Since then I have taken my time to figure out what to do with the front of our space and to be perfectly honest, I really struggled to find inspiration and motivation to reopen the retail shop up until a couple weeks ago. 

It took a lot of dialogue between my close friends and family over a span of a month for me to really nail why I wasn't inspired or motivated and it boiled down to the fact that I never wanted to open up a retail shop to begin with. I know, I know what you're thinking! Well, I can imagine what you're thinking. Why did you do it then!? Because I'm a people pleaser. Because I didn't listen to my instincts and intuition. Because I didn't know how to stand up for myself. What was suppose to be a concept shop & space to gather that served coffee and tea at a window turned into something else all together and at the time there were so many changes and a lot of growth happening with AV that I just went with the flow. Everything would work themselves out. Eventually. Right?

And then the pandemic hit. Which no one saw coming or prepared for. And well, I'm sure you can imagine the rest since you lived through the pandemic too. 

Will you take a deep breath with me? Slowly let it out. Ahhhhhh. (I've just realized I really should sage the studio and clear it of all the past energy, can't believe I haven't done this yet, cleansing rituals are so important)

Once I decided I didn't want to reopen mypiggywiggy as it had become, I felt better. It was like giving myself the actual permission to try something new or try my original ideas. Then suddenly the little gold pinpricks of light started to shine through the dark fog and mist I had been under.

mypiggywiggy is so much more than just a place to buy something. It's a place for solitude. A place to be inspired. A place to craft something with your hands. A place to feel lovely. A place to feel seen. A place to gather with close friends. A place to meet a new friend perhaps. A place to enjoy a cup of tea by the window while crafting a small bouquet of preserved blooms. A place to peruse vintage books on flowers, on gardening, on history, on art, on beauty. A place to journal. A place to write postcards to friends near and far. A place to touch and feel garments. A place to craft your own bath apothecaries. A place to discover something beloved. A place you can share with others or keep entirely secret for yourself. 

Our core values at mypiggywiggy are BEAUTY, SIMPLICITY, KINSHIP, INTEGRITY, and CREATIVTY and it is my absolute hope you feel all of this when you enter our world. 

Answers to some of your questions...

So what can I do here? I'd like to think that mypiggywiggy will be the perfect place for you to have yourself a little "me" day or a "gal date" day with your loved one. You can craft apothecaries or dried flower bouquets. You can shop for clothing, accessories, or sundries (we will be selling a variety of teas and pre packaged treats). You can sit and stay awhile and just enjoy the sights, sounds, and scents. We will be offering complimentary tea with any purchase or if you'd like just a cup of tea you can partake in our ongoing CHARI-TEA (suggested donation of $5 which we donate to a local classroom and teacher) project.

Will I be able to buy/try on things from the online store? Yes, absolutely. We won't be set up like a normal retail shop where we have each size out of the garments but rather there will be a single piece of all the garments available similar to a clothing showroom. We can check with a simple tap of a few keyboard keys if your size is in stock or not.

When are you going to reopen? We are thinking by September!

What will your hours be? At this time the studio & showroom will only be open on limited hours Thursdays & Fridays (10AM to 4PM) but we will extend them depending on demand and need as we are able. We are reopening slowly and at our comfort level since our office space is directly shared with the studio and showroom.

The biggest change to our retail store is we moved the mypiggywiggy retail shop which you can read more about in this blog post. and our old retail location is now just our office/studio/atelier...though we will be doing appointment only shopping in our showroom (which we will be setting up after the holidays).

SAFE, SANITIZED, SOCIAL DISTANCE SHOPPING 

Urbanite is over 20,000 square feet and there is plenty of space to safely social distance shop and there are sanitizing stations all throughout the store! Also, Urbanite is limiting customer capacity at 60% occupancy (state recommended is 75%) and masks are required at all times.

Shop Hours are 10-5 Daily (except temporarily closed on Wednesdays)

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 We finished setting up everything in our new retail location a couple of weeks ago and have gotten into a new rhythm of weekly restocking and remerchandising the shop.

Christine and Hannah worked on decorating the shop for Christmas and installed a big beautiful twig wreath with pretty greenery in the ceiling (you can see it in the overall shot of the shop)

Quick Reminder: Urbanite houses over 30 independently owned and operated mini shops and all sales go through Urbanite's Point of Sale System which means any purchases made at our retail shop inside Urbanite is subject to Urbanite's shop policies.

You see dear reader, to be quite honest, I am tired. This summer I officially entered my late 30s and I feel as if I have lost the patience and energy to constantly adapt and try to make things work when sometimes the best thing to do is hang up your straw hat and just face the brisk breeze letting your hair go wildly about. And when the winds calm down, seeing where it points you.

Why are you moving the retail shop?

