Staying True to the Authentic You with Russ Jones

Crystal Vilkaitis  

In this episode of Rooted in Retail, I get to sit down in person with Russ Jones a rep in the gift and home space with Ivystone. I’ve known Russ for many years, consider him a friend. And this is such a great conversation. I hope you get to actually watch it versus listen, because we are in together, we are in person together at the Las Vegas market, and you got to check out Russ’s suit. He is a perfect example of somebody who just nails personal branding. And that is something that we are talking about, in this episode, the importance of really bringing your personality and your authentic self into your store, your products, your store storytelling, how to connect with your customers. And Russ has some really great stories of how he used to do that when he used to be a retailer. He’s a rep now. But he used to have a store in New York City and has some really fun things that he used to do that I think you’re going to love hearing and you’re just gonna love Russ and his energy. Now because he is a rep. We’re also talking about how you can work well with your rep and how you can really work with them as a business partner, not just a salesperson. He’s got really great tips there. So be sure to listen into this whole episode at the end. We also have some advice for you. You know, Russ has been in the industry in the retail industry very rooted for many years and so he’s got some great advice for our independent retailer listeners. Before we dive in, let me tell you a little bit more about Russ. From Broadway retail to being a rep, Russ Jones has had a great time living and working in New York City. For the past 18 years, Russ has been a rep with Ivystone working with designers, architects and retailers bringing beautiful home products to his customers from Korean company. Eicholtz USA, Loloi Rugs, Villa and House and Napa Home and Garden, winning the prestigious Arts Award three times for the best rep in the East Coast, a board member for gift for life and starting the new home verse hunger charity raising money to benefit world central kitchen. Uniting the home and accessories industry are a few of Russ’ most proud accomplishments. Yes, Ross used to perform on Broadway. We talk about it in this episode. And he’s got some fun things that he integrated that part of his life into his store again, I think you’re really going to love the energy, the ideas, and Russ. So let’s dive into this episode. 

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

Welcome to Rooted in Retail, the show that’s dedicated to helping independent retailers thrive in today’s ever evolving retail landscape. I’m your host, Crystal Vilkaitis. And I’m thrilled to have you join me weekly as we explore topics that are vital to the success of your store. from marketing to mindset, money to merchandising, sales to leadership, we’ll cover it all. Each episode features interviews with industry experts and accomplished retailers who share their real life insights and actionable advice. Get ready for a great conversation on how to build your dream business with Rooted in Retail. Russ, so welcome to Rooted in Retail. I’m thrilled you’re here for you. I’m thrilled to be here. Yeah, this is fun. So we are live at the Las Vegas market. If you are watching this, then you can see that this looks very different than how we normally film. And Russ has taken some time out of his busy schedule to sit down and have a conversation about retail. Oh, thank you. So you are super Rooted in Retail. You used to be a retailer. And as we were planning for this, you said I think one of the most important things for retailers is to make their stores a reflection of themselves. So what kind of store did you have? And how did you do that?

 

Russ Jones  

I had a gift shop that was called Flights of Fancy. I wanted to call it and I hope I don’t offend anybody but I want to call it Shit I Like oh, that’s what I would buy. That would be at market. Yeah. But the awning was just going to be the initials SIL. And so people in the know would know that super should I like, I love to go shopping and I’ll have to buy stuff. But I always I buy what I like and that’s what I can sell. And so and even if it’s not something that I wouldn’t necessarily, when I came to market, even though it wasn’t something necessarily that I really wanted. It was the best of what that was and it helped tell my story. Yeah, so yeah, and I just think being authentic and being who you are needs to be a reflection of you. And it’s funny because I found out that my store did much better business if I was there. Interesting. So it’s it’s a little bit like a Baldwin chain in some ways. And I love to be there. But there were also times that I was like, I just need a day off. You know, it’s fun to be on all the time. Oh, for sure. When you buy all this stuff and you run the store and you do all this plays, and I mean, it was a one man show remind just so

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

yeah, well, and I bet listeners are so nodding right now. I mean, like, I can completely relate to Russ. You’re speaking my language. Now, you are unique in the sense that you used to perform on Broadway. And so bringing that authentic self of your past, how did you integrate that into your store? 

