If you know me in real life, or have followed me for a minute on social media, you know my love for a local restaurant called The Crafty Cow. Famous for craft beer and craft burgers, my husband and I “reconnect and unwind” there for supper pretty much every Friday night unless we are out of town, he has a work obligation, or a global pandemic closes the restaurant. Since they opened in Oconomowoc in 2014, we’ve seen staff come and go, but General Manager, Simone Gaspar, has been one of the consistent smiles that has welcomed us.
When I discovered she was branching out from her role at the Cow and opening her own business, I knew I wanted to ask her to be a part of my blog. She is funny and helpful, but there is also a serious and thoughtful side to her. I am excited for you to learn more about her and her new business, Copper Robin. And of course, about What The Boss Is Reading…
About the Boss, Simone Gaspar:
Can you share a short bio (personal & work)?
I currently work with my husband helping him run his restaurant, Crafty Cow. I have about 10+ years of service industry experience, but my background is actually in non-profit and public health. I graduated from Carroll University with a degree in Health Care Administration. I actually met my husband while I was working part time at Crafty Cow in Oconomowoc. It’s very important for me on a personal level to be seen for my own professional accomplishments outside of just being someone who helps my husband run his business. I’ve worked very hard outside of him to grow myself professionally and become an example of leadership.
When I’m not working I spend a lot of time outdoors, working out, playing with our three dogs, cooking with my husband, and traveling (I’ve been to 10 countries outside the US).
In addition to helping your husband, you recently started your own business, Copper Robin. Have you always wanted to be an entrepreneur or did they idea grow out of something in your life?
Being an entrepreneur is definitely not something I’ve always wanted to do. I had been talking about opening up my own shop for a couple of years now, and somehow in the midst of a pandemic things just sort of lined up and the timing was right to do it. If I wasn’t married to a business owner I don’t know if I ever would have pursued this, but running the restaurants the last few years has really given me the tools I needed to be able to run the inner workings of a small business. My husband’s been very helpful with guiding me through the process of creating a business plan, dealing with permits and licensing, and figuring out financial projections. I’m definitely grateful for his support in weeding through the not so glamorous parts of owning your own business that are necessary to create something that’s sustainable.
Can you talk more about Copper Robin? How do you choose the products? What are your goals for your business?
All of the products I carry are from small-batch or independent brands that are women-owned. It’s a concept based on women helping women, helping women. Not only is it important for me to bring in women owned brands but it’s also important that I bring in products that are affordable. I love a product with a story but I feel like a lot of time you go into a boutique or shop and a lot of the products are in a price range that’s out of reach for the average person. I know some people don’t have an issue spending $50 on a single top, or $40 on a candle, but for the budget conscious, like myself, why should you feel like shopping in a boutique atmosphere is out of your range? I spend a lot of time scouring through hundreds of brands to find products that are quality but also affordably inclusive.
Outside of just retail, once I have my brick and mortar location open I’m planning on hosting craft nights. I don’t just want to be a shop, but also a place where people can come in and create and learn a new skill in a bright and friendly atmosphere. I’m also planning on partnering with some women lead charities, right now I’m partnered with The Cupcake Girls, which provides holistic services to former sex industry workers. It’s been really important to me to found my company values in social justice issues.
What the Boss is Reading:
Do you mostly read for pleasure or do you mostly read for professional development?
I mostly read for pleasure; I like to stick with historical non-fiction and autobiographies. I do read a bit for professional development as well though, there’s a lot you can take away from someone else’s perspective when trying to sort through a particular issue. I recommend Crucial Conversations to others often, which was actually a recommendation to me from a former boss.
What are you currently reading? Thoughts on them?
Memorial Drive: A Daughter’s Memoir by Natasha Trethewey
Trethewey is well versed in poetry and that comes to light with her story-telling skills. This is a memoir recounting the murder of her mother at the peak of an abusive relationship but it also explores what it was like for her growing up in the deep south during the civil rights era in a multi-racial household.
Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson
This is the second of Larson’s historical non-fiction works I’ve read, the first being Devil in The White City. He shares incredibly detailed accounts of historical tragedies.
With the focus on women-owned businesses, do you have any women that you consider role models? Are there any biographies or autobiographies that have influenced you?
Honestly, the biggest female role models in my life are my family members, especially my mom. I have had the privilege of being surrounded by women that support empowerment, self-worth, and independence. My mom is one of the hardest working, self-sufficient, fierce woman you will ever meet, she is a power-house.
I am Malala would be an autobiography that has influenced me. If you haven’t read about her life story you should just stop what you’re doing and go read one of her books right now. If you looked up the definition of fearless you would see her picture in the dictionary. She is absolutely extraordinary.
What is your favorite genre?
Historical non-fiction, non-fiction, and auto-biographical, I read fiction sometimes also though – usually when a TV show or movie comes out that was a book first, I like to get the original author’s thoughts first before I watch the screen version.
Do you have a favorite author? Favorite book?
Even though this differs a bit from what I said is my favorite genre, David Sedaris if one of my favorite writers, I would love to go to one of his live readings sometime. I love his voice and his sense of humor is right on point with my own. My favorite book is usually the one I just finished reading.
Have you always been a reader or did your love of reading come later in life?
I’ve always been a reader. I’m not someone who can crush through multiple books in a weekend but I usually always have something that I’m working on.
Are your friends readers, too, or are you the outlier in your group?
Some of my friends are, I was even in a book club with a few of them for a while.
Do you share what you read with your co-workers to encourage them to read more?
Not typically, I tend to read things with fairly serious plot points and that’s not always a fun thing to share with co-workers. I do share what I’m reading with my family fairly often though. I grew up in a pretty socially conscious household so it’s fairly common that if I were reading a book about, say eviction rates in the US, something related might be brought up at the dinner table.
Is there a book that you feel has changed your life?
I don’t know about life changing, but I read Memoirs of a Geisha in middle school and I read it over and over, I was so enthralled with her story and I thought it was an auto-biography. That was until I realized that for over a year I had misread “Arthur” as “Author” and it was in fact not an auto-biography. I was devastated and I could never read it again, I couldn’t get the voice of some guy named “Arthur” narrating this woman’s story out of my head.
Is there a book you consistently recommend?
Evicted by Matthew Desmond. I’ve read the book, recommended it, been to discussion panels, and went to the exhibit inspired by it hosted in Milwaukee last year. Truly eye-opening about the legislation and city ordinances that affect evictions and homelessness.
And There You Have It! Simone Gaspar, her smile, her business, and (of course) her books!
I hope you were taking notes and added a couple of books to your TBR. When I read Evicted in July of 2019, I said it should be required reading, so I concur with Simone’s recommendation! Somehow, I’ve never read Memoirs of a Geisha, but after Simone’s story, I’ve added it to MY TBR!!!! If you’ve read it (or any of the books she talked about), I’d love to hear your thoughts! Please check out Copper Robin’s website and follow them on social (Facebook and Insta), and if you get a chance, shop them. I can tell you that you will definitely love what you buy. In the words of my 17 year-old daughter, “This is the best tea I’ve ever had!”
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