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ANN ARBOR, Michigan / Ann Arbor News / June 30, 2009
By Tina Reed, The Ann Arbor News
Mary Cambruzzi describes herself as a finder.
From vintage typewriter keys and buttons to useable artwork made of repurposed forks, Cambruzzi said she scours flea markets and antique vendors to fill her store, called
FOUND, in Kerrytown Market & Shops in Ann Arbor.
Cambruzzi worked as a teacher for a decade before taking some time to raise her kids and later, run a side business. She opened the store more than three years ago when, she said, she hit age 50 and started trying to answer the question "What am I going to do with the next phase?"
Cambruzzi said she's fascinated with the connection between the past and the present and came up with the idea for a store that would offer vintage, repurposed and new items for the home or for art.
"Almost every day, I hear from people that there's no other shop like this and I think that's kind of the essence of it," Cambruzzi said. "That with the combination of things we have, there is really no other place that's quite like FOUND."
Residence: Ann Arbor.
Age: 54.
Family: She is married and has two children, John and Laura.
The business in a sentence: "A funky little shop featuring artists who use found and recycled materials, fun candles and home accents, plus vintage (items) and treasures.
How she got her start: "I grew up in a yellow house with art supplies and books and a creative mom."
Her proudest accomplishment: "As a shop owner, having artists I respect shop here makes me happy."
Why she likes this: "I like finding and arranging things - and I love the ideas my customers have for repurposing."
What she'd be doing if she weren't doing this: "Planting flowers in my bicycle basket."
Piece of advice she'd offer someone starting a business: "Have a clear vision - write it down - and have fun making it happen." [
rc]
Tina Reed
E-Mail: treed@annarbornews.com
Photographs: © 2009 - Found Gallery
© 2009 Michigan Live.
"Almost every day, I hear from people that there's no other shop like this and I think that's kind of the essence of it," Cambruzzi said. "That with the combination of things we have, there is really no other place that's quite like FOUND."
Residence: Ann Arbor.
Age: 54.
Family: She is married and has two children, John and Laura.
The business in a sentence: "A funky little shop featuring artists who use found and recycled materials, fun candles and home accents, plus vintage (items) and treasures.
How she got her start: "I grew up in a yellow house with art supplies and books and a creative mom."
Her proudest accomplishment: "As a shop owner, having artists I respect shop here makes me happy."
Why she likes this: "I like finding and arranging things - and I love the ideas my customers have for repurposing."
What she'd be doing if she weren't doing this: "Planting flowers in my bicycle basket."
Piece of advice she'd offer someone starting a business: "Have a clear vision - write it down - and have fun making it happen." [rc]
Tina Reed
E-Mail: treed@annarbornews.com
Photographs: © 2009 - Found Gallery
© 2009 Michigan Live.
