small businesses in town throughout the years. We are also very close with our friends Eli and Christy Newsom at Fairfield Center Stage."
Visit SUKI SHIMA shop online here, and make sure to check out their Facebook, and Instagram pages as well!
HamletHub thanks Fairfield County Bank for making our Why Small Businesses Matter series possible!
SUKI SHIMA shop is located at AA. Visit SUKI SHIMA shop online here, and make sure to check out their Facebook, and Instagram, pages as well!