Daily Inspiration: Meet Gina Evans

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gina Evans

Hi Gina, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Back in 2021 I had lost my job due to COVID. My husband was looking to move his business. He actually worked out of our garage for awhile til we found this space. He was trying to sell some equipment he had when he contacted the man that owned this building. We came down to take a look. The former owner had cats and I am allergic so I stayed in the truck outside. Seeing all the people milling around on the street got me thinking, Dickson didn’t have a cute boutique gift store. When my husband, Andru, returned to the truck I asked how large the space was and if I could have the front. He asked what I was thinking and I proceeded to tell him I’d love to use it for a retail boutique style gift store. He said what do you know about retail? Absolutely nothing but I will learn. It has been a hard start. We are on the south end of Main Street and most people eat and shop on the North end of the street. But we are slowly gaining some momentum I think. We love to see our locals and meeting the travelers that are passing through. It has been a big adjustment, long hours, lots of change to our personal lives but I don’t think we would change where we are today!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
First our building wasn’t what we were told. We were supposed to close in October, we went to market in Atlanta that July bought heavy for Christmas anticipating a Black Friday Grand Opening. Well needless to say that didn’t happen. We actually finally closed on Nov. 8th I believe, got in gutted the front put down new floors, painted, had new electrical and new air ducts. Not what we had planned for at all. We got everything we could done and planned an open date of December 8th. I was so excited to finally be opening the doors! Then a totally unplanned emergency surgery that day for me and we delayed opening til December 17th! Each year has been full of its own headaches. 2022- We were just trying to get folks to realize we were here. That was a challenge and still is. 2023- We started getting some regular customers, whom we are so grateful. They have become friends and we appreciate them so much! I feel like we have adopted half the kids that come in on a regular basis. I love kids and seeing them come in and how they interact with us is so sweet! I try to remember their special days or things they like. I implemented the Birthday Box which is a huge hit for littles that come in on or around their birthdays. We give or take a week, LOL. We started the Christmas Wish List for them as well. We plan 1 Sunday in late November – early December for kids to come in and fill them out, leave them here and then let family know they have a wish list here to shop from, it’s been a hit so far. 2024- Started off with plumbing issues. That was our first hurdle followed by tackling getting a new roof and spent much of our time trying/learning to operate the new machines for the new services we added to our lineup of personalization services. We added a DTF transfer printer for t-shirts and a Sublimation printer for our awards and other things we haven’t quite gotten into just yet. Now we are into 2025 and started off with a new floor so far, we hope that’s our only major repair this year. I am praying we are over all things major! We are looking forward to seeing what this year brings!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My life has been centered around customer service in the screen printing world. While my husbands is embroidery. Side note, that’s how we met. My dad owned one of the oldest screen printing businesses in Nashville until 2020 when he closed and retired. I have a vast knowledge of the screen printing world and my husband covers the embroidery side. When we bought our existing building it was a trophy store, which we have kept going as well as adding the retail space. We also offer laser engraving, DTF transfers and ad specialties. We literally are a one stop shop!

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I was born and raised in Nashville. (Bellevue/West Nashville) I love all the opportunities a big city offers, but I am also seeing why people move to the country- smaller cities. We moved to Burns in 2020 and I love the slower pace of life out here. The traffic I definitely do not miss from Nashville. I do frequent Nashville often to visit with friends, go to shows and sporting events and I do miss the closer drive but not all the traffic! This community has embraced us and we could never express our gratitude enough. People in this city truly care about and support one another and I love that!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mainstreetemp37055.com/
• Instagram: @mainstreetemporium37055
• Facebook: mainstreetemp37055