It's easy for Ye Olde Clock Shoppe owner Viki Watsonto count the number of employees she has.
Though she also uses contractors, Watson, 52, is both the store's owner and its only employee.
She bought the clock repair and sales shop, at 6342 N. Oracle Road, through a business broker five years ago. She said she doesn't know much about the store's beginning except that it has been in business since 1976.
It celebrated its 30th birthday last year.
Waitressing taught her how to multitask, Watson said, and for the only employee, multitasking is the name of the game.
Amid ticking and chiming clocks, she regularly juggles manning the front desk with repairing clocks and other items such as wind-up musical dolls.
In addition to her own repair work, Watson regularly uses seven contractors for specialty jobs, such as antique-clock repair, and as help around the store.
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Treating these people with respect is her key to success as a small-business owner, she said.
"I think the bottom line is I've got really good people who work for me — people who care — and I respect them," she said.
Customer April Whitaker, 42, said she wouldn't trust anyone but Watson with her watches.
Whitaker brought a watch from Ireland into the shop last week and wanted Watson to do some minor work on it.
"I know she does wonderful work and will take care of it," she said.
Many of the clocks people bring in for repair are family heirlooms, and Watson said she often sees tears in her shop when returned clocks work again and bring back memories.
One customer brought in a wristwatch that his brother had worn as a soldier in Iraq.
The watch came back, but the man's brother didn't. It had been badly damaged, but Watson insisted that her contractor fix the watch whatever the cost. She charged the customer only the contractor's fee and did not take any profit herself, she said.
Though most of Ye Olde Clock Shoppe's business is repair work, the store also has a wide selection of clocks and other items like jewelry for sale.
Watson will turn anything from an airplane propeller to a plate into a clock.
For $40, game fans can buy a clock she made from a Scrabble board complete with words spelled out in tiles.
Watson's favorite clock in the store is a German grandfather clock from around 1880. This antique is on consignment and priced at $4,850.
The rundown
● Ye Olde Clock Shoppe, 6342 N Oracle Road, is open Mondays through Fridays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information, call 544-4014.
