Darby Rush and Neil Hall both grew up in the Tidewater area of Virginia — Darby in Virginia Beach and Neil in Norfolk. That's just a coincidence, however, as they met only five or six years ago here in Alexandria … but they share their fondness for Tidewater and still call it "home." That bond was the start of their friendship. Darby moved to Alexandria almost 20 years ago to work on Capitol Hill.
After marriage, two babies and a stint with the home-based clothing business, Et Cetera, she took a job in sales with a large gifts and home accessories firm. Her experience there inspired her to start her own gifts and accessories trunk show business called Good Fun Stuff.
Neil was in finance and marketing in the corporate world, working for CSX in Richmond and Time-Life in Alexandria. After marriage and a baby, she continued to do some consulting work for Time Life and volunteered at her son's school. Itching to get back into business, she bought an invitation and stationery company about five years ago and moved it from Vienna to Alexandria as a home-based business.
Darby and Neil often worked side-by-side at trunk shows with their respective businesses, setting up at school benefits, community markets and private home-shopping parties. Together they organized a semi-annual trunk show at Belle Haven Country Club called East Coast Collections, which drew vendors selling clothing, jewelry, gifts, home, baby and paper accessories.
The business partners have sons that are great friends in 7th grade at St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School. Darby also has a daughter in 9th grade at the school. Their husbands both work from home, which is a real advantage to Darby and Neil when the shop keeps them away from games, carpooling, an eye on homework, etc.
<b>Why did you choose this business?</b>
Kiskadee is a spin-off of their trunk-show businesses. It's the "best of both" plus more, offering women's apparel, jewelry and accessories, men's and boys' shirts, ties and belts, gifts for the home and garden, tabletop and gourmet, baby, holiday cards and paper accessories.
Darby had been pondering the idea of opening a retail store for quite some time. As a sales rep, she was in and out of small shops daily. Darby had the creative eye and a vision of a store that she, as a consummate shopper herself, would love to have in this area. Neil, always up for a new business challenge, thought the idea a good one.
Both relished the thought of not hauling, setting up and taking down for trunk shows. Neil had been convinced for some time that Del Ray, and Mount Vernon Avenue in particular, was the perfect spot for a store — charming storefronts, parking, a friendly neighborhood and an easy-going business atmosphere.
Darby and Neil have made many new friends in the neighborhood that run in weekly to see "what's new." Their recent expansion to the second floor of the shop is indicative of this great local support.
<b>Share an anecdote about your business:</b>
It is safe to say that if their landlord, Scott Mitchell, had not walked up to them as they wandered along Mt Vernon Avenue one summer day, Kiskadee would probably not be in existence today. Darby and Neil were simply "in the right place at the right time" and hopped on the storefront that had been previously occupied by Royce Flowers. The location and the building itself became the impetus to "go for it." The store opened just three months later.
Everyone asks about the name Kiskadee. A Kiskadee is a pretty yellow and black bird that is indigenous to marshy areas, like Tidewater, Virginia. Darby and Neil thought long and hard about a name that would have a special meaning to the two of them, but would be catchy and would definitely be unique. The idea was suggested by a family friend of Darby's, while sitting on the beach, of course.
<b>Key Staff:</b>
Currently, all employees are job-sharing so that there is fulltime help during the week and on the weekends. It works our perfectly for the weekday employees — one is a mom, Tracy Simpson, who works a few days a week while her son is in school. The other, Linda Hoekstra has recently retired from teaching in the Alexandria School System and, because of her shopping finesse, has fit right in.
Darby and Neil are also lucky to have friends that come in from time to time to help out … Susan Cloud, Diane Hynes and Meghan Rainey.
Until recently, Kiskadee had its first full-time assistant manager, Jeanna Reidy, who just had a baby girl. Darby and Neil have fingers crossed that she'll be back soon.
The part-time weekend staff all have fulltime jobs, working in PR, in politics, on the Hill, and in interior design. Eliza Findley, Brittany Patterson, Emily Wheeler and Ashley deHart enjoy the camaraderie at the shop, making some extra cash, and, of course, the great discount.
Kiskadee is always looking for friendly, outgoing people who enjoy retail, and fashion in particular, to join the staff.
<b>Description of products and services:</b>
Darby and Neil think of Kiskadee as an "everyday living store," offering a variety of clothing, accessories and gifts for women, men, babies and kids, home and garden. They have a range of all price points and product mix. They work diligently at market to find new designers and products not found in the area … and the mix changes weekly. They order only three or four of any one style of woman's clothing, so that the same jacket or dress is not walking all over town. Kiskadee loves to support and offer designs from local Virginia businesses, including Meg Carter Designs, ADMK Jewelry, Belle et Bonne, Soraya tabletop accessories, Elquinique handbags, Peter Blair ties from Richmond and Robert Redd shirts from Charlottesville. Kiskadee has made numerous donations in their first year of business to local schools and benefits. They are happy to offer a Girls' Night Out shopping party for groups of 10-12, providing beverages and hors d'oeuvres and a 20 percent discount to all that attend.
<b>Professional affiliations:</b>
Del Ray Business Association.