 

Russ Jones  

Well, you know, it’s funny, my store was in New York City. And when I was transitioning from Broadway, because you can only sing and dance so long, and it’s like, yeah, I need to do something else. And I was so attracted to shopping and selling and all that stuff. And it was a very easy transition. But in my store, we did like lots of things. I mean, I played Broadway soundtracks all the time. The one it was funny, I was on the road with Hello, Dolly with kill Jamie the last time she did it, and I came in to stop to the short shop. And they were playing it was when Rent was big. And I walked in, and they’re going, how am I gonna pay my rent? How am I gonna? I’m like, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, we don’t play that music. We play. We’re in the barn. We just I wanted it to be more positive. And I didn’t want people shopping in my store thinking about haven’t going to pay my rent?

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

No kidding. Not putting it down.

 

Russ Jones  

I’m like, no, no, no. But you know, I sang in the shop all the time, when the soundtrack I just music really moves me and it sets a tone. I would hire my friends who were not in shows at the time to come work and help with the store. So it’s all Broadway people that were there. And we just had a great time. I mean, it’s so important to just have fun doing what you’re doing. And that just creates an ambiance for the store. And for your customers to just know that you love what you do. And it’s okay to show that ya have to pretend like you’re something else. We’re not Macy’s. Exactly.

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

Which is the benefit.

 

Russ Jones  

Like they’re happy to be there. No, but I was thrilled to be to get my store every

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

day. Yeah, I I’m not going to get this stat right. But I did hear that people are like, they’re 26% or something. I feel like it was higher than that more likely to stay in a store. If music is playing, and they like the music like you are creating this ambiance and that atmosphere. You mentioned that you did a September singing sale. What is that?

 

Russ Jones  

It’s so funny because September is a big month for like Broadway shows to open. And there are a lot of Stephen Sondheim was born in September, West Side Story opened in September. So again, be just true to myself and who I was. I did a September 16 sale. And being in Manhattan, a lot of people and I was on the Upper East Side. So a lot of people would go out to the Hamptons for the whole summer. So a lot of my regular customers. And then I had to pay sales tax in September. I’m like, Well, I got to do something to raise some cash at the dam sales tax. And so I came up with a September singing sale. And I think it was Woodstock challenge used to do like little grand pianos, and I had a microphone and a spotlight and it was all very theatrical, always very theatrical, but I’m kind of theatrical. So it makes sense. But I, so I made a calendar, and sent it out to all my customers. And that’s where we did snail mail, we there wasn’t, we did have an email address, but it was AOL. That’s how long ago it was dial up. But you know, every day was something different. And people it just really created such a community because people would just open up the door and go, “tonight tonight” and just you know it but they would get 20% off if they think something for whatever day that was so it’s just really fun. It was fun way to engage your customers. And it really made the whole month of September an event and help raise some money. 

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

Yeah,many retailers listening to this. This is a great idea for September. I love it. And now that we do have social media imagine that content oh

 

Russ Jones  

my gosh, if we only had I mean, I probably arrested or something that’s why I’m so glad, like all that stuff wasn’t around. Because I’d be like

 

Russ Jones  

but it would be so amazing now to like have footage of that stuff. I mean, we just we didn’t have cell phones. I mean, you know it was a while ago, so

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

yeah, I love it. I love bringing that authenticity to your store, having fun connecting with your customers. Now you have been a sales rep for how many years? 18 years 18 years ago? Yep. Okay, and you are the top sales rep or you like in all all the reps. Can we just say that? 

 

Russ Jones  

No, I Yes, I love being a sales rep. But again, it’s about being your authentic self and people, you know, this how I dress for markets, but it’s more my costume. And again coming from showbiz to retail to being a rap, I want to be seen, I want to be noticed, I want to be remembered. Yeah. So I don’t have a problem with it. And, you know, people, like stop me in the hallway and want to take my picture all the time there. Can I take a picture? I’m like, sure. But you know, it kind of just builds on who I am. And it’s my brand. Even though I work for a rep group, and represent some fabulous manufacturers. It’s my brand. 

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

The power of personal branding, I think is really important, especially now, because we have so many choices. And if you’re watching this video, Ross has an incredible suit, he always does. If you’re not watching this video, you need to head over to YouTube and check it out. Now something that you said, when you were when you had your store, you emphasize the concept of storytelling in your retail approach. How do you see your attendance at markets like Atlanta and New York to build these stories for your store?

