Meet Charity Shellabarger | Small Business Lifestyle Boutique Owner and Interior Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Charity Shellabarger and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Charity, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Risk, for me has always been a scary thing. I would much rather stay comfortable or in my safe place than take a risk; I feel like that’s human nature to want to be comfortable, right or is that just me? However, I have learned in order to grow and continue in the business world, taking risks are not an “if” but a “when”. Risks are where and when growth happens. Sometimes the risks come out on the other side very successful and sometimes they don’t but you would not have known unless you took the risk.

In my career, taking the risks have been necessary. When my mother started Refined, we were at a lovely location in Greenville, Ohio that was just the perfect size for a start business but as we grew we knew we needed to take the leap to a larger and more populated location or it was time to close that chapter in our lives. But we decided on taking the risk and moving to a location that not only required more product but also more labor in displaying the products.; we take pride in our unique or “refined” way of displaying so being able to do that on a larger scale was a risk but so far so good (being at this new location for almost 3 years). Anytime we order products that is a risk also because we may have customers that absolutely adore it and it sells out within a month or less or we may have a product that customers aren’t as much of a fan of and we have it for 6+ months. However, its a risk we must take.

Continuing on with my career, Refined Renderings + Interiors is also apart of the business. I personally feel like taking risks in the design world is when you give yourself the potential to create the most unique and personal interiors. If you didn’t take risks in interior design then you would simply be comfortable with doing what everyone else does and that’s just not interesting. In my area, Interior Designer aren’t exactly a normal career profession or a normal service home owners hire but I am determined to change the stigma on “interior design only being for wealthy people”.

High Risk, High Reward.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Refined Purveyors of Fine Goods is what we classify as a Lifestyle Boutique. What is a Lifestyle Boutique? It is a retail space that carries all different things that can and are used in your everyday life. Such as plants, garden tools, apothecary (soaps, lotions, lip balm etc.), secondhand clothing, baby items, antique and vintage furniture, jewelry, tea & coffee ware, kitchen items, home decor, paper needs, candles and more. Though each of these categories are different they all carry 1 similar variable and that is YOU. We, at Refined, are here for you. Whether you need a gift for someone, a new mug or candle, a houseplant to replace your dead one (whoops), looking for a clean skincare product or safe baby clothing options, or maybe a few new pieces for your wardrobe. YOU are the focus and the consistent variable.

Refined Purveyors was started in 2018 by my lovely mother Angie Shellabarger. Her whole purpose behind the store was to bring to our area products and a style that was different than everything else and encourage people to push the limits of home decor; hints the name Refined. To this day we still strive to push/show people how to do things in their lives or home that are “out of the normal” or “REFINED”. Since 2018, Refined has expanded what type or products we carry. Starting our first as a classified Gift and Home Decor Store to now being classified as Lifestyle Boutique as spoke about above. The store is run and operated by myself, my mother and my sister Abbey with support from my other beautiful sisters.

Refined Purveyors strives to find products that just can’t be easily got other places, products that are high quality and ethically made at a reasonable price. There is a large stigma around well-made products being “way too highly priced” (which is the normal) but we believe that doesn’t have to be where it ends. We spend countless hours finding ethical products that are purchasable at any income level, it’s not easy but it is achievable. In 2022, Refined took the leap of faith to move to our current location which is double and potentially triple the size of our last location and we are happy to say that almost 3 years later the jump was well worth it. Today we have a brick and mortar full of various different ethically sources and well-made products for all. I would also like to note that in all transparency, we are still continuing to take the steps of removing all “Made in China” and unknown ethical background products and though we are not fully to that point yet I am pleased to say we are about 91% there.

Also, apart of Refined Purveyors is Refined Renderings + Interiors which is an interior design business based out of our building serving the surrounding area and on. RR+I is primarily residential based providing clients with professional design help and guidance, high quality furniture pieces, detailed designs from flooring to the drapery and more. Projects I have done have been smallest of living room replan to full house ground up build. Though I am based in Greenville, Ohio I have also served areas as far as Cincinnati and up to Coldwater, Ohio. Though I am primarily residential, I have also done various commercial jobs such as dental offices, retail spaces, and other offices.

One of my current favorite projects I am working on at this time is the restoration of a 1950’s home that has not been touches since it was built in the 1950’s; talk about a dream job. We have been able to salvage about 92% of the original gems of the home creating a “time capsule” and 100% 1950’s style interiors with the pink bathroom and all. and the place will soon be up and running as an Airbnb. It is an absolute honor to help clients “fall in love or back in love with their spaces.”

Though Refined Purveyors of Fine Goods and Refined Renderings + Interiors are different they still work hand in hand and it is not uncommon for me to use pieces from Refined Purveyors in jobs for RR+I.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
So Greenville, Ohio isn’t the most well known place or I would say the first spot people may think of to visit but THEY ARE MISSING OUT. Greenville, Ohio’s downtown is one of the prettiest and populated downtown’s that I have seen in the area. With various coffee shops, shopping options, food, and other attractions.

-Coffee and breakfast at the local coffee shops
-Shopping in downtown at the various retail stores
-Lunch at one of the delicious local restaurants/cafes
-More shopping after lunch
-Ice cream at one of the local ice cream shops (all are great options)
-Walk in the park or by one of the creeks
-Drinks at the local cocktail lounge
-Dinner at one of the local restaurants

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mother, Angie Shellabarger, 100% deserves the recognition for my story. Not only just being my mother and filling all the rolls that brings but also being my design enthusiast. She has taught me to push the limits on products and design. To not let what the world around us is doing to control what we do. If we want to hang a picture on the wall with a Kantha cloth behind it then we will because its different and it looks amazing.

My father, Tim Shellabarger, also 100% deserves the recognition for my story. He started his own business at a very young age and still runs that same business almost 40 years later. My dad has taught me that being an entrepreneur is great and has its perk but it also takes a lot of planning and strategic thinking. He has brought me back down to earth many times while also pushing me forward into the risk that being a small business owner takes.

I have been very blessed to have two active and intentional parents that encourage me to keep chasing the stars while also being strategic and smart about it.

Website: https://www.httpsrefinedgoods.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shoprefinedpurveyors/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shoprefinedgoods

Other: Refined Renderings + Interiors
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refinedsinteriordesign/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InteriorsbyCharity
Website: https://www.httpsrefinedgoods.com/interior-design