Staff Spotlight: Molly Shaw
Each month, we highlight one of the incredible staff members that makes the magic happen here at Austin Creative Reuse. This month, it’s Program Coordinator, Molly Shaw (she/her)! Molly joined us in October 2020, as our first, ever Retail Manager. ACR has grown quite a bit since then, and with that growth came new opportunities. Molly now puts her impeccable organizational skills to use as our Program Coordinator, scheduling all of our Make & Takes, workshops, Girl Scout programs, and more. She makes sure our instructors feel supported and walks them through the process from class concept to closeout. If you’ve noticed an uptick in our workshop offerings lately, you’ve got Molly to thank for that! Read more about her below, including her one of her many other talents - Molly Moon Co.!
How did you find Austin Creative Reuse?
I first discovered ACR in 2019, when it was located in the Linc, because my mom recommended it to me. It was so small and jam-packed with awesomeness, I remember thinking it was similar to squeezing through an old wardrobe and emerging into Narnia. I’ve been hooked ever since, and was one of the many people to visit the new center on its very first day open to the public!
What’s your favorite part about working at ACR?
I had worked in various retail stores since 2012, and this was the first job I’ve ever had where customers were actually nice to me and recognized that I was a real life human bean. Woah! No matter the ups and downs and struggles surrounding our work, I’m still amazed at how lovely our shoppers are. Plus, it’s always a bonus to get first dibs on fabric lol.
Are you an artist, crafter, or maker? What mediums do you work with?
I’m a business owner!! I have an Etsy shop, Molly Moon Co., where I make & sell unique and high-quality accessories that are perfect for funky Austinites. I enjoy sourcing a majority of my fabric from ACR, which helps my business maintain its originality and fun spirit, while also not contributing to any more commercial waste.
What do you do when you’re not working at ACR?
Haha, did I already mention my business? I have 3 jobs in total that take up most of my time, and any spare time I have is dedicated to simply relaxing and hanging out with my family.
What’s the craziest thing you found in donation mountain?
Because I was rarely in our donations processing space, the treasures I’ve collected from ACR are items that my lovely coworkers have set aside for me (thanks everyone!). While I have fun things like life-size anatomical skeletons, cow bones, and taxidermied insects, my favorite treasure so far is a 7 foot antique grandfather clock!
About Molly:
Molly moved to Austin in 2011 and is upset it took her 8 years to discover ACR. Aside from ACR, she also loves building her small business, Molly Moon Co., while jamming out to 70's glam-rock (the best genre in the world). In her spare time, Molly is the best dog-aunt to Archie, Murphie, Remi and Mr. Wilson, and enjoys spending time with her family.
See more of Molly’s gorgeous creations at her website, on Instagram @mollymoonco or on Facebook.
