Cyndi Doud never envisioned herself as a business owner. She is no stranger to leadership roles in the professional sphere, but when she purchased The Shiplap Shop & Coffee House in April, she felt ready to take that promotion.
Doud had worked under previous owners Gary and Kristin Rurup at The Shiplap Quilt Shop & Coffee House in Olympia, first in a part-time role cutting fabric before becoming a barista. She kept moving up the totem pole, eventually becoming the chief of staff and working full time in Yelm.
The Rurups began discussing selling The Shiplap Shop & Coffee House in December, and Doud said she made it clear early on that she was interested in purchasing the business.
“When we started discussing the possibility of purchasing Shiplap, I already knew the ins and outs, and I knew all of the baristas personally. I’ve known some of them long before they even worked here,” she said. “I was familiar with all of our vendors. It was just a natural evolution of moving into this position. I’ve been along for the ride since the beginning, and it’s surreal to see how it’s led me to this now.”
Doud’s ownership became official on April 7 as Gary Rurup posted a video to the Shiplap Facebook announcing the change. From that point, Doud said the new responsibilities as owner have made her head spin but added she is excited to implement small changes to Shiplap, most importantly the air conditioning.
“The biggest thing that the customers will be excited about is the air conditioning. In years past, it gets very warm, and we’ve had to close the shop in the summer, and that’s something I want to avoid doing,” she said.
Doud also hopes to add more furniture to the store, as well as additional drinks, pastries and gluten-free items to the menu. Barista Casi Mott said another critical change to Shiplap is the energy in the shop.
“The whole vibe has changed. It’s a lot more exciting to come to work. She values our opinions, so that’s really fun. She allows us to make executive decisions and she supports them, which is such a shift change,” Mott said of Doud. “It’s just been lighter.”
Mott described Doud’s escalation to owner as a “seamless transition” and said that the baristas were excited to learn of her purchase. Despite some small changes coming in the near future, she said customers should still expect the same welcoming feeling they’ve always received from the staff.
“We’re still your go-to shop. That’s for sure,” Mott said.
Doud thanked the Rurups for their service to the Yelm community and for getting Shiplap off the ground.
“They made such a huge impact on the community with Shiplap. They were ready to open another chapter of their lives,” she said. “This business’s involvement with the community, with local artisans and vendors is special. We have a strong sense of community, and we want to help out other people and celebrate their successes.”
In her first year as the owner of Shiplap, Doud said she wants the baristas to be better known in the community and to be “the face of the shop,” and she wants to reach different people than the business typically attracts.
“I want our baristas to feel more empowered, and if I’m gone for a week, they should be able to keep the boat floating. I want to enable them to be able to do a lot of different things that aren’t just specific to one job,” Doud said. “I also want to bring in things that are a little more trendy and current and relevant to younger age groups. It will still have the Shiplap face, but I’m just going to add a little spice.”
The Shiplap Shop & Coffee House is open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays at 112 E. Yelm Ave.
