WHERE COLLECTING MEETS COMMUNITY

By Brooke Ebersole

When Tracey Girard moved to Gahanna more than 30 years ago, she wasn’t planning on starting her business here. In fact, she wasn’t planning on starting a business at all.

“I knew I would love to have my own business, but for years I struggled to put all the pieces together” said Tracy Girard, owner of Collective Home Supply Co., Gahanna’s newest retail addition. “I would casually look at places all over. But after meeting the community of people and other business owners here, it was so easy to snowball it from there. I knew then I wouldn’t have a store unless it could be in Gahanna.”

When a space finally opened in Gahanna that met her vision, Collective Home Supply Co. was born. The shop features a variety of crafted products made by local artisans such as pottery, jewelry, clothing and artwork, as well as custom furniture that is handmade locally by Girard’s husband. Her husband Jeff owns a furniture shop called Left Hand Wood Company, and many pieces he has crafted are on display on the shop floor. While Girard supplies a lot of the plants and vintage items, other local artists work is also on display and for sale within the shop. Several local vintage dealers also sell and display their finds within the store.

Due to space confinement, Girard has to be mindful of the number of artists and amount of art she can display at once. However, in just a few weeks, she already has developed a catalog of vendors to feature in the coming months.

“I never thought I’d have a waiting list for vendors,” Girard said. “The connection of the business community in Gahanna, and the way people pass information along, really has been such a help to me.”

One of the other fun and surprising features of the store is the collection of unique plants that are available for sale, along with a variety of do-it-yourself plant stations, where patrons can do everything from pot a plant to make their own terrariums.

“I didn’t necessarily plan those stations with kids in mind,” Girard explained. “But it makes the kids so happy to do it, so I keep stocking them.”

In addition to advertising with a sandwich board and balloons on the front lawn, Girard has taken to social media to generate engagement about her new home goods store.

“This is often how it goes!” Girard wrote in an Instagram caption of a timelapse video of her organizing the shop floor. “Styling a store can take more time in a week than any other part of running the business. But what fun (and backbreaking) it is!”

Even with the use of social media, videos and photos to highlight her brand, Girard cited the network of other shops and small businesses in Gahanna as the biggest aid to her growth.

“Living [in Gahanna] allowed me to call other shop owners up and ask questions,” Girard said. “It helps me shape ideas for potential classes to offer, and idea-share within the community. I can ask ‘do you think people would like it if…’ and plan it that way.”

Girard also credited the connectivity of small businesses within the Gahanna community for supporting her and prompting new customers to visit her store.

“I ask everyone [in Gahanna] for their advice and I’ve found that they always give it,” Girard said. “They’ve all been so helpful, and they’re always happy to refer customers to a neighboring shop!”

Collective Home Supply is located at 166 Granville St. They can also be found online at www.CollectiveHomeSupplyCo.Info, on Facebook @Collective Home Supply Co and on Instagram @CollectiveHomeSupplyCo.