Women in Business Feature

Naive Melody Vintage 

WOMEN IN BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Iris Hodge with Naive Melody Vintage 

We met with Iris Hodge, owner of Naive Melody, to learn more about their unique eclectic store in downtown Oregon City. Read on to learn more about them and to take a peek inside their vintage shop.

Iris Hodge and her partner have been restoring and collecting vintage items for many years; and after she was laid off from her career in the non-profit sector, they felt this was an opportunity to bring their passionate hobby of vintage, cool, strange and beautiful items to life.

After visiting many commercial spaces, “we came across the spot on 10th Street and knew right away, it was meant to be.” They opened up shop in 2019 and you can visit them at 109 10th St. Oregon City, OR.

Growing up in Oregon City, Iris appreciates the hard work that it’s taken to transform the downtown area, and the commitment to preserve a lot of its history. 

When Iris isn’t at the shop, she’s a wife and mother who enjoys getting lost in books, bikes, dogs and sipping coffee. When she’s not restoring classic pieces, she’s finding enjoyment cooking good food, or crafting.  

A favorite part of what she does is sewing and mending, finding it very meditative. You will find many pieces inside their shop that have gone through their hands countless times to make it just right for their customers. 

WHAT IS YOUR WHY FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO EVERYDAY? 

Iris loves making old things useful again by being sustainable consumers saying, “I get genuinely excited about old things. I love that moment when a customer sees something in my store that brings back fond memories and it makes me feel good to keep things out of the landfill.”

Iris is passionate about people and women’s rights, and it’s important that the community knows that all are welcome. She states, “we are unabashedly accepting of all of our neighbors regardless of skin color, gender, religious belief, or socio-economic status. We believe that we are stronger for our diversity!” 

WHAT IS YOUR WHY FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO EVERYDAY? 

Iris loves making old things useful again by being sustainable consumers saying, “I get genuinely excited about old things. I love that moment when a customer sees something in my store that brings back fond memories and it makes me feel good to keep things out of the landfill.”

Iris is passionate about people and women’s rights, and it’s important that the community knows that all are welcome. She states, “we are unabashedly accepting of all of our neighbors regardless of skin color, gender, religious belief, or socio-economic status. We believe that we are stronger for our diversity!” 

Sneak peeks of their new items get posted online often; so to not miss a new piece, follow Naive Melody here on Instagram and also here on Facebook, both as @NaiveMelodyVintage.

WHAT’S A PIECE OF ADVICE FOR OTHER ASPIRING WOMEN OR FOLKS WANTING TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS OR MAKE MONEY BY DOING SOMETHING THEY LOVE? 

“Life is too short for shoulda, coulda, woulda. Sometimes you gotta just jump and figure where you are going to land on the way down. No small business is ever perfect and if you really want to do it, just do it.”

Iris mentions how helpful Downtown Oregon City Association has been for local business owners. So check with your local or surrounding cities to see what opportunities and training options could be available for you.

“It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you aren’t,” says Iris. 

Iris’ partner was diagnosed with cancer, and at times it wasn’t easy balancing everything that came, but she mentions that “the community has been so supportive over the last year,” which has been very uplifting. 

Growing through the pandemic, but also the snow/ice storm and pearsonal life, they were creative and provided select items online to buy, and also regularly post to their social media when they weren’t or able to open their store, which has been a great way to connect buyers to their vintage items.

Iris mentions that “by the community continuing to shop local, focusing on supporting small business owners,” that they can preserve.

HOW TO SUPPORT NAIVE MELODY

They have a deep appreciation for the community, and enjoy seeing customers post their buys online or by sharing their events and items when they get posted. It all helps their small local business thrive! 

Written and photographed by Ashleyann Burnett, of Simple Shot Photography. Here is her story about visiting with Iris. 

“Iris finds the beauty in what most no longer have a purpose for, and she’s using her talents to bring cool and strange items back to the shelves of consumers. I loved walking into her shop and seeing so many weird, and wonderful array of items. You really could spend a while in here seeing everything. Definitely worth a trip in! She is a strong, open and talented person, and it was a real pleasure to get to hear more about her story as a woman in business.”