Vendors gain a new Lincoln retail spot in The Mercantile at Prescott

A boutique that opened in College View last weekend offers vendors a new storefront in Lincoln.

After a soft opening on Sept. 14, The Mercantile at Prescott, located near other businesses like The Mill Coffee & Tea and Goldenrod Pastries, began its regular hours this past week. Dylan Douglas, the owner of the boutique, said the store is different from other businesses because of its relationship with local vendors.

"A lot of it is handmade and so then when you shop from them, you're shopping local, you're supporting them directly," Douglas said. "The commission is fairly low, so a lot of the proceeds go back to the vendor."

The store, located on the corner of Prescott Avenue and 47th Street, features candles, home decor, boutique clothing and kids items from Nebraska-based vendors. The Mercantile at Prescott occupies a space formerly held by Rachel's Boutique, which closed in late August, according to its final Facebook post .

Douglas also owns Willow + Sage, a boutique shop in the Shoppes at Piedmont, which includes some of the same vendors found at the Prescott Avenue location. Douglas said her early experiences with Willow + Sage shaped how she approached this new store.

"This is much more visible, we've put more money into it, we've hired people, we have more of a process for vendors," Douglas said. "We are more selective about who we accepted."

Douglas said she prioritized vendors that didn't duplicate other products in the store, had a stronger social media presence and had established branding.

The store features 19 vendors, with more coming before the end of September. One of those vendors, Brandi Kawula, owns the dog treat business Dogalicious , and her products are in 10 boutiques around the state.

"I don't have a storefront, so it's great to have other stores provide that opportunity, and it shows that their business is solely built to support other small businesses," Kawula said.

She said her business mainly involves going to farmers markets and craft fairs. Boutiques like The Mercantile at Prescott offer a different way to reach customers.

"Being a vendor at The Mercantile is a great place for my customers to pick up their treats anytime as well as a way for me to branch out away from the farmers market customer base," Kawula said.

Being in more boutiques allows Kawula to reach more customers and would allow her to attend fewer events.

The Mercantile at Prescott accepted vendor applications after advertising on its Facebook page and Willow + Sage's page.

One of those who had an application accepted was Brenda Thacker, who owns JB Metal Creations , which sells metal art created from corrugated metal at the shop. She started the business in 2018 after her husband told her she should keep some of the metal from her father's barn.

"Because you can make something really cool with it, Brenda," Thacker said her husband suggested.

Thacker grew her business through craft shows, but has been expanding into boutiques after the pandemic restricted many events in 2020.

She now sells her metal creations at craft shows and six boutiques in the state, including The Mercantile at Prescott.

Although The Mercantile is filling up, Douglas said it is always looking for new vendors.

The store is open Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and Wednesday-Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

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