Downtown welcomes, Just Chill, Cortland's newest shopping parlor, where you'll find everything you need to treat yourself or someone you love. Shelves brim with handcrafted candles, artisan teas, jewelry, soaps and lotions. Displays of perfectly coiffed gift baskets line the walls. Sassy cards, wine glasses and cocktails kits make assembling the perfect gift box easy. Come in and design a gift basket for someone special. Or, simply fill owner, Carol Hill, in on all the details and she'll curate the perfect care package. The hardest part will be not keeping it all for yourself. We asked Carol Hill to take a few minutes our of her busy day to answer a few questions for us.
What inspired you to open Just Chill Custom Gifting By Carol?
So, the full story is on my about us page on the website, but the core of Just Chill had to do with bringing some joy to people during a time of stress and separation ( namely the pandemic). As a nurse of more than 25 years what I saw was that the pandemic didn’t just take lives, it took away peoples joy and it broke their sprints. I simply wanted to find away to give them some of that joy back and heal not only the body, but the mind, the soul and build back the human spirit.
Where did the name Just Chill come from? The name is simply a reflection of what my business has been Just Me! LOL doing everything from designing the baskets, marketing, accounting and mastering my new craft. So... the C is for my first name Carol and the rest… “Hill" my last name hence, Just Chill :)
Why chose downtown Cortland, for your shopfront?
First, Cortland is my hometown, I was born and raised in Cortland and what better a place to grow and continue to develop my business. Second, I see so much potential and growth happening in my hometown and I want to be apart of both the economic contributions by bringing a new place of employment and a sense of community through the hosting of various events, art displays and small business vendor pop up shops I have planned. Lastly, visibility, these baskets and our unique gifting items needed a place where people could see them. Although my last location was simply the cutest little shop ever, it just did not give us the visibility we needed.
If your shop was a song, what would it be and why?
Willy Wonka’s “ Pure Imagination” or Disney’s “ Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” because the showroom is a little bit of both…a lot of imagination and this shop is my next life venture after nearly 30 years in healthcare and I see it as Great, Big, and Beautiful!
I know you just opened, but are any exciting projects (or future projects) in the works?
Oh yes! So, every other month I will be hosting a local artist in the showroom, their works of art will be displayed for the entire month and we will have a "Meet the Artist" meet and greet event on the first Friday of each month ( minus any holidays). In fact, our first one is scheduled for April 1st, 2022 ( more information will be posted about this on our various social media sites). Also on the opposite months I will host various local vendor Pop up Shops, our first vendor will pop up like magic in the showroom on the last three Saturdays of the month in May, 2022. Oh, and I must not forget that on the 3rd Tuesday of the month we will be hosting a tea of the month tasting party for anyone who enjoys teas as much as we do!
What item do you have in your shop, that is a staple in your home?
All of my candles! We offer a large variety of candles from national and local vendors and I burn them all! If you love candles and aromatherapy we have the candles for you. My favorite of course is my custom created candle“ Carol’s Sweet Ambrosia” which was crafted by Akimi, master candle maker at Kimcraftery of Ithaca, NY. It is the most deliciously smelling plum and warm vanilla mixture of magic that is adorned with baby’s breathe, amethyst and of course a little unicorn dust ( aka biodegradable glitter).
What is your favorite locally made item (perhaps one you sell)?
I love each and every one of my products but ...“ Carol’s Sweet Ambrosia” by Kimcraftery is my fav right now because it was such a fun loving collaboration of two great female minds.
What is Cortland County’s best-kept secret?
Honestly, the historical society museum (Suggett House Museum) on Homer Ave, I absolutely love history and I used to visit that museum quite often as a child and think more people should know about it and go.
Describe Cortland County in three words.
Developing, Community, Home
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