REDDING —When friends Laura Verses, Stephany Sanderson, and Jacqui Coleman looked around Main Street in the village of Georgetown, they could see the area’s potential. The women harnessed it by taking a collaborative approach to business ownership. The result is the Shops at Auburn Landing, a cooperative space of entrepreneurs.
Whitney Coccaro got the same vibes from the downtown area and found the perfect building just a few blocks away on Brookside Road to house her yoga studio, Yoga Station & Wellness.
Redding is now home to a collection of women-owned businesses, including Five and Nine Designs, a luxury jewelry store owned by Laura Verses; Lily Astraea, a specialty florist owned by Stephany Sanderson; The Shop, a curated vintage clothing and homegoods store owned by Jacqui Coleman, Sinead Grimalt, and Sarah Mclane; and Yoga Station & Wellness, a yoga and wellness studio founded by Whitney Coccaro. They join Old Mill Market, Love and Light Salon, and other new female-owned ventures, including Stems and Co., Wild Blueberry, and The Georgetown Owl Market and Saloon.
“Opening a business is challenging and scary,” said Stephany Sanderson, Lily Astraea owner. “When I look down Redding’s Main Street, I see support and friendship, which makes opening a business so much more fun.”
Verses emphasized the collaboration needed to bring the women businesses to life.
“I’ve always believed that as small business owners — especially women — we’re stronger when we lift each other up and create an environment where we can all thrive together,” says Laura Verses, Five and Nine Designs owner.
The Shops at Auburn Landing is hosting a grand opening celebration on Sunday, May 4, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with live music by Thin Men, bites, beverages, and discounts.
Yoga Station & Wellness is a local retreat for well-being and community, offering a space to reconnect through the practice of yoga and movement. It is located at 9 Brookside Road.
