Meet Chandra Greer

Chandra is owner of Greer, a stationery store and website based in Chicago. A former advertising executive she founded her business out of a desire to promote civility, appreciation and beauty. She is a wife and mother of two. She has an MBA from the University of Chicago which she uses from time to time.

Q+A

What do you hate?

I’m not a fan of complaining, especially about what can’t be changed, e.g. the weather. Also, people on public transportation who don’t offer their seat to standing children, pregnant women, the elderly, people carrying a lot of stuff,etc. They deserve copious amounts of side eye at the very least. Am I
complaining?

What is your favorite song?

I have two. “In My Life” by the Beatles because it always makes me think of my husband with whom I’ve had a 35-year love affair – we met when we were both 21 when I was waiting tables and he was bussing them. The other is Ludacris’ “Get Back.” On it’s face it’s profanity-loaded gangster rap but to me it’s about standing up to someone intruding negatively into your positive space – “Why you all in my ear, talkin’ a whole bunch of s**t that I ain’t tryin’ to hear … you don’t know me like THAT.”  From countries to individuals, if we would just let people who aren’t hurting anyone or the planet go about their lives without trying to criticize, taunt or kill them we would eliminate 75% of the world’s problems. Also, Tom Cruise as Les Grossman dancing to it at the end of “Tropic Thunder” is my everything.

A little known fact about yourself?

I had a hard time answering this because I avoid putting my business in the
street/bragging, which my mother instilled in me, but since you asked …

I have freakish strength and stamina. I take Body Pump regularly and am usually out-working and out-lifting ladies half my age (and a few men, too.)

I’ve traveled to 80 countries, most of them with two kids in tow. My favorites are Japan, New Zealand and Namibia.

I drove a cab in college (pre-pre-pre Uber) to pay for school. Those poor
passengers.

If you had to change careers what would you want to do?

I love what I do but if I had to change careers, I’d be a DJ.  No question about it. When I was in high school I’d put together little mix tapes before mix tapes were a thing. I went to college in Ann Arbor and the radio stations there and in Detroit were fantastic; progressive and a little bit moody, sparking my interest in exploring music across all genres and levels of popularity. One of my favorite things to do now is create our store playlist which currently includes Michael Jackson singing “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” in French and Liza Minnelli’s “Losing My Mind” as produced by Julian Mendelsohn and the Pet Shop Boys.

What is the world missing?

More intellectual curiosity, greater tolerance for different points of
view/people/places and less criticism of red carpet dresses.

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Photo Credit: Jamie Kelter Davis Photography