Conversation 07: good eye living
This series features refreshing conversations with Tucson’s makers, creatives, and small business owners via long-form interviews. We aim to share their multifaceted stories, processes, and inspirations through the lens of beginnings, risk, and creativity.
Shanelle & Andy of good eye living created a modern buy-sell-trade marketplace for unique quality home goods. Find their work here and follow them here.
Shanelle Tanaka & Andy Suter / Owners
Tell us about your path to what you’re doing now; how did you start good eye living? What is your background?
I have a background in Interior Design & Photography, and Andy in Sales and Marketing. Good Eye grew from an idea I had for a retail shop 10 years ago. However, I suffered from crippling self-doubt, and decided to leave the design world. I spent the past decade waiting tables, bartending, running a food truck, event planning, and marketing. I really got to know myself and realized that what I do for work doesn't define who I am, but doing what I love is important for me to live a fulfilling life. That’s when I decided that I really do love interior design and wanted to explore the field again but in a new capacity. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Andy’s supportive push that moved me to act on my dream of opening a shop and Andy’s desire to create a fun space for people to experience.
How has your style developed as you’ve grown?
Stylistically, I have always been eclectic. Even when I was young, I experimented with what I wore and how I styled my hair. One thing that has always rung true for me was a love for over the top color. As I’ve grown stylistically, I’ve been learning how to hone in on color and pattern, in showcasing less, to create a more singular and impactful experience.
“Connecting with customers, and watching as their eyes light up when they found something that made them smile, was what really sealed the deal for us.”
When did the idea of starting your business feel like something you could achieve? Was there an “aha!” moment?
Oh, that’s an easy one. It was at the Cultivate Spring Market in the Chicago Music Store. It was the first time we had showcased our offering to the public. We were both racked with anxiety and self-doubt as we stood by our booth anxiously awaiting to greet people. The doors opened and droves of excited locals walked through the entrance and right past our decorated booth. Within minutes we both looked at each other in the eye, almost telepathically saying “ Well, we gave it a shot and no one cares what we have to sell” And in that very moment of despair, a really kind woman walked up to us and said, “ I love everything you have and I would like to buy this item!” After that, it was all kind of a blur, but by the end of the day, we had sold through most of our inventory and received a ton of positive feedback. Connecting with customers, and watching as their eyes light up when they found something that made them smile, was what really sealed the deal for us. We knew we had something special and we had to keep going and pursue a dream of opening a shop.
If you weren’t running good eye living, what would you be doing?
Andy would most likely be brewing and selling beer, and Shanelle would be quietly hoarding objects and selling whatever she could to make ends meet, wait, that’s what I already do.
Does your process come pretty naturally or do you find yourself fighting against creative block at times?
For the most part, it does come naturally, I just have to be quick to act on my impulses or jot down my ideas before I forget them. I find it’s easy to sit and visualize ideas, but until you move to produce it, your ideas just live in that dream state. Having the drive to bring ideas to fruition is the secret sauce to creating. If I do encounter a creative block, I usually clean and organize. There’s something about working through a mess that helps me untangle creative thoughts.
“I find it’s easy to sit and visualize ideas, but until you move to produce it, your ideas just live in that dream state.”
Have you taken big risks to move forward? Do you see a connection between risk and creativity?
Absolutely. Taking the plunge financially was scary, but I think investing all of our time was the true risk for us. While you can gain back money, you can never gain back time. I do feel there is a connection between risk and creativity, although everyone has their own definition of risk. For some people, the risk is financial, for others, it’s a risk of being judged by their creation. No matter what someone perceives as risk, we believe the defining thread that connects risk and creativity is grit. You need the grit to keep going when you don’t see an immediate financial reward. You need to be able to shrug it off when someone is critical of your art. Not everyone will understand what you create or believe in what you’re doing, and that’s completely fine. As a creator, you can’t let people’s judgments affect you, harness the energy of those who support you and use it to push further.
