Cheryl Romano **Bridgette Shipley has opened Oceanography 101 store in downtown Yachats, a sister store to her 4-year-old business in Depoe Bay.**

YACHATS — You can’t study marine science at Yachats’ newest storefront, but you still might learn something at Oceanography 101.

That’s because owner Bridgette Shipley has dotted her new retail space along U.S. Highway 101 with small signs offering tidbits of sea life information — like “Jellyfish … are not fish. They have no brain, no heart, and no bones.”

They do have prominent places, though, on shelves of artist-designed clothing, home décor, jewelry and more at the new shop, which opened in late May.

Occupying the former space of The Laughing Crab Gallery, Oceanography 101 is a sister store of Shipley’s Depoe Bay business, which has been open for four years. Her Yachats store will be open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through the summer season and focuses on “products inspired by the sea … premium products that will last a long time,” says Shipley, who lives in Depoe Bay.

Some products — like the 4Ocean bracelets at the checkout desk — return a portion of purchase funds to ocean clean-up. Others, like reusable bamboo utensil sets and fabric bowl covers, help eliminate plastics use. There are furniture pieces made of recycled materials, and jewelry designed by Oregon artists using Oregon agates and jasper.

“The focus is on products that give back to the ocean, to the environment or to a cause, like animal welfare,” says Shipley.

“I like color and things that make you happy,” she adds, standing in the middle of her artfully-arranged displays. “I want my store to remind you you’re on vacation, or that you live in a beautiful space.”

Shipley chose Yachats because “I just love this area; it’s a beautiful town.” Although the store’s space was formerly for sale, she says the owner took it off the market and is now leasing it to her business.

With a degree in business administration from CalState-Sacramento, Shipley has a background in running resort-area stores in Squaw Valley and Aspen. She hopes to have a grand opening of the Yachats store in early July.

Although the store doesn’t have a phone number yet, Shipley urges those with questions to reach out through social media: Facebook (@Oceanography 101) or Instagram (Oceanography_101).