In just two years, Mulberry Market has established itself as the place to go for locally made gifts and home decor items, all lovingly curated by owner Hannah Carlson.
Mulberry Market originally started with Carlson selling homemade mulberry jam at farmers markets in Michigan. She then added a friend’s goat milk soap to her booths and found them to be the top sellers.
Over time, she outgrew farmers markets and began selling at vendor shows, where decor sellers caught her eye. She placed an order for decor from a wholesale distributor to test the waters and, long story short, has been focused on home decor ever since.
With Mulberry Market, Carlson has created a cozy, inviting place to spend an afternoon. Shoppers can browse home decor like pillows, blankets, vases, planters and trinket trays, and kitchen items like mixing bowls, mugs, tea towels and cookbooks.
Carlson also calls on local vendors for bestsellers like soap, jewelry and candles.
“Having local artists in here, that’s our main focus,” she says. “I think the whole reason why we’ve been successful is having all those awesome local makers.”
When they’re not shopping, customers can get crafty at workshops, many led by local vendors. The fused glass workshops are always popular, Carlson says, as are the candle pouring and sourdough workshops.
Planning new workshops is one of Carlson’s favorite parts of owning Mulberry Market, as these events contribute to the community feel she strives for with the store.
“I enjoy having a place for people to gather and be happy and share a fun experience,” she says. “Everyone always has such a great time and has a smile on their face when they’re doing all the classes.”
Clothing, Too!
Over the past year, Carlson has turned a section of her store into Mulberry Mini, a boutique for little ones and their parents that includes baby clothes, books and toys. In recent months, Carlson has expanded Mulberry Market even more to include clothing she describes as modern and contemporary for moms who want to look cute while still being comfortable. Think tops and bottoms in classic cuts as well as dresses, coats and accessories like wristlets and totes.