Have you had any memorable collaborations? Why do you think it’s important for creatives and makers to come together and collaborate?
Yes, we have. There have been a handful of local creatives that have helped us bring our vision to life. Claire Seizovic worked closely with us on creating good eye’s branding. Midtown Artisans collaborated with us on designing incredible retail shelving and store fixtures. Ashely White of Modern Aquarian signs brought in her artistic hand lettering skills, and brought our branding to life by creating effective hand-painted signage for our brick and mortar. Being able to tap into the Tucson network of creatives, is a wonderful support system. We think it’s vital to lean on this local group for help, by utilizing their knowledge and expertise in their field. We all work together to lift each other up.
“Not everyone will understand what you create or believe in what you’re doing, and that’s completely fine. As a creator, you can’t let people’s judgments affect you, harness the energy of those who support you and use it to push further.”
What advice would you give to someone who is starting out?
Create what makes you happy, experiment and try not to feel pressured to categorize your style. Be ok with evolving and even starting over. Above everything, don’t force it.
Outline the 3 greatest attributes you need to be a maker / creative / small business owner:
You’ve got to be honest with yourself and your intentions.
You have to be organized and have a plan.
Surround yourself with trusted people who will give you honest, unbiased feedback.
“You’ve got to be honest with yourself and your intentions.”
Do you feel a responsibility to contribute to something bigger? What type of legacy do you hope to leave?
Absolutely we do. We opened our shop in a quiet neighborhood corner in a neglected building. We felt a responsibility to revitalize the historic brick building and create a space for local residents and the community to enjoy. Opening the shop isn’t just about us, it’s about bringing life back to a corner with a rich history and contributing to a more livable neighborhood that has otherwise become a thorofare between the University and Downtown. Tucson has a thriving creative community, and we hope our little corner can contribute to that as well.
What brought you to Tucson? How does living in Tucson influence your craft?
Andy came to Tucson for college and was eventually captivated by the beauty of the desert and love for the outdoors that has kept him here for almost 12 years and running. I moved to Tucson 3 yrs ago after meeting my now love and business partner Andy.. :) Tucson was the reset button that I was desperately looking for. Tucson is incredibly grounding, and expansive at the same time. I feel like I have the space to be a creative free of judgment. Andy has always encouraged me to let loose, have fun and not worry about what others think. He has truly embraced the Tucsonan vibe and is the catalyst for good eye.
“Andy has always encouraged me to let loose, have fun and not worry about what others think.”
How do you stay creatively inspired?
Moving our bodies and staying active helps both of us clear our heads. We both share a deep love for the outdoors, and whenever we feel stuck, we motivate each other to put down our computers and get outside and get the endorphins going.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Not gonna lie, I can be a bit of night owl, so mornings are rough for me. Luckily, Andy is the opposite and is always up before me making the coffee and listening to music. We walk the dog, check emails and chat briefly about the day and what we have on deck. Our workdays are always a little different for us. We shuffle between, furniture deliveries, meetings, inventory, admin work, photographing new merchandise, working on side projects, while running normal shop hours. It requires some fancy footwork, but that makes the beer at the end of the day very rewarding.
“Learning to listen to our customers is also a priority so that we can improve our services and offerings.“
What are you trying to learn right now?
We have a never-ending list of things we are trying to learn. At the top of the list, we are learning to do better on the internet. Learning to listen to our customers is also a priority so that we can improve our services and offerings. We are also currently learning the ins and outs of permitting for our next venture (stay tuned).
Seeing where you are now, what are your ambitions for the coming years?
In the new year, we have plans to add coffee and tea service in the shop. We’re working on launching our website and looking to add some much-needed employees to the good eye family. Long term, we hope to grow our business and perhaps open our concept in new markets.
Where can people find you?
Find us on social media @goodeyeliving and in person at our shop at 103 N Park Ave on the corner of Park Ave & 10th St.
