The Shoe Hive’s Christen Green forgoes colorful footwear for a summer of neutrals and proves that no career path is linear.
Photo by Mollie Tobias.
If there’s one thing immediately apparent about Christen Green—from her pink tipped hair to her Stuart Weitzman clad feet—it’s that the girl’s got style. A trait that aptly suits her new role as assistant buyer and manager at Old Town Alexandria staple The Shoe Hive. Although Green is no stranger to NoVA, having spent the past couple of years lending her social media marketing services to small businesses in the area. “Alexandria has been very good to me. In a small way I felt that I was able to give back to them.”
Despite the gratification of owning her own business before 30 [Green is 28], she decided to close Social Shop Media earlier this year. “It was hard to give that up, but even in my short career thus far I recognize that no career path is linear.” Things came full circle when Green’s very first client Elisabeth Todd, owner of The Shoe Hive, offered her a chance to become a buyer for the store. “Who doesn’t want to be surrounded by beautiful shoes and accessories? It’s kind of like every girl’s candy store.”
Balancing managing, buying and marketing for the store leaves Green with a full plate, but also the satisfaction of knowing that she is making a difference in customers’ lives, a point driven home by a recent experience selecting shoes for a woman that wanted the perfect fit for her backyard wedding. “Twenty years from now she probably won’t remember me or my name, but I helped in that decision and that is kind of cool.” Cool? Yes. Although, once you meet Green, she’s definitely memorable. -Angela Bobo
Photo by Mollie Tobias.
(July 2014)