Meet Tim Viveiros
Written by Megan Johnson
Tim Viveiros
Hails from: Dartmouth, MA
Hidden talent: Sewing machine repair
Go-to Burgeon product: The Sunseeker Hoodie
Currently watching: The X-Files
Favorite spot in the Whites: The Basin, year-round
Recent adventure: Experiencing the total solar eclipse
Life-long interest that’s having a moment: Photography
Past lives: Tourism, E-Commerce, Bookselling, Recreation Management
Favorite food: Chocolate, unequivocally
Tim has been with Burgeon for close to two years now, and it’s hard to say where we’d be without him. Quickly orienting himself to the retail side of things, in short order he started wrapping his head around general operations, events, process improvements, and even sewing machine repairs. His perennial curiosity, affability, and adaptability have made him particularly well-suited to his dynamic role as Burgeon’s Director of Operations, and I know I speak for the whole team when I say he’s a cornerstone of the Burgeon community.
Tim has been in northern New Hampshire for just a little longer than he’s been with Burgeon, but he’s in the North Country for the long haul. We recently kicked back at our local park on an early spring day to talk about a day in the life of managing a small, locally-minded business, what keeps life joyful and fresh, and what’s near and dear to him these days.
Tim, you’ve been in northern New Hampshire for just a few years now. How’d you end up here?
I started coming up here from Southcoast MA as a kid, and I’ve always loved the peace, the quiet, and the wildlife of the north. I also got into outdoor activities with the Boy Scouts at that time; although I’ve spent most of my life in southern Massachusetts and managed to find and enjoy some forest and wilds there, nothing compares to the remoteness of the White Mountain region, and I’ve always been drawn here.
A few years ago I decided to follow that pull and take a chance; I sold my house, quit my job, and moved to northern Vermont just over the Connecticut River with no real plan other than to see where life took me. I spent a summer on the water and the trails, and learned how to take a deep breath and enjoy some rest after leaving a job that had me “on” just about 24/7. I really enjoyed that summer.
Eventually Burgeon came across my radar; as I researched and learned about it I knew it was the kind of business I wanted to be a part of. Instead of applying online I came in with my resume and had a conversation with Rudy...and here we are!
Cool! And where is that? Tell us about your role with Burgeon right now.
As Director of Operations, my main goal is to make sure that Burgeon operates as smoothly and efficiently as possible. I get to use a lot of different tools in my toolbox to achieve that, and this role has even given me the chance to develop some new skills. For example, I’ve always been mechanically inclined, and in the past year and a half I’ve applied those skills to learn how to fix sewing machines.
In a typical week, I staff and oversee our storefront and customer service, manage product inventory, inventory and order all kinds of production and retail supplies, and travel to our studio in Gorham to transport supplies and apparel back and forth and to keep in touch with our team up there. Of course on a small team we’re wearing a lot of hats, so I also help with or manage events, and collaborate on all kinds of marketing, engagement, and design and production strategies.
Can you tell us more about sewing machine repair? That seems like a pretty rare skill set.
I like to problem solve and I’m very hands-on; I work on my car, and as a kid I would take things apart and put them back together. At Burgeon we have a number of different kinds of machines and not a lot of back-ups of each — for example, until recently we had only one flatlock machine at each location, and we use it to make seven different products, including some of our most popular products like the Flume and Sunseeker collections. So when a machine goes down, if we have to wait weeks for a specialist to come in from out of state to fix it, it can have significant repercussions for our production schedule, which impacts our plans for marketing, promotion, events, and so on. So with that motivation and with my mechanical, hands-on background, it makes sense that this is something I’ve started to figure out. I’ve learned that sewing machines are simple and complex at the same time, and while there’s a lot that I can do at this point, I’m certainly not a specialist. Some stitches involve seven or eight or more parts in motion at once, and we do have to call in Mario, who is a specialist, for some of that stuff. And Mario has been great about letting me watch and learn from him.
What’s been exciting or memorable in your life recently?
About fifteen years ago, I abandoned a climb up Mount Eisenhower just below treeline. I realized I was underprepared for the conditions and knew I was making the right decision, but I still felt defeated at the time. Last summer, I was having a hard day and really needed a challenge to push through. I made a game-day plan and headed to Eisenhower, and had plenty of time to enjoy the summit and soak it all in. It was exactly what I needed and it felt really good to finish it, to know that it was still there for me fifteen years later.
Also, I took a trip to Iceland this winter, and it was incredible. I walked out onto this massive and ancient glacier, soaked in natural hot springs, and saw the northern lights twice.
I also watched the total solar eclipse on the 8th from northern Vermont, and it was kind of life changing. I can feel a before and after that I’m still making sense of. These things give me such a sense of wonder for the world, and I want to experience as much of that as possible. I’ve been to this place in Tennessee where the fireflies flash in sync, I’ve seen a colony of bats fly out of a cave in New Mexico at the start of their annual migration; all these experiences have felt like such powerful opportunities to take a break from everyday life and reset. They satisfy a strong curiosity in me, but they also humble me, bring me down to earth, and make me feel small. In a good way, it’s a great feeling.
What’s been great about being at Burgeon?
Hands down, the people I’ve met. The business attracts good people, staff and customers alike, who love the outdoors and want to make a difference in the local community. It’s been such a positive thing for me, having moved here in my thirties, to find my way to Burgeon and to the friendships and connections I’ve been building here.
What’s keeping you busy outside of work these days?
Photography, which is a life-long love that I’m making my way back to. I love that I can look at this tree, at anything, a thousand different ways and capture it a thousand different ways, and then share that vision with others. And you can imagine and see the world through other people’s eyes in their photographs. It feels like a very personal thing, actually, but one that I’ve been excited to start to share more.
What makes the Sunseeker Hoodie your go-to?
I have that thing in four colors, and I’ll definitely get it in the next two colors coming out this season. It’s designed for sun protection in very hot weather, and it excels at that, but also; I’ve never worn another piece of clothing, especially a long-sleeve, that’s comfortable in such a wide range of weather. I joke with Rudy but it’s true; if the temp is anything above thirty five, my Sunseeker’s gonna be on. (Author’s note: Can confirm.)
What’s ahead for you, Tim?
I wish I knew! In a general sense, happiness and trying to live a fulfilling life. I know that life is full of the unexpected, but I also know that happiness isn’t a goal or a destination, it’s not like, “when this next thing happens, I will be happy.” Happiness is just the journey, sometimes there are setbacks and things don’t go the way you expect or want them to, but I always try to come back to the journey and remember what matters to me, remember to connect with people and to do the other things that bring me joy. At the end of the day that’s the only thing I really have to answer to. That’s my focus right now, and it always has been.
Well said, Tim. Thanks for chatting, and good luck with the upcoming summer season!