Evolution of Jazzy SuSu - the name & the soul

With the name Susan Stone, I’ve collected quite a few nicknames over the years: Suzy, Suzy Q, Susie Q Sunflower, Suzy Q Texas, Stoner, Stoner Woman—and yes, I’ve even been called Sharon Stone ever since the actress rose to fame. But my very first nickname is the one dearest to me, because I gave it to myself. When I was just two years old and couldn’t quite pronounce Susan, so I called myself SuSu—and it stuck.

All the neighborhood kids called me SuSu until I was about four. I’ll never forget one boy named Sam, who seemed to take joy in pestering me. If he pulled my hair or grabbed at me, my only defense was to try and bite him. Of course, he’d run off yelling, “SuSu bites!” and the parents would come rushing over. No matter how much I tried to explain that Sam had started it, I always ended up the one in trouble—for being the biter, not the bitten.

Since my family still calls me SuSu, I love the sweet nickname from childhood that always makes me feel at home. But the way Jazzy SuSu became my store name happened much more recently—and quite by chance.

After losing my paralegal job, I took on a hostess role at a restaurant. One afternoon when I was on break, a waitress brought her dog, Suzy, up to the patio and introduced her with flair: “This is Jazzy Sue.” I laughed and said, “Well, I’m a Jazzy Sue too—together, we’re Jazzy SuSu.”

The phrase popped into my head and instantly felt right. “Jazzy” captured everything I wanted my brand to be—vintage, cool, and full of personality—while SuSu made it personal. That happy accident became the heart of my shop’s name.