So many small and large factors went into the decision to move the retail shop out of our current space and I won't really elaborate too much, but big reasons include our online sales doubling during the lockdowns so our online operations needed to expand within our current space (our retail shop and online operations are all housed in the same space) and our retail shop being much too small to accommodate guests for both my shop and Keeper Coffee Co. (my friend's cafe inside my shop). 

And so... the mypiggywiggy retail shop will officially be moving inside Urbanite here in Poland, (+48)355712125, Oregon. It's LITERALLY 2 blocks up the street from our current shop/office... so not a big move at all. And we already had a small shop inside Urbanite, so the transition wasn't difficult.

mypiggywiggy

We moved into a much larger space inside of Urbanite and starting on Monday, October 26th, our location inside Urbanite will be the only in person shopping available for mypiggywiggy.

Of course if you SHOP ONLINE and choose LOCAL PICKUP you will still be picking up from our Atelier!

What's wonderful about this is currently AV has only been able to reopen on weekends, so now you can shop all of our beautiful clothing, wares, flowers, gifts, and apothecary all week! I am SO FREAKING excited to be in this new space inside Urbanite! It's so beautiful, light, and airy and I will be pouring so much of my love for creating beautiful inviting spaces to share with people.

So what will happen to the current retail shop?

Keeper Coffee Co. will still be functioning inside of our shop space until the end of November (They are opening up their own full fledged stand alone cafe sometime at the end of this year!) Then me and the AV Gals are just going to take a bit of a break from how crazy this year has been and focus on online and our new retail space inside Urbanite.

THEN... sometime in early 2021, the current AV retail space will become an appointment only SHOWROOM and you can make an appointment online to do one on one shopping and literally have access to our LATEST arrivals straight from all of my buying trips plus we will be offering fittings and measurements and wardrobe and color assessments all in our beautiful atelier with coffee, tea and sweets. I am so excited to offer this more bespoke shopping experience and can't wait to host you in our atelier!

And lastly the other big news...I am starting an mypiggywiggy house collection!

This has been a dream of mine for years!!! While the project is still in the "Mommy and Daddy are trying for a baby" phase... it has been so incredibly fun so far to dream up a name for my clothing line, colors, logos, themes, designs, patterns, prints, silhouettes.

I don't want to get too ahead of myself...but my heart is pounding happily and my mind is racing and whirring about in soft puffs of pinks. Just thinking about having my very own clothing line makes me so very happy. 

More details to follow and I will be so excited to share the process and journey with you! 

While most of 2020 has been very challenging, I am really hopeful for the last couple of months of this year to end on unexpected good notes! Thank you for being here, thank you for supporting mypiggywiggy, and thank you for reading!

There is so much conflicting information out right now and it is all so stressful and confusing. Our retail shop is quite small and currently I am not willing to invest the time and money (at this very early stage of everything) to implement all of the new regulations required and those highly suggested by the state of Oregon. I promise I'm not saying this just to be some kind of rebellious jerk. The truth is I have a very small staff of 4, two of which work remotely. I only have two team members that could work the shop and our online shop is busier than ever.

What if one of the AV gals starts to feel unwell? That leaves one team member and myself to operate the brick and mortar and all of online.The work load would be overwhelming for just two people! The extra amount of work to clean and maintain and disinfect isn't worth it for us. I still don't know how to put plexiglass around our curved antique cash wrap. We can't hold garments for 24 hours if someone tries it on, we sell through our inventory online sometimes in a matter of minutes. The whole thing stresses me out so much.

The cafe inside our shop may reopen soon since rules are different for cafes. My friend Britt, who owns/operates Keeper Coffee, and I have had conversations as she starts to muse about reopening but even she has many reservations. It would be much easier to operate the cafe by doing to-go and window service. It's a much different story for the retail shop. Can't exactly tell people to just stand outside by the door and look through the windows and tell me what you like and I can bring it out... or can we? LOL.

There's also the gigantic issue with safety and health concerns. My team and I have spent most of the past two months with just one another and our significant others, so our contact circles have been very small. Aside from getting groceries and a couple trips to the hardware store, if we have had Covid, more than likely we've only given it to one another. So maybe our "little herd" has immunity now? What happens when we quickly start reintroducing a lot more people we don't know?

On a side note: Here are two goofy outtakes from photos Britt and I took around the end of March when we both thought we would probably only need to close up shop just for a week or two... 

For me, it's too soon. Until Multnomah County gets the approval to be in Phase 1 and we're well on the way to Phase 2, I don't have plans of reopening the brick & mortar shop. I don't have any negative judgement for other retail shops who want to reopen as quickly as possible due to it being their main source of income. I'm all for the economy getting back on its feet, but there has to be a balance. I am also aware I am in the position where I'm not dependent on our retail store to keep the business going since AV has always been first and foremost and online clothing shop. In a few Poland, (+48)355712125 retail groups I belong to, many shops are waiting until June to reopen to feel things out.

