It has been just over a month since the bookstore and toy shop Kotoi closed its doors on Labeaga street in Urretxu. The venture, which Sandra Rodríguez started in September 2023, ultimately saw its closure decided on March 31st. "I've had wonderful customers during this time and I'll take many memories from this experience, especially friendships. Some people, along with me, shed a tear or two in my final days at the shop, and I found great colleagues at Bi-Tartean," the young woman shared.
"However, it is truly difficult to keep a business afloat when you start from scratch, renting or buying a property that isn't yours, and bearing all the expenses and conditions of being self-employed. It takes a lot to counteract all of that, and in my assessment, it wasn't worth it," explained Rodríguez. During this brief period, she served as president of Bi-Tartean for a year and was a board member for two years. She also won second prize in the 2023 Christmas window display contest for Urretxu and Zumarraga, organized various craft workshops in her store and at Bi-Tartean events, and even had a stall at the recent Santa Lucía fair.
She had always liked the idea of working in a stationery shop. When her mother-in-law, Marijo Elorza, mentioned that one of her close friends, Kizkitza Yurrebaso, the owner of the historic Aitxu store in Urretxu, was retiring, the young woman decided to take over the establishment and presented her project to Kizkitza. Although there were several offers, Sandra's idea was the one that most appealed to the owner of Aitxu. She then set to work, adding her personal touch to the premises, introducing craft workshops that she initially ran for children and later offered to adults, and actively participated in local commerce initiatives.
"The time I've had the shop has allowed me to meet fellow business owners whom I had previously only interacted with as a customer. Over these years, I've learned so much from them. Urretxu and Zumarraga have very determined and high-caliber merchants who have evolved at an incredible pace," she commented about her colleagues in the sector.
Preparing for the civil servant exam. Proactive and driven, she is currently studying to take the exam to become a hospital orderly (celadora) with Osakidetza on June 20th. Next year, she plans to pursue a vocational degree in nursing assistance at the J.M. Iparragirre institute. At 30 years old, she has a broad and dynamic work experience. Sandra is a socio-cultural and tourist animator, having worked in various roles, including as part of a therapy group at the GSR nursing home in Aretxabaleta. She also worked as a monitor and animator at the popular adventure park Irisarri Land in Igantzi (Navarra) and taught English for a period.
"If I could have, I would have continued with Kotoi," admits Sandra. "I tried until the very last day because I loved the profession and my customers too. But my family opened my eyes; it wasn't sustainable, and with great regret, I made the necessary decision," she stated, expressing gratitude to everyone she shared these three and a half years at the shop with. "I lived a very special chapter of my life with them," she affirmed.
