Meet Julie Mitchell | Owner

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

Hi Julie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My name is Julie Mitchell and my family and I live in the small amish country town of Ashland, OH. We own a store in our little downtown called Fig and Oak. We are a unique gift/home decor boutique and every purchase at our store gives back in some way to various charities and or causes. I met my husband when I was 17 and we were married by the time I was 18 so now we have been married for 22 years. Yes, if you do the math, you will see I’m 41! 😉 My husband and I have always wanted to own a store but we always said “maybe someday” as we became young parents and life became very busy for us for a while with our two boys. Some day came once our kiddos were older and could help us make our dream become a reality. We knew from the very start we wanted to have something unique and something that would somehow give back to support charities as my dad had recently been diagnosed with Parkinsons. That is how Fig and Oak: Shop with Purpose was created.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have an amazing family who have supported and encouraged me from day one. They pushed me to pursue my dreams and still help me to this day in the store! I’ve now hired a couple of people outside of my family who are just wonderful! They are passionate about giving back and making our shop a safe place and experience for every person who walks through our doors. We love the connections and communications we make through the personal conversations we have because so many of our products give back to charities/causes that touch the hearts of so many.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would get coffee and a snack from Goldberry coffee then head down to Mohican State Park for a day of hiking. After a long day of hiking we’d come back and enjoy a delicious dinner and craft beer from Uniontown. The next day I’d take them to Downtown Perk to grab coffee and brunch and then explore all our unique shops downtown. We could end the evening playing games at Masterminds or challenging ourselves to trying an escape room there. We could finish off with a drink from The Well, a new lounge downtown. If we really felt adventurous we could go skydiving with Aerohio Skydiving, then grab lunch at South Street Grille after. Joans Tavern is a great place to grab a cocktail and some snacks! Ohio Fire has wonderful pizza….I could go on and on. Like I said, Ashland truly is someplace special.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Ashland is small but mighty! Our community is passionate about supporting one another however they can. Our downtown through hard work and dedication is making an awesome come back through rehabilitation of old buildings and opening new shops and restaurants. We believe downtown Ashland is somewhere worth exploring!

Website: www.figandoakshop.com

Instagram: @figandoakshop

Facebook: fb.com/figandoakshop

Youtube: @figoakllc8530