There is a new store in the center of Woodstock, Vermont, by the name of Woody's Mercantile! It is a beautiful shop with a little bit of everything focusing on artisan products, from home decor to clothes to gifts. This is a brick and mortar retail store formed and curated by the owner Suzi who has put so much love into this shop that you can feel it when you walk in and peruse different displays with delight. When you get a chance, pop into Woody’s Mercantile and pick up a fun Christmas ornament and a gift for your friend or family members! Here's their website to view some of their products. For more information, you can check out their Facebook page www.facebook.com/woodysmercantilevt/.

My job has allowed me to be in beautiful shops and see different ways to sell goods.  When we would attend sales meetings, we would always carve out time to explore new stores - California has some really great shops, especially coastal boutiques and surf shops.

I would return from those trips and want to help my retailers by teaching them new ways to display and merchandise.  With the changing of the times, retailers can no longer just sell a bunch of expensive jackets on a rounder and expect them to disappear.  You have to create an environment and an experience for them so customers want to buy from you and not on-line. 

At our trade shows, I would go to great lengths to set up our booths and show retailers how to display and give them ideas of props and things to make their store more interesting and more shop-able.  It was one of the highlights of my job and I knew that eventually, I would have my own store.

After traveling for 25 years, it was time to try something different.  My kids are at the age that I could invest my time in a new business.  My family has been very involved from the start - our girls have learned a lot about opening a business, how to work a POS system and working with customers.   My husband, well, retail is not his comfort zone but he has been an integral part in the store behind the scenes - he hauls furniture, recycles cardboard cleans the bathrooms, assembles products, and sets up the technology.   Our dogs are product testers.  I couldn’t do any of this without my family, friends and store manager, Deb Butler.  Yes, I’m tethered a bit after having a flexible schedule for so long but it is so nice to be home at night and not in some hotel room.  It also feels so good to be a part of a community.

A: I wanted a lifestyle store, a “mercantile” that has a bit of everything in it.  The shop is very small - only about 700 square feet but I wanted to make it a gift store, a home decor store, a clothing, and accessories store, items for kids, and of course, a pet store.  A place where people will want to visit often to see the new items and enjoy shopping - a true retail therapy experience.  I get most excited when a customer comes in and says, “I just finished a project and I’m rewarding myself with a visit to your store.”  Others say they need a ‘dose of happy’.


Q: How has it been to design the inside of your store to set off your products? And what is it like now?

The store was then filled with antique, industrial furniture to use as displays.  I’m always moving things around so it feels different whenever customers come back to visit.

Q: What is unique about your business?

Our shop curates a lot of lifestyle products that you don’t normally see in big box stores. What is also unique is that it is difficult to find small, brick, and mortar retailers.  I think we’ll survive because we are in a tourist town and shopping is a part of the experience when visiting Woodstock.

Q: What is your mission and goal for Woody's Mercantile?

A: My mission is to have fun fulfilling this dream and to create a store that people will enjoy and want to visit often. The goal for Woody’s?  I’d like to say there will be a few Woody’s stores someday but for now, I’m happy with what I’ve got.