 

Russ Jones  

Well, you know, the way I shopped as a retailer, I would walk around the first couple of days. And I know it’s expensive. And I know that it takes time and takes you away from your store. But you need to like see what’s out there in the market. And especially if you’re a, you know, a store owner, and you don’t get to get out and see what other retailers are doing. This is a great way to find out what’s happening out there. And so I walk around and tell him like, make notes and go Oh, that’s fun. Oh, that’s fun. Oh, I could tell this story. And so I would make my notes and then I would decide to go back and place orders. And know the story that I was going to tell I didn’t do it on a whim. And I didn’t buy things randomly. Just because I liked them. I mean, occasionally Yes. But it was more of planning a story to tell, depending on what the season was and what was coming up and how it was going to, you know, New Yorker shot by Windows. So my window was very important to have a great display. And, you know, I figured out how to make it snow one year in my window. But I had a lot of theater friends that I could come and go, Hey, how can I do this, and we would construct things and make things happen. And we didn’t have a big budget. But I mean, the store was 850 square feet. Okay, so, you know, I hung a Christmas tree upside down and made a chandelier tree. It was one of like, the first ones, and then all of a sudden they’re like, on the market everywhere. But I wish I marketed Well, yeah, but you know, it’s about telling a story and, and putting things together from different vendors, too. Because some things I mean, if you’re going to make a big splash, that could be expensive. But then you can find other things to go along with it that you can make your margin on because it’s those things aren’t that expensive, but they’re buying expensive stuff. So you can charge more for it, you know, and take it out of the packaging, I would never, like have things like in a Boston international or any of these vendors with their logos on it, company, all that stuff. I would not promote that, I would promote my story that I was telling. Yep. And just unpackage it and tell a story and have enough to show and enough to go and tell a story half-assed, it just doesn’t work. And because someone comes in and likes your story, they’re gonna buy it, and then it’s gonna be gone. And then what story are you gonna tell?

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

exactly. When Wouldn’t you say that’s the power of markets like this, where you can come and because there’s so such a rise of wholesale online marketplaces, and those can have their place. But I do think that the power of being in person is so important and what you find

 

Russ Jones  

So important, yeah, I don’t think you know, they, there’s a lot of inside sales and blah, blah, blah, and I don’t think the rep is ever gonna go away. I think reps can be very useful. Especially if you don’t spend a lot of time at market you just come. But just the energy from market is so important to just get that charge and recharge. Because in your own store, day after day after day, after day after day, it can wear you down. And it’s like time to make the donuts, you know, and that’s how you kind of feel. But coming to market and seeing new products, and being visually stimulated by other people’s displays, can really craft your own ideas and make you more creative.

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

Absolutely it like unleashes the creativity.

 

Russ Jones  

And that’s why we just walk around I would allow myself to be creative and I still do that to this day. I try to take at least an hour every day when I just turn off all my devices and computers and screens and because I’m one of those that has you know two screens and my iPad and my phone and and but just shut all that down and sit and be creative for allow the creativity to come and happen because There’s so much going on. It’s so fast paced. And you have to allow yourself, give yourself permission to power down for a moment. And be creative and see where that leads you. And sometimes I’m creative about work. Sometimes I’m creative about the dinner I’m gonna make, or the next outfit I’m going to wear, you know, it comes in different ways. But you have to push out everything else and allow yourself that time.

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

Yep. And something I find, too, when I’m feeling like I just need that break, and I need to rest, you take the time to rest. And what often happens is because I’ve given myself that space, the creativity, new ideas, answers come to us, but I think it’s hard for retailers, they won’t put that as a priority of setting and creating that space and unleashing their creativity. But it’s so important. And again, there’s so many choices that the consumer has that I think that the retailer has to make time for the creativity, they have to storyteller, they have to be themselves,

 

Russ Jones  

And it has to be an experience nowadays, I mean, I go into a lot of stores still. And the ones that are the most successful are the ones that are creating a good experience, and be what, whatever that is, if you sell food, having food out, if you you know, whatever it is, it needs to be unique. But it has to be authentic, it can’t be forced, people can read that right away. And there’s like, everyone’s bombarded with so many, you know, emails and ads on scrolling through Instagram and all that stuff. It’s so needs to be authentic and needs to be you and needs to reflect who you are. And watch what you bring to the table. Yeah. So that being you, that’s where I found I’ve always been most successful, is just being me. And making no excuses for it. I am who I am. You like or you don’t, And that’s fine. Yeah, not everybody is for everybody. But

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

so true. I’m really glad that you’re saying that because we work with so many retailers who have a lot of fear of being themselves. And that can feel scary. What if people don’t like me? What if people judge me? What if I mess up? And it holds them back?

