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

Kristen, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

My husband, K.C., and I purchased a building on our main street here in Cumberland as an opportunity for a passive income. Fast forward, COVID hit and the business that was renting the storefront closed down. We listed the storefront for rent, however we didn’t have any takers. It was difficult to find someone to commit to renting the space when there were still so many unknowns in the world after such a large event.
We decided that we were better off putting something in the store ourselves rather than having yet another empty business sitting on our main street. Together, my husband and I already ran a small business creating home decor signs and apparel. We knew we wouldn’t be able to fill the store ourselves with our own items. We started bouncing around the idea of creating a “makers market” where other small businesses can sell their handmade goods. We started by reaching out to other small business creators we knew like ourselves to see if they would be interested in partnering with us.
We got 13 other small business owners on board and started creating and stocking inventory for the shop. My husband and I worked our full-time jobs during the day and worked on putting the store together in the evenings and on weekends. Fast forward two months and we were ready to open our doors. We opened up our store on Memorial weekend of 2021. We wanted to create a space for people to come together, enjoy handmade goods, appreciate the quality/work put in by these small business owners and tell their stories.

Kristen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Back in college when I was engaged to my now-husband, we were out for coffee and chatting about our future life. We got on the topic of wanting to create a side-business that would allow us to have a creative outlet and make a little bit of extra cash. With that our first business, 8-11 Designs, was born. We got married that summer after graduation and started creating signs and shirts for close friends and family. From there, other people started to reach out for custom orders to be created. We loved having a hobby to do together that we both enjoyed.

The shop allows us to work on our creative work while also getting to know other small business owners. We’ve been able to connect with makers from different industries and work with them to sell their products. We get to provide their work and stories to the community. It’s a fun way to be creative and connect with others who share your passions.
I love what I do for my business, White Willow Co. Market. It’s not just a place for small businesses to sell their products. It’s a marketplace for dreams and passion. It’s a community for makers and lovers.

What sets White Willow Co. Market apart from other retail shops is the brands and stories that we share. Not only are you finding extremely unique items that you won’t be able to find at big box stores, but they are made with love. They’re made with passion. Each item is unique as every single one is made by someone’s small business. We have some sort of connection/relationship with the small business products that we carry. We can tell you their names, their story, how they got started, etc. You’re supporting an endless amount of other small businesses, hopes, dreams, and love when you shop with us.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

What has helped us build our reputation within our market is that we are also makers and creators ourselves. We know firsthand the time, creativity, effort, and struggles that go into making products. I believe that this gives our makers a piece of common ground that allows them to trust us with their products. We are also a consistent shop in town. We are open when we say we will be open. We provide a unique shopping experience and we are open for special events, such as the chamber’s wine walk, late-night shopping events, ladies nights, etc. When you are the owner of a small business retail store, I think the most important thing is consistency. People in the community want to know that they can count on you to be open if they need to grab a last-minute gift or restock on their favorite products.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think what helped most when building our reputation at the store is uniqueness. The products and variety that we have just cannot be found at large box stores. We provide such a wide array of products that there’s truly something for everyone. In addition to carrying unique items, we try hard to provide fun and unique events to get people downtown. We want to drive people to our beautiful downtown and see all that it has to offer. We don’t just run and operate during our normal business hours. We’ve put in several hours behind the scenes creating, advertising, and running events for community members to enjoy. Nothing makes my small business heart burst like seeing the sidewalks bustling during an event and our hard work paying off.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://white-willow-market.square.site/
• Instagram: @whitewillowcomarket
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhiteWillowCoMarket/