If you’ve met the woman behind Dopamine Alley, it’s time to meet the rest of management.
Neither has retail experience. Neither has read the business plan. Together, they weigh about 160 pounds, which feels excessive for a team whose primary qualification is being loved by me.
Meet T’Challa and Katara. Around here, they’re Tay and Tara—the Alley Dogs, and two of my greatest joys.
Who is Tay?
T’Challa, better known as Tay, is my Lab–Husky mix. I adopted him in 2018, and my son named him after Black Panther.
His clothes may be all Lab, but his stride and sassy mouth are all Husky.
Apparently, the Labrador department handled the exterior while the Husky department retained walking privileges and final approval on all verbal complaints.
He’s aloof and curious, and at this stage of his life he’s mostly an incredibly calm dog. He doesn’t need to be in the center of every moment to have a presence. Tay can simply be there, doing Tay things, and he is happy.
Unofficial Alley title: Director of Outdoor Research and Unsolicited Commentary.
What does Tay do off the clock?
Camping. Water. Ideally, camping with water.
He loves going camping, and he hasn’t found a body of water he didn’t find refreshing yet. If there’s a chance to get wet, Tay seems prepared to consider the opportunity.
Some of us arrive somewhere and admire the view. Tay’s version of appreciating nature includes checking whether he can get in it.
His leisure strategy is considerably clearer than mine.
And who is Tara?
Katara—Tara—is my merle Great Dane, born in 2024. Her name is a nod to Avatar: The Last Airbender.
At the time, she and her brother needed a home. If her brother had joined us too, he would have been Appa. He landed with another family, so that name remained part of the plan that didn’t happen.
Tara, meanwhile, arrived ready to become everyone’s very large shadow.
What is Tara’s management style?
Close supervision. Very close.
She follows me and my niece everywhere. She’s clingy, she talks back, and when she’s mad or sad, she hides under furniture.
An 80-pound dog having feelings under the furniture is quite a thing. The feelings are real. The spatial planning could use work.
She’s also a giant lapdog. We have the bruises to prove it.
In Tara’s world, “lapdog” seems to describe a personal calling rather than a size category. Her commitment is impressive. Our legs would like to open negotiations.
Unofficial Alley title: Chief Closeness Officer and Head of Furniture-Based Dispute Resolution.
Are they really both that big?
Yes. Both weigh about 80 pounds. Tay is only a little smaller than Tara, even if the Great Dane label makes people expect a much bigger difference.
Each weighs more than half as much as I do. Between the two of them, I am substantially outnumbered in both dogs and pounds.
Tara also has two different-colored eyes: her left is the lighter blue, and her right is darker green. One face, two eye colors, an unreasonable amount of personality.
Why introduce the dogs on a jewelry blog?
Because getting to know the Alley means getting to know a little of the life behind it.
The store is me choosing pieces, making decisions, writing, helping customers, and building something I care about. Tay and Tara are part of the life happening around that work.
One loves camping and a refreshing body of water. The other wants to know why my niece and I have attempted to move without her. Both bring me more joy than I can fit into a perfectly respectable business introduction.
The ridiculous job titles are jokes. The love isn’t.
They don’t pack your jewelry or handle your order. That would require opposable thumbs and a deeply optimistic training budget. I personally manage orders and customer care, while supplier partners handle fulfillment and shipping.
Stay for the dogs. The jewelry is here, too.
If you came for the dogs and stayed for the jewelry, I understand. If you came for the jewelry and now need regular management updates, I also understand.
And if you’re not purchasing? Ain’t nothing wrong with a lil window shopping. Stick around for the vibes.
You’re welcome here, whether you’re choosing a piece or simply enjoying the fact that my business has a Chief Closeness Officer.
Glad you’ve met my greatest joys.
Crystal
Bad Influence, GREAT TASTE. Extremely questionable management credentials.
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