I tend to make the rounds on crystal shops in the Morris County area, and The Rock Box had been on my list for some time. On a Friday afternoon, Vicki and I were off on one of our “adventure days,” and we popped into the shop in downtown Morristown. After checking out the shop and speaking with the owner, I wanted to know more and invited her to contribute to our What’s Your Story series. We hope you love this behind-the-scenes peek as much as we do…and visit her shop when you get a chance!

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What is your business?

I am Kelly Christmas and I own The Rock Box located at 4 Elm St in Morristown, NJ. It is a boutique shopping experience, specializing in crystals and other space amplifying items.

What was the inspiration behind starting your business? How did you become an entrepreneur?

I have always been an entrepreneur at heart, when I was young I was always trying to sell things or look for business opportunities. I thrive on working and creating, which inspired me to start this new venture.

What do you do on a daily basis to grow your business?

Most of what we carry in the shop are one of a kind pieces. I am always on the lookout for new crystals or other items to complement the shop. I travel a lot and often find different brands or artisans that I like to bring in and share with our community. We have moved into room design and decor, adding pieces to not only change the look of a space, but elevate the vibration of it.

What are your success habits?

My success habits… stay focused, practice self care/make time for myself and my family, work a lot 🙂

What has been your biggest failure in business and what did it teach you?

I opened a gift shop about 9 years ago. Not only was it poor timing, I did not have a handle on the everyday operations. My kids were little so I thought the employees would run it and that I did not have to know how to do everything. I closed it within a year, before it really had a chance. This time around I am fully engaged and committed to all day to day operations and keeping open communication with our employees.

What drives you on the most challenging days?

Sharks. They represent the need to always be moving forward or they will die. I have one tattoo’d on my arm, they are great motivators.

How do you define success?

I define success through happiness and contentment. Monetary success is what makes you try so hard, but it’s important to love what you do. It is not always easy and some days it gets very overwhelming, but if you are content and at peace, then you will reap the rewards of hard work. I can’t imagine putting this kind of effort into something that I didn’t have my heart in.

What is next for your business?

We are looking to expand so that we have a place to display our larger pieces, as we are helping clients find commercial and residential pieces. We are also going to offer classes and workshops on crystals, crystal healing, sound healing and other energy work. Stay tuned! 

What is one piece of advice you’d give someone considering starting their own business?

Being financially ready to start a business is crucial. Also, fully commit.

Looking back at your journey, is there anything you’d change?

Failures are epic and are necessary to learn. So no, I would not change anything.

If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing?

If I wanted to be doing something else, then I would.

What is the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome on the road to having your own business?

The biggest obstacle, which is a constant struggle, is balancing personal time and work. It’s easier to justify an 18 hour work day than it is not to.

What do you struggle with most as an entrepreneur?

Biggest struggle is time management and wanting to open a thousand other shops!

What’s your favorite way to describe entrepreneurship?

Favorite way to describe entrepreneurship is having the opportunity to be the one responsible for the successes and failures.

What is your most memorable experience as an entrepreneur?

Most memorable experience as an entrepreneur is this past year. Retail has become more challenging and opening a new shop four weeks before we had to close for COVID seemed insurmountable. Also, being a business in town gives you a public platform which I used as a hub for mask making and donating them to the hospital and local businesses. We did not have our e-commerce site up at that point so we pivoted to Instagram selling. All of these experiences contribute to our success today.

What is the single most important reason for your success?

Single, most important reason for my success is that I love what I do.

How can people find you?

• Our location: 4 Elm St in Morristown, NJ
• Instagram: @therockboxlife
• Facebook: The Rock Box Life
• TikTok: @therockboxlife
• Our website: therockboxlife.com