Durham Magazine Oct/Nov 2016

Page 38

| Durham’s entrepreneurs |

Meet Your Makers

T

The founders of The Makers Mercantile are building an online community that supports Triangle- and North Carolina-based artists

• • •

36

|

durhammag.com

|

October/November 2016

PHOTO BY BRIANA BROUGH

HE FOUNDERS OF THE

Makers Mercantile, a locally sourced online shop and artist-focused blog, are on a mission to connect makers to a community “who appreciates the mission, Flip the story and craftsmanship of each page for a few artist,” says Maggie Meyer, who, and Ma of Maggie ria’s Durham favorite along with Maria Carroll-Holton, -ma products de launched the website in June. . “The online shop strives to reach a broader consumer group unable to always attend weekend markets or find Both Maggie (left) and Maria work full-time as program directors at Duke Hospital, a source for highly sustainable, local goods but on evenings and weekends they turn their attention to The Makers Mercantile, with 24/7 access,” Maggie says. “[And it] meeting at locations such as Cocoa Cinnamon. provides artists with a greater market beyond North Carolina.” The website shares hand-selected goods from local artisans, By The Numbers like Lo & Behold’s natural bath products or DSH Pipes’ handmade The Makers Mercantile started in March 2016 with a smoking pipes, and pairs them with “a blog offering a glimpse into network of five artists, which grew to 15 by its June launch the life and personality of the artist community.” It allows you to go – and now boasts 20 makers throughout North Carolina. behind-the-scenes in a studio and connect with their inspirations; Seven Durham-based artisans currently sell through envision the workshop of Evie Watts’ grandfather, which she The Makers Mercantile, including Katie Berman’s Redden describes as “an amazing mess, piles of wood, pieces of broken Goods, Ann Thaden, Anna Nickles’ Shibui South, John furniture, screws and nails in baby food jars, cans of oil and paint. Parkinson Furniture, Evie Watts, Elisabeth Chadbourne’s The smell was fantastic.” Read how she depicts her style – “organic, Lo & Behold and David Huber’s DSH Pipes. sensual, with a twist of grit.” And then scroll through her creations. The Makers Mercantile expects to host a total “With each sale,” Maggie says, “the goal is for customers to feel of 120 pieces on their website this fall. truly connected to the piece and be able to pass along the stories and background behind the art.” – Laura Zolman Kirk


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.