About Us

VERA AUVIL, OWNER

VERA’S STORY

God blesses everyone, sometimes the smart and even the ignorant.  Of course, being blessed, having a thankful heart and being surrounded by good people also help.

Vera Auvil, owner of Auvil’s Sweet Nothings, the number one vendor-based store in the Coastal Bend, knows this better than most anyone. 

Blessings have played a large role in shaping Vera’s life and especially the concept of her retail life.

“I know I have been blessed in becoming the person I am today, even in the early years,” Vera explains.  “I was an orphan in Korea as an Amerasian, not knowing my true mother or father and being an outcast in that society.   Luckily, I was sent to a Christian orphanage.   When I was three years old I was adopted by a couple from Argentina, but before the adoption went through the couple made an under-the-table payment to adopt a boy instead.   I was then adopted by a couple from the United States who had also wanted a boy, but got me instead.   I now see all this as a blessing because only in America can someone achieve what I have today.”

Good fortune also came into her life when she met and married Bill Auvil, who became a Navy pilot and was assigned to Texas while he served in the Navy.  Later, he retired and became an airline pilot and they continued to live in the area.  During this time she became an associate of Sister Sue’s Antiques and Uniques in Corpus Christi.

“I had absolutely no retail experience,” Vera remembers, “but with help from so many people who had that experience, I learned fast.   My previous retail experience was contributing to the area economy by shopping for so many ‘sweet nothings’ as Bill called them.”

When her husband died unexpectedly, Vera says even that played a major part in her life.  After the shock of Bill dying at such a young age, Vera was forced to step up and make some important decisions.

Bill had always told Vera she would be great at retail and should open a store someday.  Vera decided the time was now right to purchase Sister Sue’s and rename it Auvil’s Sweet Nothings.

“I wanted Auvil in the name as a tribute to my family and I chose Sweet Nothings because Bill used that term frequently regarding the items that I would buy,” Vera explains.  “I hope people will remember the ‘sweet’ and not the ‘nothings’ when they hear the name.  Maybe I should have named it Sweet Everythings,” she laughs.

With the help of her many talented associates and a lot of hard work Auvil’s Sweet Nothings has become the number one vender-based store in the Coastal Bend. 

 “That makes me proud,” Vera replies.  “Our goal is to see that every person who walks through our door has an enjoyable, fun shopping experience.”

Vera is currently expanding next door with a money saving concept of low prices on unique bargains in a second store named Auvil’s Attic.

SEE ALL OUR GREAT ASSOCIATES BY CLICKING HERE.