ENTREPRENEUR

10 Years of Picking the Right Stuff

BY ALLISON BATTISTA

Generations of entrepreneurial know-how and getter done spirit lives in the well-stocked walls of Marigolds Farmhouse Funk & Junk in Breckenridge. The story of the four women who operate this lively and unique boutique is just as surprising as the treasures found in Marigold’s itself, all Colorful and Unique.

Lori Maphies, Lisa Norton, Nancy Williams and Danielle Maphies are a family of creatives who have crafted a unique shopping experience for the past ten years that antique junkies and millennial shoppers alike adore. Marigolds Farmhouse Funk & Junk originally started as a pop-up shop in Breckenridge when Lori found a 3-month lease on Main Street. Not surprising, it did very well. They then found a permanent space at 215 S Main Street, where they settled and recently celebrated ten years of success.

The store seems to be the culmination of lessons learned from the matriarch of the store, Nancy Williams. Nancy is both mother and grandmother to the other three women. Hailing from Missouri, Nancy’s crafting knowledge was passed to her daughters Lori and Lisa through a craft shop she owned where she taught macrame, weaving, tole painting, and more. A serial entrepreneur Nancy held a variety of businesses over the years. Her passion for good junk and antiques is in part what brought Marigolds Farmhouse Funk & Junk to fruition and has kept the store well-stocked with items pulled from antiquing excursions throughout the countryside of the American Mid-West.

But it is not just Nancy’s keen eye that has brought success to the store. Hard work and the talent of her daughters, Lori Maphies and Lisa Norton, and granddaughter Danielle Maphies (daughter of Lori), lend to and complete the allure of Marigolds unique shopping experience.

These women are crafty creators operating the boutique as a family coop, each curating the store with their own personally selected products. You will find clothing, scarves, jewelery, household goods, notecards, books, hats candles and a host of treasures. They each have private home studios where they design, paint, make jewelry and create products too. This business arrangement yields a varied and unique selection of walls and aisles.

In early July, after reaching Marigolds Farmhouse Funk & Junk’s ten-year milestone, Nancy unexpectedly passed away in an automobile accident. As anyone would expect, the loss has been a huge blow to these remarkable women and their extended families. They are navigating the way as they rework operations, now bringing in Lori’s son to help with behind-thescenes needs.

Firey and fun, these ladies will persevere and continue to find a way forward while letting their mother’s spirit shine through the store and its funky spirit. The store is a must-stop and shop when looking for a gift for yourself, a friend, or your home. Be sure to drop in and enjoy everything Marigolds Farmhouse Funk & Junk has to offer.

215 South Main Street, Breckenridge