 

Russ Jones  

And there’s no you can’t? You can’t be anybody else. You just have to be you. It’s just so much easier. It’s like the path of least resistance a lot of Yeah, absolutely. And I try to follow that in life as well. Like, just doors open up. And things happen. When you are just you and not pretending to be somebody else or trying to go, oh, well, I’m Beyonce. And you’re not? She is Why do you want to be your you know, be you. Because I think everyone is unique and has brings their own unique flair and style to the table. And it can be celebrated, but only if you celebrate it first, to get permission to people to celebrate you. 

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

I love that,  that is so good. But it’s so important for the retailer to hear. So thank you for saying that. Now, let’s talk about how the retailer can work best with their rep. Because, you know, a rep is a salesperson, but they can also act as a business partner.

Russ Jones  

Like a consultant, yes, free consultant, basically, yeah, because you’re not paying the rep. Now. I love being a rep and I love my job. And I love selling pretty stuff. There are good reps and there are bad reps. It’s the same in life, there are good people and bad people. But you got to try them out. Especially if you don’t spend a lot of time at market reps can bring the market to you. And that’s an invaluable service. But, you know, I was always leery of the reps that were just come in, and go, Hey, do you want to buy this? Because they hadn’t looked around my store and didn’t know anything about me or what I was doing? I’m like, No, I don’t want to buy that. But then I made relationships. In this business. Being a retailer or being a rep or coming to market. It’s all about relationships. Yes, we can get as digital and as highfalutin, and fancy as we want is still a very huggy touchy kind of business that we’re in, and it’s great. So build that relationship allow them to come in. But if they don’t know how to be a rep yet, maybe tell them you should look around my store. See what you see what I do. This is my niche. This is where I fit in. Now let’s talk about what you have. And you can tell in the first few minutes if they have something that you’re going to work because not but then you know a lot of times vendors will do specials for the road that you can only get through your rep. So don’t count them out as a waste of time. Some are, totally hear you, but some aren’t. 

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

So are there certain questions that you should be asking reps to really be able to decipher? Between, is this a good rep? Are they on my side? Are they a salesperson just trying to make a quota?

 

Russ Jones  

Again, I think it’s being authentically you and going, you know, if it’s a line that you already carry in your store, I would try to find out who the rep is in the area and see what they could do to help. And it’s not, you’re not marrying them. You can end the relationship, you can say, You know what, I’m just gonna go direct, and that’s fine. But sometimes they can, you know, go, Well, this was really hot at market. And I know, it’s not really your thing, but this is really close to it, or, you know, and make other suggestions for you. So you don’t miss out on, especially if you don’t go to market. You don’t miss out on the hot things, or what’s going on in the marketplace right now. Exactly. So they’re like the feet on the street. And they also know, you know, reps generally have territory, so they know what Betty Sue is carrying down the street. And so you’re not in competition, even though you could be both “gift stores” but you both should have your own personality, right. And you both could sell the same line, but most lines are so big, no one’s going to carry all of it. So it’s up to that rep to know, Oh, you do this part. And you do this part. And we all get along. And not allowing the neighbor down the street to order the same damn thing that you’re ordering. Right on their first you know, so it’s a lot of negotiation. But you know, I, I made some great friends as a rep. And that’s why then transitioning from closing my I had my store for 10 years, transitioning from my store. And the only reason I close to this cut, the rent got so expensive in New York City. And I was just like, I am working way too hard to pay this rent. And especially selling tchotchkes, basically like cards, candles, lamps, jewelry, basically, whatever I liked, that’s what I bought, there was a time where fountains were big. And I went in and did fountains and sold a tonne of them and had a great time. But then they went out, and then I never sell them again. But it’s about changing. And I also think it’s really important for retailers to move stuff around in their store all the time. Especially if you have repeat customers. People shop very weirdly sometimes, and they don’t always see everything that you have, right. But if you move it, and then they’re like, Oh, is that new? I’m like, have you seen it in here before? No. Well, then it’s new to you. It could have been here for ten years, you say it’s, you know, it’s about changing and telling and telling different stories. So you can still especially for the returning customer, so they have a new story to hear and see and experience such good advice. And I, I would change my window almost every month unless it was like for Christmas. Of course I didn’t change it every month. I went from you know, Halloween to a little bit of Thanksgiving, do Hanukkah Christmas, depending on where that fell. Because being in New York, I have a lot of Jewish customers and on the Upper East Side. So I wanted to celebrate every holiday. Because every holiday should be celebrated. I think yeah. And life everyday should be celebrated

