Meet Jackie Skelding | Owner & Curator, Rare Bird Interiors

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jackie Skelding and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jackie, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Authenticity is the most important factor in the success of Rare Bird. Authenticity & openness not only in our brand, our media but also our products. We specialize in mid century modern furniture and home decor— items that are 50+ years old with their own stories and charisma– having products with so much soul and history benefit so greatly from a team and a brand that is genuine, down-to-earth and authentic, rather than cold & corporate. Customers are invested not only in the products we sell and their stories, but also the person/brand selling them. I get comments from clients all the time about how invested they feel in Rare Bird and the warmth our products and tight-knit team bring to their shopping experience.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’ve been a small-business owner since I was 21— I took all my savings from working retail since the age of 15 and dumped it all into creating my first boutique. No true business plan, just all determination and passion. Now at 31 and a decade of entrepreneurship under my belt, I look back and laugh — I do not recommend that strategy for starting a business, but luckily it has worked out very well despite our humble and spontaneous beginning in a converted warehouse. One key element of my business over the past 10 years has been risk— not being afraid to make the jump. My risks are far more calculated now than they were a decade ago just starting out but the hustle of always looking for the next opportunity to grow is still there. I think what sets our business apart is the passion to continuously improve, grow and set the highest expectations for ourselves in every dimension of our business. I am most proud of Rare Bird’s newest achievement of expanding to a second showroom in Midtown Tallahassee. It is such an honor to have grown to a point where locals and out-of-state customers want more and more of you and give you the opportunity to level up.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When visiting Tallahassee the two parts of town that are an absolute must-visit are Midtown and Railroad Square, which is, coincidentally, where each of the showrooms for Rare Bird are located. My first stop would be to bring them to Midtown for a brunch at Liberty Bar on Monroe, then shopping on Sixth Avenue at Rare Bird and our incredible neighbor, Diva’s & Devil’s House of Style, then off to Sweet Pea Cafe for an incredible vegan lunch. — add on afternoon drinks or coffee at Ology Midtown and Black Radish for dinner!

In the Railroad Square neighborhood hitting all the shops in the square is an absolute must— Talquin Trading Co would be our first stop after the Rare Bird Railroad Square Showroom. An afternoon pick me up at Au Peche Mignon is a delight and most definitely on the list. I would be sure to take them to all of our beautiful local parks and nearby coast too for a day on the water!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The space that our first location of Rare Bird occupies was once the shop of my dear friend and neighbor Chip, who was like family to me. He was my constant cheerleader and always delighted in telling me I was a “Rare Bird” when my tiny business next door to his hit milestones (my first business, a vintage clothing shop called Curio).

He passed away before I opened Rare Bird but the name of my business is a tribute to him and his unwavering support when I was first starting out a decade ago— a 21 year old who dumped all her savings into opening a tiny storefront selling vintage. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him. Shoutout to Chip Amiss, you are missed!

Website: rarebirdtallahassee.com

Instagram: @rarebirdinteriors

Facebook: Facebook.com/rarebirdinteriors

Image Credits
Erich D. Martin