Hi, I’m Hannah — the owner of Idyll Mercantile. Five years ago, this shop was a pipe dream, and somehow it became a real place where people come to learn how to care for plants, slow down, and feel connected.

Idyll has grown into a small but meaningful community space, and I love being here more than I can say. As we celebrate five years with our Pickle Party, I’m also being honest about the realities of running a small business. Rising costs and long-term operating expenses have put us in a bit of a pickle.

Our $10k goal will help pay employee wages and reduce accumulated debt; a $15k stretch gives us breathing room for slower months and helps us stay open more hours with fresh inventory.

There’s absolutely no pressure to give — being part of this community already means everything. But if you’re able to help, thank you for supporting this little shop and the people who make it what it is.

To make our fundraising fun -- we are throwing a Pickle Party (to get us out of the pickle... get it??) on February 5th to celebrate getting this far and to raise the rest of our goal! Those who donate ahead of time will get a free drink at the event :)

I hope you can join us us for a fun, community gathering to celebrate five years of Idyll Mercantile, eat some pickles, talk about the pickle we are in, and rally support for the next chapter. No donation is too small, and every single one helps us out of the pickle we've gotten ourselves into.

About us:

Idyll Mercantile is a small, independently owned, women run plant and home goods shop that’s been part of this community for five years. What started as a dream, became a real, boot-strapped, brick & mortar space that I started with everything in my savings and the belief that it had to work. Idyll is a living, breathing, ever evolving shop that exists as a space where you can come to idle and catch a deep breath. We are here to help people learn how to tend living things and connect with plants, art and community.

Over the years, we’ve become a space where our neighbors can linger, ask questions, learn how to keep plants alive, discover local artists and makers, attend workshops, listen to music, and sense of real human interaction that is hard to find in the AI landscape. We try to show up for our community by hosting events, collaborating with other small businesses, supporting local growers and artists, and creating a shop that feels welcoming, thoughtful, and human.

We love being here.

And we want to keep being here.

So… why the pickle?

Running a small retail business for five years, especially in recent years,has been hard. With rising costs of goods due in large part to tariffs, combined with the increased cost of living, supply chain shifts, and the general volatility of small business ownership I have found myself chasing around this $12k for about two years. It's not *that* much, but it is enough to leave me wondering how long I can keep going.

We are at a point where a little community support makes a huge difference. So instead of closing shop, I decided to be vulnerable and ask for help.

Our goal:

– $10,000 to stabilize the business

– $15,000 stretch goal to give us breathing room and cushion the upcoming slower months

What these funds will support:

– Paying down outstanding business debts (from tariffs, rising living costs, etc.)

– Investing in fresh inventory from the growers and makers we love

– Ensuring that our employees are paid &

– Allowing us to stay open more hours and continue hosting community events

– Creating a small cushion for the slower months so we’re not constantly operating in survival mode

Recently, I the owner, Hannah have been carrying this chunk of business debt myself to keep Idyll’s doors open. It’s been a labor of love, but the weight has become too much to bear alone.

Every dollar you send goes directly into keeping Idyll alive, accessible, and sustainable.

We believe small, local businesses matter. We believe community spaces matter. And we believe asking for help, when needed, is part of how community works.

There is absolutely no obligation to give. But, I hope you will consider doing so if you’ve ever visited, shared a conversation, learned something new, or simply enjoyed having Idyll exist in your neighborhood. We wouldn't be here without you <3

From the bottom of our (idyll & I's) hearts: thank you for five years of support, care, and community. We’re excited to keep tending this little shop, and can't wait to see where we grow from here.

With gratitude,

Hannah + Idyll Mercantile