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

I know. I so agree. It’s I actually listened to a session last week when I was in Nashville and the speaker, Georgia, and Bender was talking about merchandising, and she used to have a store at a train station. So in the morning, she had her displays. Then when everybody left rush hour, she would change, bring new stuff out for the lunch crowd, and then change it again for the evening crowd. So three times a day, she was changing her displays. But when you’re getting that kind of traffic, you want it to feel fresh, and new, because then people are like, Oh, I haven’t seen that yet. There’s so much new stuff coming through here.

 

Russ Jones  

Yeah. And that’s how you sell it. And that’s how you move merchandise. You an’t sit in the same spot forever in your store. And I would move furniture around in my store and but I did that as a kid too. I drove my parents crazy. Because they would go out and there’d be a babysitter and be like, I think I’m going to redo the living. And just move all the furniture and they come in like Ross Oh god. Oh

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

my gosh. Are you a Gemini? 

 

Russ Jones  

No, I’m a Capricorn. 

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

Oh, okay. I’m a Gemini who loves change. And I was rearranging my room every week. I never did the other rooms like

 

Russ Jones  

I like I like order and constancy. Consistent consistency. So my my rooms are, but I like change in other parts of

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

the house. Okay, I like for newness. Yeah, you need that newness, 

Russ Jones  

But it’s so important for people not to be afraid to try things. Even if you move a piece of furniture and you figure out well, that really sucks there. You can move it again. Exactly. Don’t nail it into the wall. But you know, there’s again you’re not getting married to any of it. You should try everything that you can.

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

I love it. You have Given a retailer so much to think about in a lot of value, is there anything looking back when you were a retailer that you’ve learned all these years and being a rep, what advice would you give to a retailer who’s in it running their store?

 

Russ Jones  

I think what I wish I had done more of when I was a retailer was to leave the store and experience other parts of the city and what other people were doing in retail, you can get so you put your blinders on, and you go to work, and you just do what you’re doing. And there, again, it’s about allowing yourself to be creative, and let the creativity just flow through you. And you have to, it’s all about giving yourself permission to have fun, to not be at the store, to not work seven days a week, permission to take a day off. You know, all those things are so important just to rejuvenate and revive and be creative and learn how to express yourself better.

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

Beautiful, that makes sense. Absolutely. That’s beautiful advice. Okay, are you ready for the resilience round? 

 

Russ Jones  

Oh God, I’m gonna be horrible at this. 

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

No. Okay, you’re gonna be fabulous. Best Business Book.

 

Russ Jones  

Best Business Book. The Bible. Okay. Yeah. There’s another one called Being You think you’re being you are? No. They Buy You. That’s what it is. Oh, interesting. Okay, because you’re selling yourself. And that’s why being an actor was being a retailer and being a rep. They’re buying you. 

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

Beautiful. So yeah. Okay, great books, best retail technology, like an app or software?

 

Russ Jones  

Gosh, you know, I’ve been out of the retail thing for so long. I mean, as a rep, there’s some great apps and platforms. ShopZio, I think is probably really good for I use repZio, which is the rep side of it. But they have a ShopZiofor the retailer side of it. And I really haven’t been on it much. But it’s very similar. I’m told, and my customers could shop there. And then send me a card and all that stuff. So that’s kind of cool and

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

Awesome. Okay, how do you keep up with the ever changing retail landscape?

 

Russ Jones  

To get out there and explore you, the only way to keep up with it, you’re not going to keep up with it. If you’re not going out and seeing what’s happening, going to market. Very important. And shopping at other stores. And I would always announce myself when I went into other people’s stores, because they might know you already or know who you are. And you don’t want to be like, it’s not like being a spy or anything. But espionage, especially people that have a career as like robbers. They put my mug shot up into being like.

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

Oh, yeah. Thousands of people are just flooding in.

