Anela Azus makes wallets, coin purses, eyeglass cases, hair bows and other items for sale in her dad’s store, out of duct tape.
It’s not your father’s duct tape, to borrow from an Oldsmobile ad campaign.
Many rolls feature licensed designs such as Hello Kitty, SpongeBob, Phineas and Ferb and more, while some bear other trendy designs including mustaches, bacon and the always popular animal prints, but not necessarily in true-to-life, natural colors. Think neon.
A rainbow of solid color choices also is available, and Anela uses the vast range to make rainbow-patterned items, Rasta-inspired red, yellow and green or tie-dyed-looking duct tape items "that match my dad’s store," she said.
"She has about 100 different rolls of duct tape," said her father, Greg Azus, longtime owner of retailer Hawaii’s Natural High.
The father-daughter connection obviously provided her entree into the retail marketplace, specifically at 465 Kapahulu Ave.
Over 10 days last month, 18 of her duct-tape wallets were sold, a good sales pace for a line of merchandise, said a proud dad.
Each wallet takes about 30 to 40 minutes to make, she said.
She has been "taping" for about six months after getting the idea from her friend via "FaceTime," on each other’s iPhones and by watching YouTube videos, she said.
"I have 240-something followers" on Instagram, the photo-intensive social media site, where her handle is @krazykrafting. "I just post my wallets and get comments," she said. "I’ve seen other duct-tapers on Instagram, and I just wanted to promote my business," she said.
"I also go by Sduct on You," the name of her shop on Etsy, a huge online marketplace popular with handcrafters of all types.
Anela talks like a marketing pro, and, it must be noted, she turns 11 in May.
"People are amazed when they come in," Greg said, "that a 10-year-old has the patience and know-how to do it." She takes the time to double-check her work, to see that everything is aligned and that credit cards actually fit in the pockets, he said.
"She’s definitely got the business background already, and she’s making it enjoyable," he said.
On the Net:
» hawaiisnaturalhigh.com
» instagram.com/krazykrafting
» etsy.com/people/sductonyou
Coconut Grove getting bigger digs
After 25 years in the same building, Coconut Grove Music will relocate to a new Kailua spot at the end of the month.
It is Oahu’s third-oldest music store, selling musical instruments and equipment, sheet music, accessories and related paraphernalia.
It will move into 2,750 square feet at 167 Hamakua Drive from its current 756 square feet at 418 Kuulei Road, opening in the new spot in the first week of April, said co-owner Mark Scrufari.
The move does not affect Hungry Ear Records, which has been under separate ownership since 2005.
Some new employees will be hired to help operate the new, vastly bigger Coconut Grove Music on the second floor above Hawaiian Water Sports.
Being on the second floor after several years of a ground-floor retail presence is a bit of a concern for the owners, Scrufari said. The store spent its first 16 years on the second floor, though, and employees would often "bring strings and stuff to some of our older customers who couldn’t make it up the stairs," he said.
At the new location "we’re hoping the parking and nicer store will make up for the climb."
To help ease the move, Coconut Grove Music will have a Moving and Garage Sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
"The bigger the item, the bigger the discount" so they won’t have to move it, Scrufari said.
The store hours will remain the same up through and after the move, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.
For seven years Coconut Grove Music has given local amateur musicians a spotlight in which to shine, by sponsoring an Open Jam the last Sunday of each month at Boardriders. In April the restaurant and nightspot will become an even closer neighbor.
On the Net:
» coconutgrovemusic.com
Reach Erika Engle at 529-4303, erika@staradvertiser.com or on Twitter as @erikaengle.
