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A tip for anyone who hopes to one day work at Mahomet’s Yellow & Co. Boutique and Events: Think about how you’ll answer the most important, and unique, interview question ELIZABETH McDERMITH will likely ask.
“On a scale of 1 to 10,” she says, “how outgoing are you — with 1 being ‘hiding behind my mom’s leg in preschool’ and 10 being Robin Williams?”
A go-getter herself who had a feeling she’d wind up in the retail ownership sector as far back to her days at Missouri’s Jefferson City High School, McDermith and husband Mike opened the Mahomet Chamber of Commerce’s 2020 Small Business of the Year seven years ago.
It’s evolved quite a bit since, from a retail shop that hosted paint parties to a boutique/events center that just moved into a more spacious spot on Patton Drive, where former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Jon Rudnitsky has been booked for a Sunday night comedy show.
McDermith — whose blended family includes seven children, “one ancient poodle, several grand dogs and now one beautiful grandbaby girl” — took time out to answer questions from Editor Jeff D’Alessio in the 231st installment of our weekly speed read spotlighting leaders of organizations big and small.
My one unbreakable rule of the workplace is … there are certain subjects that we do not ever discuss with customers. Politics, religion and the other thing ...
My single favorite moment of all-time in this job was … just the other night, at our soft opening for our new location on Patton Drive in Mahomet. So many friends and family and just love surrounded us. All of our hard work paid off.
My philosophy on meetings is ... keep it brief and on topic.
The last luxury in which I indulged was ... the wallpaper in the bathroom of our shop. It’s a wild, oversized, abstract, floral print by Kitty McCall for Milton and King. Splurge, but worth it.
When it comes to the hardest thing about being a leader … owning a “fun” business and focusing on “good vibes” all the time, the hardest part of leading is when I have to do the hard “boss” things, like correcting a behavior or letting someone go.
My team is amazing; I rarely have to do this.
I can’t live without my ... sleeping headphones.
The three adjectives I hope my staff would use to describe me are … hard-working, creative and approachable.
As far as a professional role model goes … I always say I want to be Georgia King, of (Monticello’s) King Decorating, when I grow up. She is in her 70s and still working and loving it. All with a smile on her face and the biggest, warmest heart.
Everyone loves Georgia King.
On my office walls, you’ll find … art made by me, or for me. My favorite: a silhouette of two girls — one holding a book, the other a butterfly. Made for my oldest two daughters.
If I could trade places for a week with any other business person in town, I wouldn’t mind switching with … Emily Donohoe of (Mahomet’s) Pixels by Emily. I just want to hang out in her rainbow-colored prop closet.
The first thing I do when I get to work most days is … start the music. A shop with no music is no place to shop.
I’m frugal in that … I won’t spend money on manicures or expensive purses. I’ll just ruin them.
For lunch … I try to go home or bring my lunch but a real treat is the chicken salad sandwich at Southpaw Social or chicken caesar salad from The Chop House.
I wind down after work by … walking through my garden, cuddling my grandpuppy, then my husband — and I catch up on TV shows we can watch with one eye, while working on our laptops.
For college … I attended The American College for the Applied Arts, which was at the time in Atlanta, Georgia. The most beneficial class I took was Public Speaking. I use concepts I learned in that class, every day.
I’m up and at ’em every day by … 8 a.m. if I don’t have a meeting. I’m a night owl.
My exercise routine consists of … running around my store and working in my garden. I know I need to carve out time for weight training — it’s on the to-do list.
In high school … I felt the “retail ownership tug” when I worked at My Sentiments Exactly! — a card shop in my hometown of Jefferson City, Missouri.
I got to create displays and windows and I loved it so much. I have always known I would do something creative, though.
As for the worst job I ever had … no offense, Dad, but working in my father’s dental office after school was pretty yucky.
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