Amy Dickinson, co-owner of Gazebo: Finding the perfect fit – GazetteNET

EDITORS NOTE:This piecegrew out of a class at Smith College,Writing about Women and Gender,taught by the journalist and author Susan Faludi.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Gazebo is really customer-focused, so I do everything in relation to how its going to help and impact the people coming through my door each day. I come in, make sure the floor is clean, make sure there are enough pro-fitters on the sales floor... I really try to plan for when someone walks in the door they need a certain size, we have that size. A certain thing? We have it. Every day, theres a favorite story of somebody who comes in and leaves with a swimsuit they feel they can wear in public without feeling like theyll fall out of it or that its indecent. The gratitude that comes from the customers were so lucky to be in a position to do this.

Im from central Connecticut, but Ive lived herefor almost 30 years. I worked for the former owner (Judith Fine) for four years back in the 90s, and I left. I was in the corporate world for a good 25 years or so selling organic skin care, supplementsand herbal products for Dr. Hauschka in Hatfield and New Chapter in Brattleboro. When New Chapter restructured, Judith happened to need someone part-time, and I said, Well, wont that be fun?

Judith opened the store in 1978, and she is an amazing seamstress; she was making things out of vintage lace and had her own line in production. Gazebo (now at 14 Center St.) was originally in Thornes Marketplace. Judith loves to sew, and I think at first it was mostly wedding dressesand incorporating pieces of lace from grandmas gown into her customers gowns. That gradually led into having her own lingerie line, with silks, some antique lace, either trim or full pieces.

This was always my favorite job. I love helping women. I love helping in this environment. And I came back in 2016 and found out that she wanted to sell the store. It was just one of those miracles of the universe. Donna McNeight (a breast cancer survivor who came to Gazebo for its specialty in post-mastectomy fittings), also a former employee, and I partnered up and made it happen.

I dont have a business or marketing background, so thats one of the things Im learning as I go. The thing that I struggle with is that we try to have a really body positive attitude, and its hard when people put themselves down. We put little body positive things in the mirrors and tell people, Hey, be grateful for what you have. We really believe, from the bottom of our hearts, that every body is beautiful. Its true. We just need to see more of it in the media to see models of color, to see size inclusivity. Its also kind of a struggle when someone has a preconceived idea of what they want, like, I only like this kind of bra. Well, if that bra isnt the kind that fits your body best ... we try to guide people to what theyre going to be comfortable in, that will suit their body, that will last. Sometimes people are still like, Well, thats what I want, and thats OK, too.

We sell pleasure objects, aka sex toys. Our customers wouldnt necessarily go to a sex shop, but they trust us with their bodies and their breasts. And we want to offer that because sexual health is important, too. We love Oh My (Sensuality Shop, at 122 Main St.), theyre so great they support us, we support them.

A lot of people just dread going bra shopping, and we take the guesswork out of it. Post-mastectomy fittings are harder and harder to find these days a lot of women choose to have reconstruction after breast surgery, but those who dont, they dont really have any place to go. Theres a couple of medical supply places that you can go to for breast forms and bras, but theyre not bra-fitting experts. Its not like going to a warehouse where somebodys just going to take a box and hand you your breast across the counter were here to fit, and we do insurance billing. Its a lot of work, but its certainly a labor of love. Especially after going through something like that, you want to take care of those women, especially.

We are your personal shoppers. You wont be left thinking, This isnt quite right, but I dont know why, and then wander back out on the sales floor. We are here to guide you every step, and we stand behind what we sell. We do repairs, we can fix things and make them fit better. Oh, yeah, and all of the money that we spend on advertising doesnt compare to word of mouth because so many people come in say, My mother told me, my sister told me, my coworker told me, everyone says this place is awesome, so I had to come down. Thats the best endorsement that I can think of.

We want to make sure that everyone who comes through the door feels welcome regardless of gender identity. We were one of the first stores, like brick and mortar storefronts, to sell binders a garment that is used to safely reduce the appearance of breasts. Most of them are made out of mesh. People take to the internet Im going by a measurement, but I dont know how its going to fit. If they come here, they can try them on, we can help them, we have a seamstress on staff who can alter them. A lot of times, a little nip or tuck can make a big difference. We really fit here its rare we pull out a measuring tape. Most of the time, well just look at a persons back and then bring a size. People think, Oh, its amazing you can do that! If you were here for a couple of weeks, youd be able to do it, too. We just give them the sizes we think are most appropriate and then adjust from there.

Weve expanded that a lot in the last couple of years since Donna and I bought Gazebo because this is a place where people come in, and they feel welcome, and they feel comfortable.

I dont ever want to be the kind of owner whos so far removed from the sales floor that she loses touch with the customers. Actually being here and waiting on people every day is important for me to do.

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Amy Dickinson, co-owner of Gazebo: Finding the perfect fit - GazetteNET