A Local
Entrepreneur Brings the Joy Back into Receiving Correspondence
No
reservations are needed at the small jewel-of-a-store off
Rani’s fine stationery, invitation and gift store exemplify her knack for
order as well as her outgoing personality and creative imagination, all of
which demonstrate her natural-born ability to organize and plan.
“Even
in preschool, if there was something interesting going on she was always behind
it,” said Rani’s mother Joanne McClure.
“I remember when she was young she had a pretend office in her room with
a telephone and a cash register, and I gave her my mail to play with. She was
always busy, just like here, [at R.S.V.P.] same scene.”
Located in
Santa Ynez, R.S.V.P.’s services include
invitation creation, fine stationery, gifts, event consultation and day-of
event coordination and management. Colorful journals, health and goal logs can
also be found in the quaint store.
Rani’s merging of talents provides her with a sense of connection to the
Valley community and keeps customers coming back.
“It’s
rewarding to have a job that makes people happy,” Rani
said. “Knowing that I have something I can call my own and all the hard
work I put into it is an investment in myself and the
community [feels good].”
Originally
from
“Six
years ago I was over the snow and wanted to move where I could ride horses
year-round and be near the ocean. So I just up and moved,” Rani said.
“I’ve
lived in different parts of the country and worked at many different
jobs,” she said. “I finally feel like I’ve found the right
place to live and the right thing to do.”
After
seeing a business for-sale advertisement for R.S.V.P. in the Santa Ynez Valley
Journal and other local publications, Rani pursued
her life-long dream of becoming an entrepreneur by researching and writing a
business plan and finally purchasing R.S.V.P. in May.
“My
decision was based on my accountant,” Rani said
jokingly, “I knew how I wanted to grow the business and there was a lot
of potential for growth [with R.S.V.P.]. That was the kicker for me.”
She’s
still feeling the sparks of novelty that accompany being a first-time
entrepreneur.
“You
know how you have those people who tell you ‘do what you love and love
what you do’ I would always think whatever, if only I could be so
lucky,” Rani said. “But now I’m loving what I do and this is the first time that
I’m feeling that way. Now I know what they meant.”
And Rani isn’t the only person jumping for joy about
R.S.V.P. Her mother is also inspired by her tenacious spirit and unstoppable
creativity.
“I
was very excited and enthusiastic when she decided to buy her business,”
McClure said. “Because it’s something she [is] good at and she has
the talent from being in the hotel and hospitality business.”
Suzie
Bernhardt, who is having Rani help with organizing
her upcoming baby shower and owns On The Run next door to R.S.V.P., shares
Joanne’s sentiment.
She’s
fabulous at what she does and she loves it, which shows in the quality of work
she puts out, Bernhardt said.
“Her
store is very convenient,” she added. “You know if you go over the
Internet you don’t know what you’re getting, but she does proofs
and makes sure you are completely satisfied.”
Though Rani only recently became the owner of R.S.V.P. she has
already added a personalized touch to the store and has plans for the future.
Some of her goals include having her Web site finished by the fall, adding new
products to the inventory. She also wants to continue cultivating professional
relationships with other local business.
“Everything
is built on reputation,” Rani said. “I
want to provide a service and a product that is quality and that I can stand
behind.”
In summing
up why she decided to purchase R.S.V.P. Rani
commented on the joy of receiving a hand-written letter or card from someone
who cares enough to go the extra mile and put an individual touch in
correspondence.
“It
would be nice to help people remember the beauty and feeling of receiving a
[personalized] card or letter.”