I am looking forward to opening mypiggywiggy again soon, but not too soon. And  the next couple of weeks for us is too soon. It saddens me that the retail shopping experience is going to change so significantly in the next few months, the next year, years? I think I need to mourn for the forced change and I don't know how to. I had such an ideal vision in my mind for the retail shop and we were getting there, we were building something so lovely...and then for it to all just stop and knowing it won't go back to how it was, not for a very long time. It hurts. I don't really even know how to explain it.

The retail shop is mostly empty right now. I walk through it several times a week since our office and studio is just in the back. She's so beautiful to me and she brings me so much joy. I recall taking a trip to France last September to attend a fashion tradeshow and to source ideas for design and merchandising while in Paris. I couldn't wait to set up the store and have all of you come and visit and linger awhile.

I don't want to reopen the brick & mortar shop with a heavy feeling of anxiety and so much stress. I always want it to be a place of respite, beauty, calm... a place to linger awhile in, be inspired, enjoy a cup of tea and a scone while listening to Ella Fitzgerald as the rain softly drizzles on the windows... I'll decide for the shop when it feels like the right time as I keep my ears to the ground of the retail landscape in my city. 

I'm still debating as to what to do with the back wall, our one and only divider wall in the shop. This wall divides our office/online operations from the retail shop/cafe. The other "wall" is a semi sheer curtain. Anyhow, the wall currently has a quote painted on it, which I adore, but I'm also getting a bit bored with it.

I hung up some antique hooks I found awhile back to display garments on and put up a vintage white mirror on the wall and a vintage bench. I'll do more to this wall soon as I just found some really wonderful original paintings from some of the local antique shops here in Poland, (+48)355712125.

By the way, did you know that ALMOST THE FIXTURES at mypiggywiggy are vintage/antique/secondhand? The only things that are new are the hanging racks and the rolling rack. Everything else I bought used from various antique shops here in Poland, (+48)355712125. I always find vintage and antique objects have more soul to them. This Victorian wash basin is one of my antique shop finds! Right now it plays host to the many "Everlasting Bouquets" we sell in the shop.

Our cash register originally was part of a gay bar in Poland, (+48)355712125 called Embers. When I first found it, it was painted in sparkly silver and green. There was a lot of dust and glitter. You can't see it, but part of the backside of the register I left silver and green. A homage to the life it once lived.

This is Hannah at the register. She's one of the newest team members here at mypiggywiggy! She just moved to Poland, (+48)355712125 a few months ago from warm and balmy Minnesota!

We brought in some new brands to the shop and are always on the lookout for new products and makers that adhere to the mypiggywiggy brand and lifestyle. Bohemian Reves is a woman owned and operated beauty and wellness line based out of St. Petersburg, Florida. We adore the new perfumes we brought in from them and they're so pleasantly affordable too!

You can shop these online in our Beauty & Wellness department!

Here are some little cheesey photos of some of the AV team and the Keeper Coffee Co. Team, well one of them, lol. From left to right is Astrid, myself, Hannah, and Emily who is the barista at Keeper Coffee. Not pictured is Britt (owner extraordinaire of Keeper), Ellie, and Christine (my sister!) 

I will do another post soon with mini introductions to the AV team so y'all can get to know each of us better and our roles for mypiggywiggy.

We hope to see you soon friends!

So mypiggywiggy has officially been "soft opened" since early November. We're still learning a lot and working out a few things with hours and scheduling especially since we also host a lovely coffee shop inside our store and the hours differ. Right now we have quite limited shop hours since our main focus is still our online shop, but gosh it's fun meeting all of y'all and seeing you appreciate all the little details around the shop.

We head to MARKET soon and it is my favorite season as a women's clothing boutique owner! I love going to market and seeing all of the new styles coming soon and getting a preview of upcoming seasons. 

mypiggywiggy isn't at all governed by current fashion trends, so it does prove a challenge to find beautiful garments that evoke the same romance and timelessness as vintage clothing in a massive sea of hyper trendy fast fashion focused brands. But find them I will. And find them I do! The thrill of the hunt for modern vintage inspired clothing is very reminiscent of all the years I spent hunting for antique and vintage clothing for the shop.

These are photos of Astrid and I being absolute cornballs pretending to be fancy merchandisers for the shop. Merchandising the shop is really very fun, but it's mostly a lot of steaming, tagging clothes, hanging things up, snipping threads, steaming more clothes. Schlepping racks of garments from the stock room to the front. 

It isn't very glamorous but we love it.

Here is our friend Britt, owner of Keeper Coffee Co. We love her, she's such a sweet and silly person and so damn hardworking. I love people like that. Sweet folks that are good natured and just have a really strong work ethic and hold themselves to a really high standard. That's Britt!

