…from Inside Out celebrates 1st anniversary

Tucked among the many shopping possibilities in The Shops of Oakwood is a snappy store full of inventive furnishings, décor, decorative items for the home – inside or out.

And that’s exactly what it’s called… from Inside Out.  Located at 2512 Far Hills Ave. it is owned by Leslie Dixon, and on Oct. 5 she celebrates her first anniversary.

Opening a retail store has been a challenge. For one thing, Leslie and her brother had been in the restaurant business as owners of Bullwinkle’s in Miamisburg until it was sold. Going into the home furnishings business requires expertise quite different from the food business. How that change was made took a somewhat random path.
When she and her brother sold Bullwinkle’s, Leslie fretted about what to do, what kind of business she could open. Her mother suggested a fresh-flower store and nursery - it could be closed during the winter, which would allow her and her mother a season full of skiing. But that didn’t have the appeal she needed to establish a successful business.

Recognizing the fact that she had always loved shopping for unique things, the idea of a home furnishings store became more and more interesting.  “I love shopping for unusual things”, she said. “I felt that the Dayton market didn’t offer enough of a selection of unique items.” It might be a niche she could fill, she believed.  And so From Inside Out was born.

Browse from Inside Out and you’re sure to find something you can’t do without. And if you can’t do without it you can put it on your own personal  “Wish List” which the store keeps on file. Then, when a special occasion comes up, and that special
person wants to know what you would like for that special occasion, you can send them to From Inside Out….and. voila! They’ll have a chance to buy your wish-list gift. Leslie does all the buying. “You’ll never find me shopping and down the street for clothes, but for some reason I love looking for new and different things.” And there is no doubt she chooses well. She stocked her shop with an array of unusual Halloween items; all of them have already been sold.

A small business requires providing the owner’s personal services that big box stores wouldn’t consider. Take delivery, for instance. Leslie and two of her employees can often be found delivering large purchases. Jokingly referring to themselves as “Three Women in an Expedition,” they deliver whatever they can possibly handle, whether furniture, carpet or fountain; they gear up their Expedition, load it up, and off they go. That’s what a small business is all about.

In celebration of her anniversary, much of the store will have special markdowns of 25 percent and more in an anniversary sale to run from Oct. 4 – 13. It’s a chance to buy that unique touch to your home or garden – from upholstery material, decorative pieces, wall hangings, fountains, and yes, even games.

“This whole new challenge has been a pleasure,” Leslie said. “Owning the store has given me opportunity to get involved in a new business, and Oakwood has been very receptive. I feel very thankful to be where I am and appreciate the chance to get to know this community. People have very supportive,” she said.

In a way, she’s right back where she started. Although she grew up in Miamisburg, she was born right here in Oakwood on Claranna, a stone’s throw from the store she now owns, which deserves a bold and hearty Happy Birthday.

Couple opens Rough Air Associates, LLC

Two local entrepreneurs, Vince and Wendy Lewis, have opened Rough Air Associates, LLC, a small business and family business advisory group. Rough Air Associates supports small business and family business through consulting and education, a small business weblog, and the rough Air Small Business Centers. The company is also offering strategic planning, start-up strategies, exit strategies, and the creation of advisory boards among its menu of services.

Vince is the former CEO of Hyde Park Electronics, Inc., a Kettering based manufacturer of sensors and controls for industrial automation. Hyde Park, a family
business, was founded by Wendy’s father, William R. Winger of Kettering, and his two partners in 1963. It grew to become the world’s leading manufacturer of ultrasonic proximity sensors. The business was sold to Schneider Electric in 2003, a global manufacturing business, best known for their Square D brand in the United States.

After leading the sale and integration of Hyde Park into Schneider, Vince started Rough Air Associates. As a frequent speaker for the National Center for Family Business and Family Business Journal, Vince has created a business education arm for Rough Air Associates.

OHS Class of ’57 celebrates reunion

Oakwood High School’s Class of 1957 celebrated their 50th reunion with a get together, last Friday evening at the home of Diana Prugh Sebaly. On Saturday morning, they took a tour of the high school and then on to Harman and Smith to witness all the changes and renovations, then off to Marion’s Pizza for lunch. Saturday night, a dinner and entertainment at NCR Country Club, with plenty of time to rekindle memories and friendship.

Sunday morning brunch at the home of Judy Adelberger Stolle with the surprise appearance of a ’57 Chevy Belaire, owned by Steve Morgan of Beavercreek.

A great turnout of classmates attended for the weekend, from all over the country, and as far away as Alaska and Germany. Blue and gold stars to the following committee members for all their enthusiasm and hard work for putting this milestone together: Cap Phillips, Jane Brennan, Ed Gray, Peggy Pees Campbell, Paul McCally, John and Janet Patterson Fleishauer, Carol Flesh Wade, Judy Adelberger Stolle; Co-chairwomen: Nancy Von Hoff Hendrickson and Mary Herbert Hornbeck.

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October 2, 2007
Volume 16, No. 40

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