Today we’d like to introduce you to Leiko Bergers.
Leiko, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I didn’t set out to open a boutique Mirthy Emporium really grew out of a lifelong thread of creativity, healing, and connection.
My background is actually pretty layered. I studied interior design and have always been surrounded by art and visual storytelling. I later spent many years working for the U.S. government as a yoga therapist and body language specialist, focusing on human behavior, resilience, and how people reconnect with themselves. Through all of that, I learned that spaces just like people carry energy, intention, and emotion.
Retail found me in a more heart-led way. Years ago, I worked on window and seasonal displays for Anthropologie in South Florida, and that experience made me fall in love with the magic of creating environments that make people feel something the moment they walk in. That idea stayed with me.
Mirthy Emporium was born from a desire to create a space that feels personal, grounding, and welcoming a place where old things, handmade pieces, stones, art, plants, and meaningful objects come together with purpose. I’ve always believed that what we surround ourselves with should tell a story and support how we want to feel in our lives.
What started small has evolved into a luxury boho boutique rooted in intention, creativity, and community. Along the way, I’ve blended many parts of my life healing work, art, vintage finds, handmade products like my candles and Mirthy Water, and a deep appreciation for objects with history.
Today, Mirthy Emporium is more than a shop. It’s a space where people come to slow down, feel inspired, and reconnect whether that’s through a stone that speaks to them, a conversation, a workshop, or simply the feeling they get when they walk through the door.
In many ways, the journey here wasn’t linear, but every chapter led naturally to this one.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road but I think that’s true for most meaningful journeys. Building Mirthy Emporium has required a lot of resilience, faith, and learning as I go. I started without a traditional retail roadmap, so much of the process has been self-taught, from bookkeeping and inventory to branding and business strategy.
There have been challenges that many small business owners face financial uncertainty, growing pains, and the constant balance between creativity and sustainability. Moving into a new space, funding growth, and wearing every hat in the business have all pushed me outside my comfort zone.
On a personal level, balancing entrepreneurship with family life and real-world responsibilities has also been part of the journey. But those challenges have shaped the heart of the shop. They’ve taught me to slow down, stay intentional, and build something rooted in authenticity rather than perfection.
In many ways, the struggles are what gave Mirthy Emporium its depth turning it into not just a store, but a space built on perseverance, creativity, and community.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Mirthy Emporium, my work centers around curating meaningful experiences through objects and atmosphere. I specialize in blending vintage finds, crystals, plants, handmade goods, and artisan pieces into a space that feels intentional and deeply personal. Every item is chosen not just for how it looks, but for how it makes someone feel whether that’s grounded, inspired, nostalgic, or seen.
I’m especially known for creating an environment that feels welcoming and layered, where people can slow down and explore at their own pace. My background in behavioral studies, yoga therapy, and design naturally influences how the shop is arranged; the space is meant to be immersive rather than transactional. Many visitors tell me they feel a sense of calm or connection the moment they walk in, and that’s something I’m incredibly proud of.
What sets Mirthy Emporium apart is that it isn’t built around trends. It’s built around story, energy, and authenticity. I create many of the products myself including candles and Mirthy Water room spray and I intentionally mix old and new pieces to encourage people to see beauty and meaning in objects with history.
More than anything, I’m proud that the shop has become a community space. It’s a place where people feel comfortable being themselves, discovering creativity, and forming genuine connections. Creating that sense of belonging has always been the true goal behind the work.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Favorite childhood memory…
It’s hard to choose just one, because memories don’t live as single moments they live as feelings. Mine feels like warm afternoons that lasted forever, imagination turning ordinary places into entire worlds, and the comfort of knowing someone was always nearby even when I was off exploring.
I remember slowing down without being told to. Collecting little treasures. Listening to stories that felt bigger than life. The kind of days where time didn’t matter and curiosity led everything.
Maybe that’s why I still hold onto small beautiful things now — stones, objects, moments — because they remind me of that younger version of myself who saw magic everywhere.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Mirthygrandhaven.com
- Instagram: Mirthy_grandhaven
- Facebook: Mirthy grand haven
