April 2019
If you haven’t experienced the Paddington Family of Stores—Paddington Station, The Paddington Jewel Box, or Paddington Station: Inspired by Oregon—you owe it to yourself to do so. And with another Paddington store opening soon—Paddington Express—it’ll be even easier to find a Paddington shop to love.
Like their London namesake, the Paddington stores are lively places bustling with visitors and locals. Looking for a just-right birthday gift? The perfect greeting card? A chic top or scarf for your evening theatre date? You’ll find all of these, and more, at the Paddington stores.
Retail runs in the Hammond family, as Pam and Don Hammond bought Paddington Station in the early 90’s. Don has since retired, and now Pam and her daughter Kelly run the stores. Her brother Nick is maintenance manager at the main store, and her husband Joe Cooney is the floor manager. Truly a family affair.
Kelly grew up in Ashland but went away to college to earn a degree in opera. She toured throughout Italy and still performs locally on occasion. But the lure of the family business won her over. After opening The Jewel Box in 2012 and Inspired by Oregon in 2015, she returned to school for an MBA.
She credits her mother, Pam, for passing on the retail gene. “Before she and my dad bought the business in 1992, she was a buyer for stores in Southern California,” Kelly said. “We are a family business through and through. Retail definitely runs through our veins. I so value her expertise and mentorship.”
The family’s love of travel accounts for the eclectic feel of the Paddington stores. “We travel the country to find all the best merchandise, and we’re passionate about networking and aligning ourselves with the best and brightest in our industry,” Kelly says.
Those efforts have earned national recognition in industry publications and awards that include the Gift and Decorative Accessories’ prestigious “Retailer Excellence” Award.
Kelly is proudest of the values her family has instilled in the business. “Our business values are to honor family, our community, and our customers,” she said. “We consider our entire staff family. We love helping customers find the perfect gift. And we love giving back to our community.”
Their Preferred Customer Program benefits customers and community. The free program earns customers rewards and coupons, and two percent of each purchase is donated to local nonprofit organizations. It has generated nearly $200,000 in donations so far.
Stop in soon and experience the delights of the Paddington Family of stores for yourself.
Paddington Station: 125 E. Main; Inspired by Oregon: 131 E. Main; Paddington Jewel Box: 180 E. Main; and soon, Paddington Express at 300 E. Main. For more info, call 541-482-1343 or visit paddingtonstationashland.com. You can also like them on Facebook: PaddingtonStationAshland.
