A Unique Shopping Experience at Mulberry Market

BY MARY MICHAELS | PHOTOS BY JULIE PRAIRIE PHOTOGRAPHY

Hours: Monday – Closed

Whenyou’re looking for some new home decor, or perhaps a gift for a special occasion, it’s not unusual to make several stops while you’re out shopping for just the right thing.

Two local business owners set out to make that task easier - and more fun - by opening Mulberry Market.

Meghan Andersen and Jaime Meyer came up with this concept together and now provide a home to more than 30 small businesses all under one roof. Each had her own business prior to opening Mulberry Market. Andersen created Tiny Sparrow Designs, a custom apparel and home décor business, and Meyer founded Mimi’s Boutique, which features children’s clothing and accessories.

“We recognized that there were many small, local businesses like ours that offered unique products,” Andersen says. “It’s not easy to go out on your own and find a space, pay rent and so forth. So, we wanted to bring small businesses together to support each other as a community.”

Meyer agrees that the community feeling at Mulberry Market is one of the biggest rewards they have experienced since opening in November 2022.

“By coming together, we can support each other and share ideas,” Meyer explains. “All businesses have questions about what products they should sell or how they can communicate with customers. Here, we have the opportunity to brainstorm daily with each other to ensure that we’re meeting the needs of all the vendors plus our customers.”

The owners say they didn’t want just a generic name for the space, but rather, they wanted something meaningful. Mulberry Market is inspired by the mulberry tree, which they say symbolizes many things that small businesses can relate to - patience, nurturing, growth and happiness.

The shopping experience is a sensory overload, but in the best possible way. You can find a wide array of hand-crafted and refinished furniture, hand made soaps and candles, doll clothes, items for your furry friends, handmade quilts and so much more.

And, to ensure you can keep your energy up while shopping, you can even treat yourself to cotton candy or other homemade treats.

It’s inspiring to see the creativity and the drive of the vendors, the owners say, because most of them started out the same way in their basements or garages. Many of the vendors have often traveled to area fairs and festivals to showcase their specialty creations. By having a steady home at Mulberry Market, though, it gives the businesses the peace of mind that they have a consistent presence while still being able to go out to craft shows or other events if they wish.

The owners say the response from their initial opening last year has been tremendous, and they often have a waiting list of businesses that want to join the Mulberry Market community. They invite anyone interested in the space to reach out, though, because they do have space open up from time to time.

Be sure to follow Mulberry Marketing on social media for product and event updates. It’s not too early to start thinking about holiday shopping!