Feb. 14, 2019

A new business is looking for a variety of vendors who want a “hassle-free” way to sell their creations.

Stacey Namminga sees Stacey’s Vintage-Art-Boutique, which will open April 1, as a way to support local talent. Artists and makers can rent space in the business east of the Tea exit on Interstate 29, and the shop will take care of sales.

“They can have their pieces for sale here and still have time to create without having to worry about sales,” Namminga said.

She and her husband, Randy, found themselves without a tenant in the building they’ve owned since 2015 when Picker’s Flea Market, Antique & Collectible Mall moved late last year to another location closer to I-29. Namminga, whose home and yard between Worthing and Beresford are filled with locally made items she has bought over the years, decided to create a space for those makers. She likes knowing that there’s a specific artist or maker behind each piece.

“There’s so much local talent,” she said. “We really want to promote that.”

The building, which is along 271st Street, could hold up to 60 vendors, she said. In addition to rent, they would pay 10 percent of sales to cover costs such as sales tax, credit card fees and paper supplies. Some similar businesses require vendors to work a few hours in their stores, she said, but Stacey’s won’t do that.

“We’re trying to tailor our model from feedback we are getting from vendors. … This will be a place for them to sell items without the hassle.”

She envisions having “repurposed and reimagined” home decor and furniture items and boutique items such as clothing, jewelry, soaps and lotions. Vendors will have merchandise in their designated area, although Namminga envisions a few display areas that would mix items.

“We’ll have art of all kinds and styles by local artisans,” she said.

Vendors who are interested in being part of Stacey’s Vintage-Art-Boutique can fill out on an application on its website, staceystore.com.

“I don’t want to be too fussy, but I have a goal” for the merchandise mix that the store will offer, Namminga said.

The store  will be open daily and managed by Namminga’s niece Caitlyn Meiers.

In the summer, Namminga envisions having food trucks on certain days. She also plans to do promotional events that would raise funds for military veterans and at-risk youth. Earlier in her career, she was a teacher, principal and school psychologist, working with troubled kids.

While she has remodeled the building’s interior, the exterior will have to wait for warmer weather. The logo for the business, a peacock with its hidden showy feathers, symbolizes the building, Namminga said.

“The outside is plain, but when they walk in, they’ll say, ‘It’s so nice in here.’ … I hope people like it and enjoy it. We really want it to be a fun place to go.”