Valley Times - November 23, 2007
Knitting store spins success
by Cindy Luck, Valley Times

It's the tip that most successful business owners will give you about running your own business -- "you have to be passionate." The owner of Knit This Purl That in Pleasanton, Beth Spisak, is no exception. And she'll take it one step further: "It's not about the money, it's all about the people," she said.

The owner of this successful business venture has been in the business world for less than a year. Knit This Purl That opened on April 3.

"It's been awesome from day one," Spisak said. "You know the expression 'if you build it they'll come?' I opened it and they came. It's my field of dreams and everything I envisioned came true." She said that her vision was to produce a community of closeness and helping people.

Spisak noted that friends and family become employees. Her daughter works at the store on weekends. Lyda McAuliff has been working at the store after being a customer.

The art of good customer service is one of the most important aspects of running her business, Spisak said noting that "the minute someone comes into the store, I acknowledge them. I don't care if they spend a penny. Customers need to be acknowledged and treated special."

Spisak's generosity and willingness to help everyone who walks in the door is what keeps things ticking. When anyone comes in with a knitting problem, someone in the store is available to help. There are always two people at Knit This Purl That to assist customers with knitting or crochet problems. Newbies and veterans alike can often be seen sitting in the store chatting and sipping coffee while clicking away on projects or creating sweaters, scarves, or socks.

"It's a haven for knitters and people who crochet. It's a place to come and heal if you feel the need. It's a place to be accepted for who you are and all levels are welcome," Spisak noted.

The yarns she sells are from individuals, not large corporations. Spisak believes in women helping women, free trade and small companies.

She purchases yarns from Karen's Heavenly Creations in Stockton because the yarns are hand-dyed in Karen's kitchen. Angora and cashmere are purchased from a woman in Missouri who dyes her yarns a special color of fuchsia and olive green created only for Knit This Purl That. Spisak purchases high-end bags from Offhand Designs in Alameda, a one woman shop with three employees. And yarns from the Marisol Project in Peru support a school building project.

In keeping with the theme of helping, Spisak participated in the Mother Bear Project, a project that began back east. The World War II pattern is knitted or crocheted bears which, once competed, are sent to Missouri where each bear receives a little read heart. The bears are then shipped to Africa as gifts to HIV and AIDS children in orphanages. The mother bear pattern can be purchased online at http://www.motherbearproject.org for $5. The fee is used for postage to Africa.

To join in on the sense of community and camaraderie, a number of classes are available. McAuliff teaches beginning knitting, crochet and dog sweater classes. Samples of her work, include baby hats, felted purses, scarves, and socks which hang at the store.

Sock Club meets on Thursday evenings from 7-9 p.m. where four special, hand-dyed yarns are patterns are used. For more classes, check the Web site at http://www.yourknittingplace.com.

"My passion rubs off on people," stresses Spisak. She says it's like Christmas every day here.

Spisak has found the key to weaving her passion for yarn into a community of spun gold.

Cindy Luck is a Danville writer and life coach. Reach her at visioncoachcindy@aol.com.