This is the first of our new series, “Meet Our Greeters”. We hope you enjoy getting to know the people and faces behind our greetings!

 

I am so excited to start introducing you to all of our Greeters! I’ll be doing interviews with everyone so you can get to know our Sign Greeters family. First up are Kristen Butler and Victoria Canada, who own the Phoenix, Arizona location of Sign Greeters.

 

Victoria (L) and Kristen (R)

 

 

Brutus: What made you decide to become part of the Sign Greeters family?

 

Kristen Butler: I had recently decided to leave my full-time job, but because of COVID, job searching had to be put on the back burner. Victoria reached out to me with this opportunity to be her business co-owner, and it was really a NO BRAINER! She and I have known each other for 17 years, and I knew that whatever happened, we would have the BEST time working alongside each other.

 

Victoria Canada: I have been a wedding and event planner for about 20 years. When Covid hit we had our calendars cleared and it was the perfect time to start this business! I met Kristen at a pre-natal yoga class 17 years ago. Kristen has worked with me before at events and we are a great match. She has skills and strengths I don’t–and vice versa. Getting to work with one of my best friends is pretty awesome!

 

 

B: What is the most rewarding part of Sign Greeters?

 

KB: Instant gratification from our clients! They text us with photos of the recipient smiling next to their sign and seeing that just fills my heart with joy.

 

VC: At the end of the day, we just want to make people happy. The greetings we install are so fun and we love the positive feedback. It pretty much makes my day when we are able to help someone celebrate.

 

 

 

 

B: What’s your number one piece of advice for someone interested in becoming a business owner?

 

KB: Create a great list of contacts, personal and professional, and don’t be afraid to reach out to those folks to share your new venture. Tailor your messaging, for us that means tailoring to moms, real estate folks, business owners, etc. You definitely can’t be afraid to share your passion with people and how you can help them create joy for others in their lives!

 

VC: Be prepared! I am a Virgo and I like to be prepared. For example, we have a great tool kit that ensures we have what we need for any installation (drills, work gloves, headlamps, zip ties, tape, extra business cards, bandaids, bug spray, and so much more!)

 

 

B: What is your favorite thing about living in Phoenix? What’s your least favorite?

 

KB: Favorite is hands down the gorgeous landscape. From the desert to the mountains, we have such varying scenery within a short driving distance. Least favorite? June-September’s heat!!!! Holy moly we got hit with the record number of days for over 100 degrees this year. Thank heavens for air conditioning!

 

VC: I love living in Phoenix because we are close to the Mountains in Northern Arizona and we can be at the beach in less than 6 hours. I grew up in West Texas–El Paso to be exact–and I love that I can still get my Mexican food fix here! What is my least favorite? The heat can get brutal, but you don’t have to shovel sunshine! We beat the heat by hanging in the pool or escaping to the beach.

 

 

 

B: If you could be any household appliance, which one would you be and why?

 

KB: My Nespresso coffee pot. Because it brings a smile to whomever needs it!

 

VC: My wine fridge! I love wine and I buy bottles from my travels. Currently I have some bottles from a winery on Mount Vesuvius and some bold Brunellos from Tuscany. Those are from a trip I took with Kristen and some of our other besties in 2019.

 

 

B: What’s your favorite book? What’s the last book you read?

 

KB: This is a tough one, because I’ve read a LOT… Victoria and I have even been in a book club together for maybe 10 years now? But the books I remember most vividly and fondly are ones I read as a teenager… the Vampire Lestat series by Anne Rice was IT for me!  The last book I read was _Anxious People_ by Fredrik Backman; it’s our book for this month’s book club.

 

VC: The last book I read was _In Five Years: A Novel_ by Rebecca Serle. It was a tear jerker. I have been in a book club for about 22 years and it is something I look forward to each month. Kristen is also in it. It should be known that our book club is also referred to as “wine club” by our husbands. My favorite book is _Little Women_ by Louisa May Alcott and I have read it dozens of times. I think it is timeless and I love the bond of sisterhood told in a story about intelligent, fearless and strong women.

 

 

 

B: Did you learn any new skills at the beginning of “quarantine”?

 

KB: For sure! My skill was actually learning to let go. I’m a type A planner, and not being in control or knowing what was around the corner was super stressful. So for my sanity, AND my family’s sanity, I had to learn to chill and enjoy the downtime and just “be”.

 

VC: I have been on a decluttering rampage. I joined a decluttering group on Facebook. As mentioned before, I am a Virgo so this took me down quite the rabbit hole. I have pulled out everything from every drawer and cabinet and closet in my home. I have also digitized many Super 8 films we had moved from my parents home. I found tons of slides and had those digitized. I found images of my grandparents standing in the same spots I stood in Paris and Venice, what a mind trip!  Decluttering helped me feel in control when the world was chaotic. I am sad to say that my family learned new skills of baking bread and making pasta from scratch. Additionally, our daughter discovered her talent for baking. I have had to acquire the “skill” of daily workouts to counter balance my family’s carb loading.

 

 

B: What’s your favorite meal?

 

KB: If I’m going out, I want to visit a sushi restaurant every time. And if I’m making something for myself, I’m obsessed with making Tex-Mex cauliflower rice bowls. Quick, easy, and soooo satisfying!

 

VC: My Family has a Mexican food restaurant in El Paso, Texas called Avila’s Mexican Food. It has been open for over 60 years. My grandfather and uncle started it and my cousins are the 3rd generation to run it. My favorite meal would be to start with chips and salsa with chili con queso, red enchiladas with rice and beans, and a sopaipilla with honey. My mouth is watering  just thinking about it.

 

 

 

B: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve tackled this year?

 

KB: Deciding to leave my job and following my heart into the unknown.

 

VC: My sister passed away 3 years ago and my dad 2 years ago, so I have spent a lot of time this past year getting their items in order. I have been organizing photos so I can look at them and enjoy them vs. them being trapped in boxes.

 

Victoria’s kids and Kristen’s kids

 

B: What are you most thankful for this year?

 

KB: My family and the time we had to be together with no activities, appointments, or distractions. My boys are teenagers and getting to know each other with all the downtime was truly a gift.

 

VC: I am grateful for my family and friends. I have really leaned on my friends as my touchstones. I am thankful we have many trips that we have taken in the past and I am looking forward to many more trips in the future.

 

 

B: If you had a full 24 hours to yourself with no obligations, how would you spend your day?

 

KB: Ahhhh. For sure I would grab a couple close girlfriends and head to one of the fabulous AZ resorts for a spa day. A massage and facial would start the day. Then we’d sit out by the pool with mimosas and snacks and just gab several hours away. Of course if there was the option, I’d have my hair and makeup done at the spa, and dinner out for excellent food, drinks, and more laughs. THAT would be heavenly!

 

VC: I would be at a spa with my girlfriends. I have great friends from childhood, high school, college and adulting. It would be a blast to get them all together and have an epic spa day!

 

 

 

 

If you would like to decorate a yard for someone’s special occasion, please check out all of our locations. We love to decorate for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, baby showers, gender reveals, retirements, and all occasions! If you are interested in becoming a Sign Greeters Owner, I would be happy to have my owners touch base. You can check out the details here.


Smiles & Happiness,
Brutus, The Sign Greeters Birdie