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The Uncommon Life

The Uncommon Life

Uncommon Personalities: Meet Erin Fergusson

April 10, 2013
Erin Fergusson, UncommonGoods Senior Manager–Merchandising

My hometown is…
Richmond, VA – Short Pump to be exact.

My favorite product that I’ve brought into the assortment at UncommonGoods is…
AH! THIS IS TOO HARD! Recently, it would have to be the Bike Tube Belt with Layered Chain Buckle. This belt uses a cool recycled material in a really creative and attractive way.

And in jewelry it would have to be the Birth Month Flower Necklaces. They are so beautiful and have such a touching sentiment that our customers love. It also helps that it is my best selling necklace!

This isn’t jewelry or accessories, but it is one of my favorites that Katie and I found: USB Typewriter.
It is a stop-you-in-your-tracks wow item that gets me excited!

I’m inspired by…
Passionate people that drive big change in our world and people who live their lives to the fullest through experiences.

My guilty pleasure is…
Ice cream with extra caramel.

An uncommon fact about me…
I have seen lions take down a giraffe while on safari in Africa!

My favorite place to eat in New York City is…
Shabu-Tatsu in the East Village. You cook thin meat and veggies in a pot of boiling water, and dip them in delicious sauces. It is so yummy and pretty guilt free!

My style is…
Colorful, unique, and accessorized.

Working at UncommonGoods, I’ve learned…
Surrounding yourself with brilliant, creative, and inspirational people is the most fulfilling environment to work in.

Would you rather… Jog to work every day with super speed (and take the subway home) OR ride your bike home every night (but, when you got home it would mysteriously disappear from your apartment and appear at UG, so could ride it home again the next day)?
Ride my bike home every night and have my bike appear at UG, because I love riding my bike AND that would be magic!

The Uncommon Life

Uncommon Personalities: Meet Katie Giannone

April 5, 2013

*Editor’s Note: Katie left UncommonGoods on May 10, 2013 to embark on a new adventure. We wish her the best of luck in all of her future endeavors!

Katie Giannone, UncommonGoods Associate Buyer – Home Décor, Seasonal, Desktop, Art

My hometown is…
Wilton, CT; a smallish, ruralish town about an hour outside of NYC.

My favorite product that I’ve brought into the assortment at UncommonGoods is…
VERY hard to pick just one, but I would have to go with one I brought in recently – the Grow Old With You Terrarium – a solid mix of sweet sentiment, creativity, and handcrafted, clean home décor.

I’m inspired by…
My friends, the masses of extremely talented and creative handmade designers sprouting up across the US, and the outdoors.

My guilty pleasure is…
Relishing the sun.

An uncommon fact about me…
Let’s see… pick your fave: at 6’1”, I am the tallest person in my family. I broke my arm sledding onto an iced over pond in VT when I was about 8 years old. I had a pet bunny named Flopsy when I was little, but my mom didn’t like caged animals so we treated it more or less like a domestic cat – it would go out into our yard and the woods behind our house during the day and explore, coming in at night for dinner and shelter. I practiced jazz dance until I was nearly 14.

My favorite place to eat in New York City is…
Three way tie between St. Anselm, Marlow & Sons, and Peasant.

My Style is…
I’m aiming for timeless.

Since working at UncommonGoods I’ve learned…
How wonderful it is working with handmade designers who are extremely passionate about their work.

With a pile of stuff in front of me I would make…
(You’re given paper, glue, glitter, sticky notes, an aluminum can, bakers twine, and a rubber band. What do you make and who is it for?)

I would make a kinetic mobile to hang above my nephew Grady’s crib.

The Uncommon Life

Is apple pie really all-American?

April 4, 2013

Apple pie is only American in the sense that, like the country itself, it is an immigration success story. It had been a traditional treat in Britain and across Europe for centuries, but in the Americas the colonists were lacking one key ingredient: apples. America’s only indigenous apple is the crab apple. Seeds were brought over, and orchards began to spring up, but most of that initial fruit was too tart for eating and was instead made into cider. It took nearly 100 years, as sweeter varieties were being cultivated and as the settlers grew more prosperous, for the apple pie to put down roots as a culinary favorite in the New World.

Fruit and Jelly Bird Feeder, $35

The Uncommon Life

The Cats that April Fooled You!

April 3, 2013

Did you do a double take when you saw our website and social media on Monday? Cats took over everything – there wasn’t a piece of our internet presence without a feline touch. But it was all in fun!

We knew we wanted to get in on the April Fools antics this year and decided to pay homage to everyone’s favorite star of the internet and your living room floor. In order to pull it all off, we needed some cats. Our employees jumped at the opportunity to play kitty show & tell and give their cat its fifteen minutes of fame.

Our Creative Studio was turned over to the cats and our Customer Service office area into a green room, where cats slept and ate until their owners were done with work for the day. Used to taking photos of inanimate objects and their coworkers, our photographers practiced the art of shooting a creature with a mind of its own.

To make our April Fools prank be truly uncommon, we partnered with Animal Care & Control of New York City to donate a portion of the profits made during the campaign.

The Uncommon Life

Top 10 Reasons Why Cats are Better than Dogs

April 1, 2013

10.) If you give us a toy, we don’t return it covered in drool.

9.) There’s no such thing as dog nip.

