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April 14, 2010 •
Messages of Hope

Sudden tragedy brings inspiration, support and random acts of kindness

As the saying goes, “every cloud has a silver-lining.” For Priscilla Foster, owner of Ro Sham Bo Paperie and Handcrafted Arts in Bozeman, Mont., that silver lining is a sense of community outreach and optimism in the wake of a recent disaster that negatively impacted her business. On March 5, an explosion collapsed three downtown buildings, sending flames and thick black smoke soaring into the air and leaving one fatality in its wake.

As circumstance would have it, Ro Sham Bo happened to be located in the blast’s path of destruction. Although the shop is located a few streets away from the accident scene, the sonic wave from the blast shattered nearly all of the store’s front windows. But luckily Ro Sham Bo, located in the historic downtown area, suffered only minor damages.

“We were just west of the blast perimeter, so although we were closed to vehicular traffic for a few days, we were open to foot traffic,” said Foster, who mentioned that the shattered windows resulted in a loss of all of the paper and gift items that dressed the windows at the time of the explosion.

Fortunately, Ro Sham Bo only lost one day of business, but following the explosion there was a dip in sales, as the store’s boarded-up windows led some to believe that Ro Sham Bo was closed.

Ironically, Foster recalled a conversation she had with a friend a few nights prior to the explosion. They were discussing the economy and she mentioned that it simply could not get any worse. Several days later the blast occurred, but Foster’s optimism overtook her despair. “I realize that I am so much more fortunate than many of the downtown business owners who lost days, weeks or even their entire businesses,” Foster said.

Along with despair, tragedy often ushers in a sense of unity, hope and support. “The next day, people started pouring in to say hello, offer support or to buy something that they probably didn’t need,” recalled Foster. Following the blast one of the people who stopped by was Keely Holmes, a woman who worked across the street who Foster had never met before.

She soon discovered that Keely was the good samaritan who called the landlord after the explosion, and she also kept watch at Ro Sham Bo until the landlord arrived. “It was gestures such as those that really gave me a renewed appreciation for the kind of town I live in where people look out and care for each other,” she noted. “As a small business owner, it’s hard to find the time to really invest in your community, but it has become my mission to find ways that I can give back to fellow business owners.”

In addition to offering both a business and non-profit discount, Ro Sham Bo is also becoming more involved in reciprocal marketing and cooperative opportunities.

Inside Ro Sham Bo
The store’s name, which translates to “rock-paper-scissors,” refers to a two-person hand-game that is often used to randomly select a person for some purpose. Although the venue only traces its history back six years, it is located in a 105-year-old ornate stucco building.

“I have loved the downtown area since I moved here from Vermont eight years ago,” Foster said. “When I left Burlington, much of the downtown area had been taken over by chain stores. I know how easily that can happen in an ‘up and coming’ location, so I am thankful that Bozeman has been able to retain its own special downtown feel where local owners and family-run stores still dominate.”

The store splits its 1,500-square-foot space evenly between a gift area and a fine paper gallery. When Foster first opened Ro Sham Bo, the space was limited to only 750 square feet, as her original plan was to exclusively sell paper.

“When it became obvious that I wasn’t going to survive on paper alone, I expanded my collection to include gifts for children,” Foster explained.

In October 2007 — just two days before her second child was born — Foster took over the space next door. Up until that point, Foster, a classically trained book binder, was personally custom-designing every wedding invitation, baby announcement and social invitation at Ro Sham Bo. The newly expanded space enabled her to bring in complementary collections of invitations, which later became the backbone of the business.

Ro Sham Bo offers an assortment of items from baby gifts to photo albums, hand-carved marionettes and handcrafted jewelry, as well as custom-made journals, wedding albums and baby albums. In addition to the custom business Priscilla operates, she also works exclusively for photographers worldwide creating handmade albums.

“Customers liken my store to an Old-World shop that has treasures hidden in every corner,” Foster said. “People who come in to browse often comment about the beauty and ingenuity of the products.”

Top-notch customer service, a relaxing ambiance and inviting atmosphere are all a part of Ro Sham Bo’s appeal. “We want customers to feel they can relax and take the time required to really learn about our offerings,” pointed out Foster, who proudly mentioned that customers often tell her that Ro Sham Bo is their favorite retail shop in Bozeman. “These comments are my biggest reward.”

Although Compendium’s collection of Positively Green Cards is Ro Sham Bo’s best-selling line, William Arthur, Tag and InScribe are all equally in demand for custom invitations, and Waste Not Paper, Envelopments and The Green Paper Company are favorites for DIY brides.

Other notable collections include The Japanese Paper Company’s ornate papers and ecojot’s journals. Eeboo and Mudpuppy are great for “on-the-way-to-a-party” gifts, and other customer favorites include kathy lo rocks’ Chiyogami paper and resin flip-flop pendant jewelry.

What’s next for Foster and Ro Sham Bo? “In the wake of both the economy and the explosion, I am trying to slow down and appreciate the little things, such as focusing on making our customers feel welcome and relaxed. These days, there are so many demands placed on people, and I want my store to be an oasis for those who just need to take a deep breath and laugh at a funny card.”

Regina Molaro is a freelance writer who covers the art, fashion, home and beauty categories. She can be reached at [email protected].




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