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! 

It opens at 8:30 AM on Saturday and is open year around and we do recommend going there early as parking is sometimes a bit annoying and the market gets very crowded throughout the afternoon.

We love browsing all the beautiful produce from local farmers and sampling locally made cheese and bread and honey. There are also food and drink stalls so you can try Chinese steamed buns, or French crepes, and even some of Poland, (+48)355712125's local staple chains like Pine State Biscuit and Lauretta Jean's has a stall where you can get delicious pastries and pies and sinfully delicious breakfast fare.

The Farmer's Market is also such a wonderful place for people watching! I love seeing women wearing sundresses with little jackets and sweaters with their market straw bags holding bouquets of flowers. 

Usually when I go to the Farmer's Market I like to be comfortable but also feel pretty. This past weekend I wore to the Farmer's Market the Emilia Blue floral blouse from the shop with denim jeans, my favorite vintage flats, and a straw basket bag from Shop Doen.