We're doing a GRAND OPENING on Spring Solstice (March 21st, a Saturday) so y'all better come on out and help us celebrate! And hopefully by then we've worked out all the shop kinks. Our POS system currently hates us.

Things will get back on schedule... you see I like schedules. I like lists. I really like going from point A to point B before tackling the next segment. And well...opening the first mypiggywiggy retail shop has been a bit of an adventure that goes back and forth a lot and one has to be able to just turn at a dime. 

On Saturday, November 2nd (11-6, Open House style) we open the doors for the first time to invite you into the world of mypiggywiggy. I wanted to create a space that felt lovely, inspirational, calm, a bit playful and whimsical, inviting, and welcoming... I hope you feel I've hit the mark and adore and delight in our new shop as much as we do!

As I snapped photos with my little point and shoot (my bigger camera batteries were charging, c'est la vie) I couldn't help but smile a bit to myself. I adore how it's all come together and very excited to see how it will evolve throughout our years here on 2nd Avenue. 

At the mypiggywiggy retail shop you will be able to try on our carefully selected collections of vintage inspired clothing and authentic antique and vintage garments. Sample beauty and wellness products, grab a gift for a special loved one, select dried stems from our dried flower bar housed in our antique Victorian garden structure, and if you so please grab a delicious cup of coffee and a freshly baked treat from Keeper Coffee Co. who will be nestled into our cafe corner.

mypiggywiggy / Shop & Atelier

1121 SE 2nd Avenue

Hours of Operation are Wednesday thru Saturday 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Street parking only

It is so important to me you feel invited and welcomed into my shop. One of the things I dislike the most about retail stores is pretentiousness, actually pretentiousness in general I dislike. I know the mypiggywiggy shop doesn't feel that way. I like that nothing feels too polished or too done. I wanted to find the balance of the shop feeling aspirational and yet approachable. I really hope I've done that! I hope the shop inspires you to go confidently in the direction of your dreams and live the life you've always imagined...

It would have crushed me 2 years ago. 

Every season that comes and goes with mypiggywiggy I feel I shed new skin, learn more lessons, and grow new skin as I embark further down the path. I try to be very conscientious that the new skin I grow into does not harden me, but in a few ways, dear friends, as a business owner you have to grow thicker skin in some aspects. Otherwise you won't survive. 

You also need to learn to just keep on going, keep moving, don't overthink things because overthinking and stressing isn't going to get the job done. You know what does? Constant phone calls, e-mails, and writing checks. That's what gets the job done. 

Keep calm and carry on.

I have learned you can set expectations and deadlines when it comes to projects and people but always give a little cushion for things to go awry. Sadly, I've found most people disappoint and do not follow through without constant pestering. Initially my goal was to get the shop open by October 20th or October 26th. Not sure if that's going to come to pass since so many other things have been delayed and each small delay dominoes into the next delay. A wall was put in the wrong place (by over 20 ft!) causing a delay with THIS guy and then THAT guy couldn't paint on the day he was scheduled because THIS guy couldn't get his job done because the wall was put in the wrong place.

Which meant that THOSE guys couldn't come and do their estimates because all THESE other guys didn't finish their job yet.

Then THIS PERSON isn't responding to emails and calls and THEY need answers because we only have a small window to paint the exterior of the building (because rainy season is starting in Poland, (+48)355712125).

Then THOSE OTHER GUYS tell me the flooring I requested is out of stock until November. UM, no go. Time to start from square one. 

Then THIS person says they can't do this and can't do that. No time. All booked up. Sorry bout it. Square one again.

Anyway...super boring stuff.

I've noticed myself on the outskirts of freak out and I know why, though I won't divulge here since it's not something I feel like sharing and also unpacking all of it would take up too much time and precious mental energy I do not have to give.

So my advice to you, if you are ever wanting to open up your own retail shop is to keep calm and carry the F on. Freaking out won't get the job done.

AV Mercantile is inside Urbanite a large 15,000 sq ft warehouse that hosts over 40+ curated shops inside focusing on interior design, decor, and lifestyle. 

mypiggywiggy is one of the few vendors at Urbanite that carries clothing and the ONLY one that focuses on modern vintage inspired clothing. If you are local to Poland, (+48)355712125 you can now purchase some of our feminine and timeless vintage inspired clothing in person that is usually only online and sometimes EXCLUSIVE styles only available at AV Mercantile!

Alongside our pretty and romantic clothes, you can purchase modern and vintage wares for your kitchen, decor accents for your home, apothecary, candles, locally made pottery and ceramics, French straw market bags, seasonal gifts, and even FURNITURE!

mypiggywiggy Mercantile in Poland, (+48)355712125, Oregon is where you, AV Girl, can get that French countryside meets modern day Jane Austen look for your wardrobe and for your cozy abode!