AUBURN – Shae Neumeister and Kaci Jones are  statistically among 4.3 million American entrepreneurs to start a business in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, but in terms of style and showmanship their path is unique.

Neumeister established TouSha3’s Boutique on Central Avenue in Auburn in the midst of the pandemic in 2020.

 

Neumeister: “Which was a little nerve racking, but I think COVID helped because I think people really learned to support small businesses and learned the importance of having our small businesses.”

Meanwhile, the pandemic was causing havoc on New York City, where Jones was a wedding singer, theater performer, specialty chef and launch point for DJs trying to get karaoke businesses going.

The Auburn graduate moved to New York to follow her dreams and was preparing to expand her restaurant business when the pandemic hit.

Jones: “It’s funny. I always say the best thing I ever did was leave and then, the second best thing I did, was come back because things totally shifted. I was able to live my life the way I wanted to live it. I followed all my dreams. I did everything I wanted to do and I was really fulfilled out there.”

Jones opened Moonlight Country Café in the upper level of the boutique location.

The women say teamwork among small businesses is key to survival in the big box, online shopping world.

 

Jones: “Like when there are soup suppers. I don’t serve soup because I encourage people and then I’ll post the soup supper flier and encourage them to go to that. Those are the tiny little things. It doesn’t hurt my business any really, but it helps out so much in the end. I think that the way for rural businesses to move forward is to team up and see what you can do together.”

Neumeister holds live fashion shows in the spring and fall and participates in boutique hops that feature small retailers from Auburn and surrounding cities. Jones’ shelves are stocked with local products like honey from a local apiary and coffee from a local grinder.

Jones continues to teach voice online, takes on students as a acting coach and says her music falls somewhere in her five, 10 or 20-year plan.

Jones: “If I could give a way for kids to understand that it is a possibility for them to go and follow their dreams, if they really want them, if that’s really their passion, because it’s not really encouraged here. Things that are more practical are really encouraged here.”

Jones: “It’s really interesting to see that we could bring what we’ve been doing our whole lives and what are true loves and passions are and bring them here and share it with other people.”