 

Russ Jones  

But, you know, go out and explore. And I would announce it go, Hey, I’m Russ and I own Flights of Fancy. And, you know, just want to check out your store, it always looks so interesting, you know, lead with a compliment. And then you have permission to look around. And it’s not like you’re going to steal stuff from them. And you don’t need to steal. Nobody needs to steal from anybody. You can be your own. You can do your own thing. But it can spark imagination and creativity, which I think is so important.

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

Awesome. I so agree. Okay, because retail is ever changing, how do you recharge your batteries?

 

Russ Jones  

Well, like I said, I take an hour every day basically to just sit down and go, okay. And if I have projects that I know I need to do, and I try to figure out how I’m going to do that, or a presentation, or a big customer that I’m going to meet for the first time and how, what should I lead with, but you have to allow yourself the time to figure all that out. Doing it by the seat of my pants, I could do it sometimes. It just depends on your customer. And you also need to learn how to read people and know, you know, that was a good acting thing that I learned, like reading people and knowing how to talk to them. Because everyone kind of speaks the same language but differently in different languages. So you can say one thing to one person and they don’t get it and then you say it to another person. They get it. But it’s just learning their language and how to present it and how to connect awesome all connections.

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

At the end of the day I Yeah, retail hands down but life, too. To help retailers be stronger, more rooted in success. What’s a sales best practice?

 

Russ Jones  

I think be authentic. Be honest, be who you are. And you know as long as an eye found this to be always the case, as long as you always tell the truth. And, or, and I tell my customers, listen, I know on the website, it says it’s going to ship mid September, you’re not going to get it until late October, just setting expectations and being honest. And I will tell you, that’s one thing I say to my customers when I meet them for the first time, and this might be too much. But here we go. I would say I’m way too old for a one night stand. I’m looking for a long term relationship, I will always tell you the truth as I know it to be. And I expect the same back from you. Because it makes them laugh, they kind of see that I have a sense of humor. And it also is very real. Like, I am way too over when I stand, I want to I want you I want to be the person you come to all the time to buy. Yes. And so I’m making this commitment to you. And I expect the same back from you. So the only way I can do that is by telling the truth all the time I don’t like. And so I work with a lot of designers in New York. And people always like, Oh, well, if I buy a lot, can I get a better price? Like, no, because you’re a designer and this is your price level, retailers should get a different price level because they’re making a commitment to rent, overhead employees, electricity, all that stuff. And not that designers aren’t doing that as well. But there are different price levels for a reason. And so I keep all my designers on the same price level. And that way I can say all of my customers are on the same price level. I don’t have to worry. I’m not lying. Perfect. Exactly. It’s very easy for me to say. And so I think being authentic and being honest. And being you is the most important,

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

beautiful. Final question, what is the future of independent retail?

 

Russ Jones  

You know, I think the future is bright. But I’m kind of a Pollyanna kind of person. I always look for the bright side. And it’s what you make it you have the power. You have the store, you can buy what you want, show, tell the stories that you want, and be the person that you want to be. Nobody can do that for you. You got to do it. And just again, that’s why being authentic and real. It’s just gonna be so much easier to do it that way. Yeah. Because then you’re not trying to reinvent the wheel. The wheel works really well. Yeah, why reinvent it?

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

Yes, because we want to make things hard for ourselves, right? You don’t do it at the least resistance. Yes, yes. Seriously? Oh, it’s so good. Ross. How can people find out more about you where they can they connect with you?

 

Russ Jones  

I am on Instagram. @RussNYC1. I work for Ivystone is the rep group that I work for. We’re here we’re at all the major markets we have a showroom, but as their rep. Curry and Loloi,  Korean Company. sorry. Loloi Rugs. Brownstone furniture. Oh, golly, gosh, Eicholtz, which is great line. And Vila and House. So and you can also follow me on Instagram. #What’sRussWearing? That’s my hashtag.

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

I gotta follow the hashtag. I can’t believe I haven’t been so good. Thank you so much for your time. This was so good

 

Russ Jones  

Just keep doing you.

 

Crystal Vilkaitis  

Guys keep doing you. Well said And remember I am rooting for your success. Have a great week ahead. Thanks, everybody. Bye. 

 

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Thank you so much for being here. It means the world to me. Don’t forget to join the Rise and Shine newsletter which is Social Media News You Need to Know sent via email every Monday morning. Go to crystalmediaco.com/rise to join and don’t miss the newest episode of rooted and retail which drops every Sunday morning