Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelley Christner.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Shelley. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
In 2010, we started as a group of Etsy makers selling at the Denton Community Market who wanted to be a support to each other since we were all independent businesses and had not known of each other in the community before the market. Then we decided to host a fall market in the barn at my house after the close of the market season and so many people showed up that we knew we were onto something! We then began hosting maker markets twice a year in the fall and summer. The interest grew, so in the fall of 2012, co-founder Rachel Aughtry and I set our sights on opening a brick and mortar store filled with all the handmade goods that we had been highlighting at the bi-annual shows. We opened in April of 2013 with work from 26 local makers and have grown to carry work from over 50 local and regional makers!
Great, 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?
I don’t think opening and running a small business can be a smooth road, there are always potholes along the way! We struggled with how to staff the store since we were both makers ourselves and eventually formed a co-op of sorts comprised of our makers to help us man the storefront! It was a great solution and has become a hallmark of our business! In the fall of 2016, co-founder Rachel Aughtry announced that she would be leaving the business to move and better pursue her own brand Rachel Elise and that was a struggle to make that change and be the sole owner and to put the right team members in place to make it all work, but the right team came together with the addition of Shawna Smyth as store manager and Allie Biddle as assistant manager and workshop/event coordinator, again a great solution! When I ventured to start this business, my husband told me that everyday there would be a challenge, and how I responded to the challenge or struggle would make all the difference. That is constantly in my thoughts as I face the struggles of owning a small business with so many moving parts and I hope that I face them with wisdom and courage!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The DIME Store – what should we know?
The Denton Independent Maker Exchange (DIME) is a collective of local artists in Denton, Texas wishing to share their handmade goods, skills, knowledge, and craft with each other, and the community. We embrace the quality, care, and uniqueness that goes into handmade goods, and we believe others will too!
I am most proud of the community that we have developed among our makers and shoppers! We recently wrote a manifesto for ourselves that kinda says it all……
The Dime Store is…….
a marketplace for thoughtfully designed and handmade goods
a community of local makers and enthusiasts
a cozy and inspiring haven
a community that nurtures budding and established makers
an opportunity to connect a face with a product
a place to cultivate creative inklings
We believe in……
building community
encouraging creative economy
celebrating handmade
supporting products that tell a story
making dreams reality
buying from neighbors, not strangers
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Community! Quality handmade goods!
Contact Info:
- Address: 510 S. Locust
Denton, TX 76208 - Website: www.dimehandmade.com
- Phone: 940-381-2324
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: dimehandmade
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dimehandmade/
Image Credit:
Emily Stewart
Shawna Smyth
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