8.) There’s a whole musical about us, while no one wants to hear songs about chasing cars and pooping on the sidewalk.

7.) We have the LOOKS and the BRAINS. (And the confidence.)

6.) Dog Woman would make an awful super villain.

5.) Jingles written about our food will get stuck in your head. Meow, meow, meow, meow…big time.

4.) Like humans, we pee indoors and cover it up. (Technically, they flush it down, but that’s not nearly as much fun.)

3.) No ancient civilization has ever worshiped dogs.

2.) We don’t like the taste of shoes.

1.) Has your dog ever brought you a delicious mouse to prove his love for you? I didn’t think so.

Visit our feline favorites page for even more CATtitude.

The Uncommon Life

Uncommon Personalities: Meet Candace Holloway Gregory

March 27, 2013

Candace Holloway Gregory, UncommonGoods Senior Merchant Manager

My hometown is…
Sherman, TX (GO BEARCATS!)

My favorite product that I’ve brought into the assortment at UncommonGoods is…
That is a hard one. I love them all! I guess I would say the MOLECULAR GASTRONOMY KIT – CUISINE. I did a gift lab on the product and had a BLAST making all the different dishes with my friends. I’m not much of a cook, but I felt fancy doing all these complex food alterations in the kitchen. (Secret: the kit makes everything super easy.)

I’m inspired by…
I’m inspired by my friends and family every day.

My guilty pleasure is…
The television show So You Think You Can Dance! And I will scream it from the mountain tops. I have been a die-hard fan from the first season, first episode. I like to think I can dance and critique like I know what I’m talking about. But my dance experience is……ummm……pretty much zero. LOVE EVERY SECOND OF THAT SHOW.

An uncommon fact about me…
I dabbled in acting. Lots of people thought that is why I moved to NYC, but I never wanted to have a career as an actress. I just wanted to live in the greatest city in the world!

My favorite place to eat in New York City is…
Another hard one! Vinegar Hill House is simply delicious. We usually go for “special occasions” so every time I have gone I have left with great memories.

My style is…
Simple and comfortable…in fashion and decorating.

Working at UncommonGoods, I’ve learned…
I have learned a lot about sustainability and B Corps. I am very proud to be a part of a company that cares so much about their customers, employees, and community. I also learned how to ride a bike in NYC. I still hold my breath going through busy intersections but I’m getting more comfortable every day.

Would you rather… Entertain guests every night for a week OR spend a whole week all alone?
I guess I would have to go with entertain guests every night for a week. My husband can put together an amazing party platter.

The Uncommon Life

Uncommon Personalities: Meet Jackie Udden

March 22, 2013
Meet Jackie | UncommonGoods
Jackie Udden, UncommonGoods Buyer- Accessories & Personal Wellness

My hometown is…

I was born in Montclair, NJ, but my heart is in NYC.

My favorite product that I’ve brought into the assortment at UncommonGoods is…

Kaleidoscope Necklace. (Favorite thing I’ve bought…Himalayan Salt Tequila Shooters. Everyone seems to love receiving them, and I usually get to help break them in!)

I’m inspired by…

Selfless actions.

My guilty pleasure is…

I can’t say I have an ounce of guilt about any indulgence, but know that I am a savory person!

An uncommon fact about me…

I was “gluten-free” long before it became fashionable.

My favorite place to eat in New York City is…

With my husband: Next Door Nobu.
With my friends and family: Edwards.
By myself: Le Pain Quotidien takeout on park bench.

My style is…

Polished comfort.

Working at UncommonGoods, I’ve learned…

Something new every day.

Would you rather…have access to every book ever written (but never watch another film) OR have access to every movie ever made (but never read another book)?

Easy–books! (Watching movies on the beach, where I hope to spend the majority of the remainder of my life, would be weird… reading, however, perfect.)

The Uncommon Life

Uncommon Personalities: Meet Tiffany Jyang

March 13, 2013
Tiffany Jyang | UncommonGoods

Tiffany Jyang, UncommonGoods Senior Product Developer

 

My hometown is…
Alpharetta, GA – a suburban girl at heart!

My favorite product that I helped develop is…
The printable party kits on our free downloads page. My favorite is the outer space party kit, but the history buff kit is super fun too. I also love the sleekness and functionality of the Jewelry in a Bottle and the cleverness of the Pistachio Pedestal.

I’m inspired by…
Halloween, strangers, Elon Musk, outer space.

My guilty pleasure is…
Marathoning semi-educational TV shows. I’m a sucker for Alaska: The Last Frontier, and Cosmos.

An uncommon fact about me…
I was the runner-up in my elementary school spelling bee. Sadly, I misspelled the word “mystic” because I spoke too fast and accidentally skipped a letter!

My favorite place to eat in New York City is…
Sugar Sweet Sunshine (for cupcakes and pudding), Kashkaval Garden (for everything), and Joe Coffee (for the coffee and steamed milk).

My style is…
1st grader-meets-comfortable grandmother-meets-construction worker chic.

Working at UncommonGoods, I’ve learned…
Developing uncommon products is easier said than done, but seeing a new item finally go live never gets old.

Would you rather… give up your sketchbook or your access to blogs?
Give up my sketchbook! I love my blogs and I’m addicted to the Internet. It’s my virtual playground, home to all my mood boards, design inspiration, etc.