Nikki here - For the last 6 years, I’ve been able to tour and work outside of Nashville without a single worry about the shop - all because a young intern studying to be an entrepreneur applied to work in our store for a “few weeks.” Today is her last day - so I wanted to gush over her a bit - and encourage you to comment and tell her how amazing she is. Cause I know you all think so too. It’s been nothing but a pleasure to watch Anna as she graduated college - stuck around - and helped our store navigate how to grow and survive all that comes with running a small business. One year ago - she gave me her “one year” notice to pursue a career and life with her partner in California - and the clock started ticking. She never stopped working hard, and she never flinched at the one million things a shop manager has to do when she’s actually functioning as the queen of all things “home base” for a traveling musician. She helped me raise kittens when I found a stray cat - she watered plants when the house sitter bailed - she listened when things were hard - and she became not only my employee, but my good friend - all while slinging piles and piles of vintage that I carried home from the road. I watched her correspond with the occasional psychotic customer with a calm head - build and tear down activations all over the country - brainstorm so many clever ways to make rent - learn how to drive a huge van and trailer - all like she was just meant to do anything good. Today could be a sad day, if I didn’t know that she was heading off to such a cool new venture, and that coincidentally we will still get to work on projects together. But honestly, as an employer of a small business for over a decade - there’s no sadness in knowing that I got to watch someone bloom, and become exactly what she wanted to be - one hell of a BOSS - cool as they come - and ready to build her own life outside of the tiny place she stumbled into many years ago. Anna, no one will ever be able to replace you - but I’m grateful you worked hard to train a team to take over your roles as you venture forward. I cannot wait to see where life takes you - I know it will be grand. ❤️❤️❤️