Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Shutters
Hi Dana, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am a wife, mother of 2 UF students, and a retired elementary school teacher/librarian of 30 years. My family moved to Jacksonville from Orlando 2 years ago, so my son could attend The Bolles School. We moved to Avondale, just a half a mile from Happy Medium Books Café. Last Spring, I contacted the original owner of Happy Medium to see if she needed help opening her new bookstore/café. She was then converting the Comic book shop into Happy Medium. I volunteered for her for about 4 months before she told me she was selling the store and moving to Utah. I purchased Happy Medium Books Cafe the week before Thanksgiving 2023. It was sudden, but I saw the how much potential it had to flourish in the community, and it has!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Everyday is an adventure. I meet new, amazing people and learn new things. Struggles were and are that I am new at owning a business and Happy Medium is in many ways 3 businesses in one – a new bookstore, used bookstore, and a cafe. I am also a sole owner, so this is all on me, which has its benefits and stressors. I am fortunate that I have been embraced by the community and they are extremely supportive, with their frequenting the shop and help growing the business. I am constantly learning what works and what doesn’t for Happy Medium and our community.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Before ‘retiring’ I spent 30 years within elementary education, teaching everything from kindergarten to 5th grade in the public school systems of North Carolina, Kentucky, and Orlando, Florida. I also spent time as a reading resource teacher, reading coach, gifted resource teacher, and ended my career as a media specialist.
I am most proud of being a part of hundreds of children’s lives and having an impact on their education, intellectually and emotionally. I hope that everyone who passed through my classroom or library has happy memories. Now I get to try to help the community create happy memories at Happy Medium Books Café.
I would say I am known for my creativity and willingness to try new things. My daughter said I am best at things I have no business doing, due to lack of experience.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Ask questions, Put your ego aside. Don’t pretend you know how to do things you don’t know how to do. Hire people who can not only do the job, but also people you want to spend time. Time is money, so don’t try to do things yourself because you could do it yourself… delegate. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://happymediumbookscafe.com
- Instagram: @happy_medium_books
- Facebook: @happy_medium_Books_cafe
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/happy-medium-books-caf%C3%A9-jacksonville
