As owner of Georgie Lou’s Retro Candy and founder of Destination Carlisle, there’s no question Stephanie has a dedication to uplifting the Carlisle community. Not only does she consistently give back through community-driven events, she also encourages local merchants to let their voices be heard and connects them with resources to help their business.
Who has been your biggest influence?
I don't think I have a person who is my biggest influence. If anything, the thing that has influenced me the most has been the idea of being underestimated because of my socio-economic background, family name, and my gender. When I was growing up, adults would suggest to me that I be a nurse or teacher and believe that was aiming high, and even as a young child, I can remember thinking why can't I be the doctor or the principal? I've had a strong sense of self and my own potential from childhood, and often times, people not recognizing that in my own family or in school gave me a drive to push harder and be more. It still can happen today because I'm "just" a candy shop owner, but I hold two degrees and have been a professor, historian, and curator, and while I have no background in business, I've created a darn successful one by sheer will, creativity, and work. I've never ascribed to the idea of putting people into shoeboxes based on their outward characteristics or status in life, so for me, my strongest influence has been more to prove people wrong about my potential and ability than anything else.
What motivated you to be involved in your community?
My family has been in Carlisle for nearly 200 years, and many of us have owned our own businesses. From gunsmiths to blacksmiths to plumbers to me now as a candy shop owner, there's a long line of hardworking Carlisle entrepreneurs in my line and many family members who have charitable spirits. Three of the key characteristics needed to be successful in small business are being a creative problem solver, having a strong sense of wanting to serve the community, and possessing a strong work ethic, and I was lucky enough to have learned those things or have them passed down to me. It became clear that I could put those traits to a higher use than just growing my own business, so I've tried to do more for our downtown and wider community as my own business has allowed. The older I get the more I feel that if you have the ability to improve your community and make a small difference in the world that you should. Carlisle is my town, and by creating downtown-wide events, like Georgie Lou's Spooky Saturday trick-or-treat event that attracts 1000 kids each year, or by forming Destination Carlisle, our downtown volunteer merchant association, I hope that I am helping foster community and belonging for my hometown and making it a little better.
What advice would you give your younger self?
The advice I would give to my younger self is to be more selfish at times. I've made a lot of decisions over the years based on what was best for others and not myself and have spent a lot of time worrying and caring for others when they had no worries or care for me. That has left me with some regrets about missed opportunities and wasted time that sit uneasily now. I would also say that all those times you're going to put things off thinking you will be able to do them later won't work out, so take advantage of the opportunities, youth, and time you have when you have them.
What’s your idea of self care?
I'm not sure I know what self care is. I've spent almost my entire adult life taking care of other people. My husband and my children are the most important people I take care of, but now I've taken on some responsibility for growing our downtown business community, helping our business neighbors work as a cohesive group, and trying to re-center downtown as the heart of Carlisle once again. There's not a lot of time for me, and I'm just not used to thinking about me or what I need. It's just an unnatural thing to do that. It's definitely something I overlook and probably need to work on.
What message do you have for the future generations of women?
I think the message I would send is I hope that women stop always thinking of themselves first and foremost as women and setting their goals based on that characteristic more than any other. There's a limitation that comes along with that that always comes when you define yourself by in-born characteristics you can't control. It's one of those shoeboxes I personally don't like to be put into. I want my accomplishments, strengths, contributions, and life to be measured based on what they are in reality against everyone else and not just as what they are for a woman, and I hope we can get past that limitation some day soon.
Lastly, speed round!
Heels or Flats? Converse Chuck Taylors
Pancakes or Waffles? Waffles
Day or Night? Night
Books or Movies? Movies
Rain or Sunshine? Sunshine
