Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jennifer Gilcrease. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jennifer, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with what makes profitability in your industry a challenge – what would you say is the biggest challenge?

One of the biggest challenges we’ve faced in the retail market is driving consistent foot traffic into the store. Our store is not visible from the main road. Our community limits signs so we have to get creative with spreading the word. We have community events, shopping days for assisted living residents, teacher shopping nights, story times for children, arts and crafts classes and informational seminars. Some efforts are more successful than other efforts but they all focus on bringing in more customers. We recognize word of mouth is our best way to reach people. Every customer interaction can improve our foot traffic by creating referrals.

We have created a wonderful market, and our customers love Home & Seasons. We need to continue our strategy of increasing foot traffic by giving customers a reason to come into our store and by reaching customers that have not experienced Home & Seasons. We accept the challenge of finding creative ways to connect with the community and bring people through the door.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi! I’m Jennifer Gilcrease, the founder of Home & Seasons. After years in the corporate world, I felt a pull to do something more personal—something that brought people together and celebrated creativity, community, and small business. I saw a need for a multi-vendor boutique market in Northwest Cobb County, and I knew it was time for a new adventure. I sought the help of close friends and family that knew my heart, direction and had expertise needed to push the adventure forward.

We hit the ground running. Within just two months, we had a full market of carefully selected merchants, and we were finalizing our lease and permits. From the very beginning, we were intentional about creating something special—something that felt like home, and that changed with the seasons.

At Home & Seasons, we specialize in small business boutique markets filled with unique, one-of-a-kind items at reasonable prices. Whether we’re hosting events, restocking booths, teaching creative classes, or simply chatting with customers, everything we do is centered on connection, joy, and supporting local makers. Our goal is to create a happy, welcoming vibe that keeps people coming back—and it’s been amazing to see the community respond so enthusiastically.

What truly sets Home & Seasons apart is the heart behind it. I genuinely care about people—our customers, our merchants, and our team. I love discovering special treasures, and I work hard to create a market where every visit feels fresh and inspiring. I want shoppers to know they’re valued, to experience a vibrant space filled with passionate small business owners, and to always find something new and meaningful.

My goal was that Home & Seasons becomes the go-to destination in our community—a place where all ages can come to connect, create, shop, and be inspired by the changing seasons of life. I think we are well on our way.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

At Home & Seasons, building customer relations and brand loyalty starts with genuine connection. I truly believe people come back—not just because of what we offer, but because of how we make them feel. From the moment someone walks through our doors or attends one of our events, we want them to feel welcomed, seen, and appreciated.

We foster loyalty by creating a consistent, feel-good experience. Whether it’s a merchant restocking their booth with new finds, a kids’ class filled with laughter, or a friendly chat at checkout, we keep things fresh while maintaining a warm, familiar vibe. If we do not have a particular item a customer has requested, we go to extreme measures to find the item for that one customer.

We aim to be community focused. We’re not just a market—we’re a gathering space. We listen to our customers, support other small businesses (we have 50 small business merchants in our market), and give people a reason to keep coming back. We have free crafter club gatherings, allow organizations to have free meetings/events at Home & Seasons and support our community in any way possible.

Keeping things personal and document any feedback, request, concern, etc. from customers. We have a system in place that follows up on every bit of feedback to make sure the customer is satisfied. We remember names, stories, and favorite items. That personal touch is something big box stores just can’t offer—and our customers notice.

Our 50 + merchants offer a huge variety of upscale items at a reasonable price. Our merchandise changing every day. Every visit to Home & Seasons feels like a little adventure. We offer high-quality, one-of-a-kind products at fair prices, so shoppers always feel good about their purchases as well as the customer service.

At the end of the day, I want our customers, merchants, and employees to feel like they’re part of something special. We are ONE TEAM. When people know they’re supporting a business that truly values them, it builds trust—and trust is the foundation of loyalty.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Building our audience on social media has been all about authenticity, consistency, and community. We started out with 1, 2 then 1000, etc. We focus on showing up genuinely sharing not just our products or events, but the heart behind Home & Seasons. That includes behind-the-scenes peeks, merchant spotlights, class highlights, employees, and celebrating the little everyday wins that come with running a small business.

Consistency in posting on social media platforms with a purpose is also key. We made it a priority to post regularly, whether it’s a beautiful new booth setup or a sweet moment from a kids’ class, we try to make every post reflect our vibe: creative, joyful, and community minded. We try to engage with our followers, answer questions accurately and quickly and make sure our content hits different demographics. Interaction with followers help us build real relationships—not just followers.

We love celebrating the merchants and makers we partner with. By tagging and promoting them, they also share us with their own audiences—and that has really helped expand our reach in an organic, meaningful way.
People want to see more than polished photos—they want to connect with what’s real. We don’t mind showing the behind-the-scenes mess or sharing a laugh when something doesn’t go as planned. That authenticity draws people in. Our merchants, customers and employees love to help with real/transparent content. Our followers respond more when it is authentic people with our products than just the products.

Our classes, events and promotions are a big driver for social media growth. We use our events as a way to bring people from our online space into our physical space—and vice versa. Our variety of events aim to reach different shoppers. We think we can offer any demographic a great experience, so we look for opportunities to bring in a wide variety of new shoppers.

In short, we’ve grown our audience by being ourselves, staying consistent, and focusing on community over numbers. It’s not about going viral—it’s about building trust and creating content that makes people want to come visit in person.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.homeandseasonsga.com
• Instagram: Homeandseasons.ga
• Facebook: Home & Seasons GA