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Audrey’s Attic Feature Story
Audrey’s Attic invites customers to play and remember By Stephany Craig “You never know what you’ll find in the attic,” Audrey Merckle is known to comment as she walks through her store, Audrey’s Attic, 147 N. Main St., Orrville, Ohio. “I like to mix the old with the new. When customers see things here that they already have, it inspires them. “If you already have an old vase, bring it in. We’ll show you what to do with it." “Creativity doesn’t come easily to some customers, but once they look around, it starts coming to them.” She encourages her customers, “Don’t think you have to spend a lot. Get it out of the attic. Get it out of the garage. Bring down those old dishes your grandma gave you. Every time you see it out, you’ll think of her.” “That’s why I call it my attic,” she explained. “There are so many treasures in people’s attics that have warm memories attached. You get a warm feeling when you get that stuff out, use it and remember.” One Audrey’s Attic customer is a psychotherapist who sends her customers into Audrey’s Attic to walk around, enjoy the sounds and smells and just relax. “That’s why I tell customers my store is therapy,” she said. “They don’t have to buy a thing.” “The best payment is to hear the reaction when customers come in,” Audrey said, “because if you don’t enjoy what you do, why do it? Decorating is enjoyable. It’s my playtime.” Audrey tells customers who come in searching for something, “Let’s go play.” The average shopper comes in for a candle, but Audrey said, “Other than candles, no one thing stands out as most popular because we have such a variety.” “I like eclectic-traditional, country and antiques all together,” she said of her decorating taste. “My mood is always changing. My styles change. I’m the same at heart, but I like all kinds of different stuff.” Audrey describes herself as “just an average housewife with a husband who lets me play.” “I guess I was just born with it,” said Audrey of her ability to accessorize any space. “Wherever I go, I want to fluff their wreaths. I have to stop myself,” Audrey laughed. Many husbands of customers tell Audrey their houses are an Audrey’s Attic II because their wives have so much from the store decorating their homes. Some of them jokingly groan when they hear she is launching Audrey's Attic's online store: www.shopaudreysattic.com. Despite feigned complaints, Audrey said, “We help lots of husbands make lots of wives happy for special occasions year round.” The most popular male purchase is a gift certificate. Audrey’s active customer mailing list averages 1,200, and 75 percent of those are not from Orrville. A big draw to the store is custom-made furniture by Rusty Nail, a husband-wife team that can take customer ideas, give an estimate, and turn an order around in about three weeks. She doesn’t have room for larger furniture, like entertainment centers, but Audrey said customers frequently bring in pictures of what they want and Rusty Nail creates beautiful handcrafted poplar furniture for them. An arbor joins her original space, half of the store that she rented for the first year of business nine years ago, to an adjoining space complete with a replica of a greenhouse. No space is wasted in her 5,000-square-foot store. For instance, closets are nooks for baskets or garlands. Audrey has something to enjoy in every nook. When customers don’t see what they’re looking for, chances are Audrey can find them something in her 5,000-square-foot basement storage. “My husband says I’m a professional shopper.” Audrey added that when she goes to trade shows, “I try to buy affordable items for the home, like I would buy for myself.” Audrey confessed that when she opened for business nine years ago in July, “I had no idea what I was getting into. I was a housewife. My kids were little. I thought I would open a little 9 to 4 store and then go home and make supper.” Audrey laughed, “Now I don’t have a life, but I’ve grown into it.” She started out with a small corner of a craft mall, then realized that she could buy crafts to sell cheaper than she could make them. Audrey’s daughter, April, saw a “For Rent” sign in the window as they drove by her current location and prompted her to open the store. “I tell people, ‘Find that space of your own. Do what you love. Enjoy it. Blossom. Make others happy doing whatever you do’,” said Audrey. Audrey also credits her hospitable staff for the store’s success. “I couldn’t do this without my employees. I have really good help.” She shared more of her wisdom for business success, “If you know right from wrong and you know how to treat people, it will all work out. That’s what we teach our kids, and it’s worked out that way for me.” For more information, check out Audrey’s Attic. |
Address: 147 North Main Street Orrville, OH 44667 330-683-3384 Visit Us: M-Sat, 10-5, Thurs until 7
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