Meet Xenia Mateiu: Gift Store Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Xenia Mateiu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Xenia, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I wanted to have a flexible schedule that I cam make work with my life style, also a very important part of the decision to own my own business was to be able to have the freedom to grow it the way I wanted to and be in charge of my own success.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We, at Village Rock Shop sell carefully selected crystals from around the world, gemstones, geodes, minerals. We source our crystals mainly directly from small mines, sometimes gem shows and local rock suppliers. We also have a great selection of locally handmade products like candles, dreamcatchers, jewelry, sprays, local honey and soaps. Our local products are unique and set us apart from other gift stores, local artisans have a place where they can share their creative expression and products and we support each other and our community by partnering with local artisans. One of the things I am most excited about is growing alongside with our local artisans, by collaborating we both grow our businesses and we are on this journey together.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting San Diego area, I would definitely take her to the Meditation Gardens in Encinitas, the Botanical Gardens in Encinitas, Leo Carrilo Ranch in Carlsbad, visit the Museums in Balboa Park, the Aquarium in La Jolla, La Jolla Cove, Tamarack Beach in Carlsbad. Dine at Barrio and Campfire in Carlsbad, stop by Choice for healthy drinks and Pure Project in Carlsbad for evening drinks. And also see some hidden gems: Lhooq Bookstore, Gas and Steam Engine Museum in Vista, GIA Museum, New Village Arts Theatre and Museum of Making Music.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like give my family, friends and work team the recognition for Village Rock Shops success. Running my own business does’t mean that I do everything myself, although I am the person most people see when they walk in the store, there most definitely is a whole team behind me that supports, encourages, does their part in the back end of the business, the online, the programing, the artisans, the makers and the after hour doers that make everything work so that the business keeps growing.

Website: www.villagerockshop.com
Instagram: Village Rock Shop Official
Facebook: Village Rock Shop
Youtube: Village Rock Shop

Image Credits
Photos credit Xenia Mateiu