Meet Cadence Kidwell | Proprietress of Fuzzy Goat

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

Hi Cadence, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was in my mid-50s and thought what challenges did I want ahead of me? I had a great job at Florida State University, but knew I would work at least another 10 years and did I want to go ahead with what was predictable, or try a big adventure?

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Step into Fuzzy Goat, where whimsical yarn adventures unite communities online and in our Historic Downtown Thomasville shop. Experience knitting joy, shop unique gifts, and join a nationwide Fuzzy Fans community, all while supporting diversity and inclusion. Oh gosh, it wasn’t easy at all, but persistence and collaboration are the mainstays that help me continue to grow. I learned to seek out advice and mentors and elevate others whenever possible.

I’m really proud of several things:

* building a fiber community, both locally and across the country, that includes people across generations, politics, beliefs and LGBTQ. We’re able to join and support each other because of our common love for knitting, it’s become that 3rd place that is different than home and work, where people can gather civilly and engage in a soothing craft making something beautiful.

* supporting fiber artists: we know the first name of almost all of our vendors, mostly women who are making amazing yarns and bags to support their families. We then encouraging our knitting and crocheting customers to use these items to make their own heirlooms. We love seeing our customers learn new skills and be proud of their projects

* the financial support that we can offer: from offering very good benefits to our retail team, to the local and national causes that we can donate to. We also collect yarn from all over and deliver it to the Women’s Prison in Geogia, this is is very satisfying project for us.

We like to say that Fuzzy Goat is where Whimsical yarn adventures unite us online and in our Historic Downtown shop, our lodge is lodge open for all + indie yarns = attainable challenges

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would say be sure and come to Thomasville hungry!
You can stay at our super cute Jane + Hanks air bnb and walk to downtown (https://www.fuzzygoatyarns.com/pages/stay-with-us)
Have breakfast at Empire Bagel (next door to Fuzzy Goat) and explore downtown, being sure to visit my favorites, Firefly, The Bookshelf, SouthLife, The Hare and the Hart, get coffee and chocolate to keep you going at Sweet Cacao, and be sure and eat at Liams, especially see the bar! On your next night, visit SweetGrass Dairy for award-winning cheeses!
The Taste of Thomasville Tour is fabulous, as the tour of Lapham Patterson House (a Victorian home with no right angles!). The Jack Hadley Black History Musuem is an incredibly extensive and very inspiring of the black experience in the South. Arrange for a bike ride with Hubs and Hops and end that day with a Thomasville brewed beer at T’velo.
A little farther afield is Birdsong Nature Center and a lovely experience of the local environment.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I never knew that there was such a thing as a retail coach, but I have been working with Retail Mavens for the last 8 years and they have supported, mentored, and encouraged me to the heights our shop has reached!

Website: https://www.fuzzygoatyarns.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fuzzy_goat/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FuzzyGoatYarns

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@fuzzy_goat

Image Credits
Madelyn Zorn