Setting up a shop was a girlhood dream of mine. It probably began with my toy cash register; that cheerful centerpiece of many a pop-up business. Scratch-n-sniff paper ice cream cones, anyone? It certainly grew in charm with each viewing of Meg Ryan’s “Shop Around the Corner” . . . “don’t you just love New York in the fall?” It undoubtedly was reaffirmed by the adorable old-world shops in Columbia State Historic Park, the former gold rush town in Sonora California that we visited every summer on our way to Pinecrest Lake.
Rows of domed-glass jars brimming with sparkling, jewel-toned rock candy that made the eyes pop and the cheeks tighten─
Hand-dipped lavender candles draped from uncut wicks, like the smooth, velvety fringe of a giant parasol─
Porcelain teacups serving up fantasies of white-lace gloves along with sweet and spicy posies of loose-leaf tea─
Five-sense memories have an enchanting way of setting up shop in a child’s soul.
Many a time I’ve thought of opening a shop since. Oh, how I’d love to have a book shop, or a tea house, or better yet, a joint “Books & Brews.” I could spend a lifetime in such a place. And what could be better than making lovely things to share with lovely faces?
But the smiling idea of a Mom-and-Pop-Shop is quickly dampened by a frowning reality. By the time I were to buy a shop (if I ever got that far), renovate it, stock the shelves, hire help, advertise the grand opening, pay the taxes (need I go on?), could there be any hope of the little storefront keeping its black awning, or would it undoubtedly bleed to red on the first rainy day?
Sadly, for my Columbia-grown soul, internet shopping simply can’t be beat for the rent. And if I’m woefully honest, as much as I love to look in those darling little shops, my nostalgia doesn’t usually take me as far as the register. How often have I seen some darling item, poised to perfection in a shop window, taken a picture on my phone, driven home, and ordered it online for half the price?
In Mr. Elton fashion, I . . . “may talk sentimentally, but will act rationally.”
And yet, so missed has been the personal touch of the Mom or Pop to our generation, that the internet has had to make way for the little-shops-around-the-corners of the web to sprout up even in such unlikely, tech-driven terrain.
Who among us does not love to venture out of that virtual super store even just for a few minutes to browse the through-the-looking-glass shelves of some fantastic Etsy shop? Here is where the craftsmen (the keepers of the handmade, creative, and charming) live on into the modern day.
And so, my girlhood daydream has finally stepped into the 21st century and is becoming, virtually, a reality. Thanks to the wonders of technology (I must concede), I can “stock my shelves” with my own original and unique products that my window-shopping friends can easily and affordably take home with the click of a button. No renovations, hiring, or dressing for work required. Cue confetti.
Yes, my very own Etsy shop featuring my digital products is soon to launch, but I want to share with you today the WHOLESALE SHOP I’ve added directly to our website! This is where I will offer my products to our friends and followers (you!) without any additional fees or taxes. There’s a perk of the digital age I can get on board with.
So, it is with a fancied tinkle of a bell that I welcome you into my brand new, old-world-inspired shop. I only wish I could offer you a complimentary lemon drop on the way out.
Yes, we’re open! Welcome to. . .
Thanks for dropping by the homestead!
Love, ~Candace Arden~
