Meet Alysha Eckert

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alysha Eckert.

Hi Alysha, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story. 
I’ve always been super creative with a heart of an entrepreneur. Being self-motivated with wild ideas and being passionate about what I do has helped tremendously getting me to where I am today. I’ve always been over-the-top creative and a go-getter. I have a passion for creating things and design. The two paired are the most ideal match for owning a storefront. That’s what led me to open a handmade goods and gift shop, The Junk Drawer Mercantile. 

I started off selling items that I created from my home and moved up to selling at markets. You learn a lot about selling during these events. I also met a lot of people when setting up at these markets, which gave me a lot of connections and friendships I still have today. I started selling in storefronts soon after, which led to my next endeavor. 

I bought a travel trailer that my mom and I converted into a mini traveling storefront. We would set up at different events and sell product from local artisans alongside our own handmade items. I quickly learned how tiring preparing and setting up for these events really was, but it was a huge success. 

Within a year, I started to look into having my own shop. I think one of the biggest hurdles to any big entrepreneurial step are the questions “Who am I?” and “Am I good enough for this?” But I leaned into my faith and knew with both of my kids now in school full-time, it was a season of growth. Everything seemed to fall into place with my plan and finding a location. I now have a team of girls that help with the day-to-day running of the store and also with our larger events we host. 

The Junk Drawer Mercantile has a few guest vendor events each year that include shopping and activities. We also host workshops that include cookie decorating, succulent planting, candle making, and DIY sign parties. We also have live sales online and are able engage with a wider audience. 

Since opening in May of 2021, the store itself has grown so much. I’ve had the privilege of watching so many small businesses flourish and expand. The store is a home to roughly 45 small businesses that are able to showcase their skills and sell their handmade products. We sell a little bit of everything, such as apparel and accessories, home decor, self-care items, candles, and more. 

My main goal of the store has always been to encourage people to pursue what they are passionate about. I think I have continued to fulfill that goal and look forward to new opportunities each year. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I can honestly say it has been a semi-smooth ride. There are always hardships and letdowns no matter what you do, but I feel like those trials always help you learn something in the process. Sometimes it may seem like you’re getting nowhere until you look back to see how far you’ve come, I’m a firm believer that timing is everything. There are different aspects to my business that if I didn’t learn prior to owning a brick-and-mortar, I would’ve failed right off the bat. I think people always wish for that overnight success when they’re passionate about something, but you have to trust there is a process for a reason. I can say my journey to a storefront was a lot of learning and self-development. Everything always seemed to fall into place when I was patient and trusted the process. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I started my journey mostly by making crafts and selling what I made out of my home. I would get a niche, and it would blow up for a while. As soon as one would die off, I would be onto something else. I started with growth charts, yard games, stamped book sets, wood signs, and then gnomes. I don’t mind the ebbs and flows of selling a specific product because, as a creative, I get bored easily and come up with new ideas constantly. 

Since owning a brick and mortar, I tend to put my creativeness into staging the store and making content for social media. I have endless ideas, and it’s fun to see what works and what doesn’t. I’m not afraid to try something new. I’m proud of the fact that I’m not scared to fail. There are times my team will look at me sideways when I come up with something, but they trust my vision. If it doesn’t work, we move on to something new. But I love having fresh and unique ideas to bring to the table. I think what sets me apart from others is my willingness to try new things and adapt to what’s changing. 

There’s so much that goes on behind the scenes of owning a storefront that most people do not understand. I’ve found that you wear a lot of different hats to make a small business succeed and are constantly learning. 

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
My favorite thing about my city are the customers I have. The regulars are so friendly and are always there to support my little shop. I love meeting new customers just the same. I’ve been told The Junk Drawer Mercantile is a hidden gem of the city. It reminds people of an up north gift shop which is the highest of compliments to me. The disadvantages to my city is that the store is not located in the highly publicized areas of the city. With that, we don’t always get a tremendous amount of attention from the city itself. We work really hard to get the traffic we do, and I am very proud of the success we have had in our location. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thejunkdrawermercantile.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/thejunkdrawermercantile
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/thejunkdrawermercantile

Image Credits
Kristen Mary Photography LLC
Alysha Eckert