THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 4, 1995 TAG: 9510040263
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: EARNING A LIVING IN VIRGINIA BEACH
SOURCE: BY LORI A. DENNEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
Gail Keller's yearbook caption says it all: ``Her nonsense makes her personality.''
Forty years later, the slogan is still true.
Keller is a businesswoman who thrives on nonsense.
As the owner of The Spotted Cow in the Countryside Shops, Keller has filled a good-sized room with whimsical wonders such as giant bunnies, carrots, cows and just about any other antique or craft-like ornament you can think of.
``I just like to keep people happy and laughing I guess,'' said Keller, 58.
Her shop features a variety of, you guessed it, spotted cows. Cow mugs, boxer shorts, calendars, life-size stuffed cows, T-shirts, black and white spotted eggs and even cow candy.
``I like the black and white spots,'' said the Norfolk resident. Keller's collection of cow paraphernalia has netted her a mention in ``The Cow Collection'' by Susan Fortunato and Giema Tsakuginow. Keller's is the only shop in Virginia listed in the category, ``cow spots.''
In her store, the cows are surrounded by a hodgepodge of other items that Keller calls ``primitive antiques.'' There are rag dolls, painted watering cans, bird houses, giant stuffed rabbits made of burlap, stuffed bunnies and bears and other smaller trinkets such as miniature frames.
Nearly every item that Keller sells is displayed in fanciful form. For instance, the big stuffed cows are lounging in a bathtub in front of her store. There's a big stuffed teddy bear that's sitting, apparently on the potty, with a roll of toilet paper draped over to his hand. He's reading a book and wearing a baseball cap.
Rarely does Keller buy a typical product. She pays artists to make her designs or bring her ideas to life, such as the 5-foot-tall papier mache cow she commissioned from a local artist. The cow rests just outside her shop's doorway with a sign that says, ``Please do not milk cow.''
Keller has owned and operated her business at the Countryside Shops off Landstown Road for eight years. Previously, she worked at CBN for 11 years as a cable assistant. At one point during her stint at CBN Keller made up a game show called ``Joggin' Your Noggin' .'' It got as far as a set design and a list of possible hosts, then the project was killed because it was too costly.
Keller also writes and performs her own radio commercials.
To get her business going, she got a small business loan from a local bank and opened the store on a consignment basis where artists or crafts people displayed their work. Keller received a commission from the items that sold.
It wasn't long before she realized that commissioning and buying the work herself was more profitable and also provided a wider variety of products to sell, she said.
In another effort, Keller put pen to paper to write about 20 children's stories. She concocted the tales years ago to entertain her three children, who are now grown.
Now, the Forest Park resident reads the stories to her five grandchildren. She will be meeting with a publisher and, if a deal goes through, she may be changing careers at the tender age of 58.
``I believe when it's time to leave a place that God will let you know,'' said Keller, a woman with a strong Christian faith. ``The writing is just another direction to go into.''
Keller has no plans to close her shop but, she may consider hiring a manager.
``It's been great being here,'' she said. ``There's nothing like being your own boss.'' MEMO: The Countryside Shops, featuring The Spotted Cow and eight other
stores, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and
Saturday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
The main phone number is 427-9009. The Spotted Cow's number is
427-9483.
ILLUSTRATION: In Gail Keller's store, cows are surrounded by a hodgepodge of
other items, including painted watering cans, bird houses, stuffed
animals, small trinkets and this raggedy scarecrow.
Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
As the owner of The Spotted Cow in the Countryside Shops, Gail
Keller has filled a good-sized room with whimsical wonders such as
giant bunnies, carrots, cows and just about any other antique or
craft-like ornament you can think of.
Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
by CNB