Season 2
If visibility is up but jobs are inconsistent, your pipeline is leaking.
Start with the Pipeline Profit Inspection. It pinpoints where Google visibility drops before booked work — and the fix order that matters.
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Guest: Libby Tobey
Organization: Pop Cycle
Location: Tucson, Arizona
Category: Local Retail / Arts & Maker Community
In this episode of Two Lane Tucson, Libby Tobey of Pop Cycle shares how one of Fourth Avenue’s most recognizable independent shops first came to life and how it grew from a practical need for studio space into a long-running Tucson retail fixture.
Libby explains that Pop Cycle began in 2008 when DeeDee Koenen, Shannon Riggs, and Jen Radler needed room to make their products and found a storefront that gave them both workspace and a place to sell directly to the public.
The conversation explores how the shop evolved from an eco-focused retail concept into a home for more than 100 local artists and makers, with most of the inventory still coming from Tucson creators.
Libby also talks about what it actually takes to keep a creative retail business going on Fourth Avenue — from construction disruptions to changing buying habits, online competition, and the major pivot required during COVID.
This episode looks at why local shops still matter, how creative businesses help preserve the identity of a city, and why Pop Cycle continues to be part of Tucson’s cultural fabric after 17 years.
Pop Cycle is an independent Tucson shop on Fourth Avenue featuring goods from more than 100 local artists and makers, along with products made in-house by the shop’s founders.
The store has become known for its mix of handmade goods, local art, jewelry, prints, apparel, gifts, and a distinctly Tucson feel rooted in creativity, sustainability, and community connection.
Learn more about Pop Cycle here: Pop Cycle .
Michelle Conklin | Tucson Botanical Gardens
Fourth Avenue has long been one of Tucson’s best-known corridors for independent retail, historic storefronts, and creative small businesses. Pop Cycle operates inside a roughly 125-year-old building in that district, placing it inside one of the city’s older commercial areas.
The shop reflects a side of Tucson that residents and visitors often look for on purpose: locally made goods, independent artists, and businesses with a distinct identity that cannot be replicated by chain retail.
If you’re visible but revenue feels unpredictable, the issue is often not traffic — it’s pipeline friction.
The Pipeline Profit Inspection shows exactly what’s limiting calls and booked work (and what to fix next). Delivered asynchronously (Loom + written summary). No sales call required.
Learn more about the Pipeline Profit Inspection.
Below is a readable transcript excerpt from the conversation. Minor edits were made for clarity.
Elaine: So Pop Cycle has been part of the Fourth Avenue scene for years now. How did the shop first come to life?
Libby: In 2008, DeeDee Koenen and Shannon Riggs of DDco Design, along with their partner Jen Radler of Monster Booty Threads, needed studio space. This space came available with a storefront on Fourth Avenue, so they moved in and opened in just a few days.
Elaine: When you first opened, what was the original idea behind the store and what did you want it to be?
Libby: The original idea was to sell DDco and Monster Booty, but also other sustainable goods. We wanted the space to be eco-friendly and to give them a place to build their products in back while also having a small storefront.
Elaine: Why did this location make sense for Pop Cycle?
Libby: Being in a historic neighborhood with an arts and entertainment feel made it seem natural. The family also had roots in this building years ago, so there was history here as well.
Elaine: A lot of what you sell comes from artists and makers. How do you decide what makes it onto the shelves?
Libby: Over time we realized how important it was to support local artists, local printers, and local sourcing. That strengthens the community, and that became a bigger part of how we think about the shop.
Elaine: From the outside, it looks like a fun shop full of cool things. But behind the scenes it’s still a business. What does a normal week actually look like?
Libby: Every day is different. We carry over 110 local artists, so there’s checking work in, connecting with makers, helping customers, handling surprises, and constantly pivoting like any small business does.
Elaine: How much of the store is local Tucson artists versus things sourced from elsewhere?
Libby: I’d say over 90% is local.
Elaine: Have there been moments where you honestly wondered if the shop would survive?
Libby: Yes. When COVID happened, we weren’t sure. We were closed, and we had to build the website together with our artists. Not one artist pulled their work out. They stayed, and we built through it together.
Elaine: Why does a physical shop like Pop Cycle still work?
Libby: People want something handmade. They want to know who made it, where it came from, and hear the story behind it. That connection is something you can’t really get by shopping online.
Elaine: For someone who’s never visited Pop Cycle before, what would you tell them they’ll find when they walk through the door?
Libby: A treasure trove of over a hundred local artists, things made in the back of the shop, and usually something for everyone — from postcards and buttons to fine art, jewelry, and home goods.