Shauna Thibault owns the small shop, which opened in January 2011. In this space, Thibault’s two businesses came together and formed “one stronger business under one umbrella entity,” Thibault said.
Thibault attended beauty school, training her for the salon she now owns. She has styled photo shoots and commercials for Blue Cross Blue Shield, Fox Sports, Cox and other local publications.
“The salon was making enough money to keep it open so the clothing side is just extra cash and a way to use the extra space,” Thibault said.
Shoppers can find a variety of clothes sold at Mercantile. Many of the clothes have a vintage vibe, reminding shoppers of the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s.
“It is all the clothing you can wear during the day and pieces you can keep for a long time,” she said. “You can throw pieces with jeans and go to class or dress it up a bit when you go out. These pieces are absolutely staples in a wardrobe.”
Young, working adults seem to call Mercantile home, Thibault said. She tries to keep prices reasonable to target her customers.
“The people who shop at Mercantile are savvy with their money,” Thibault said. “They want clothes that don’t break the bank and are economically conscious.”
Mercantile’s only other employee is Amina Call, who rents out her space in the salon. She started working at Mercantile a year ago but has been in the business for 10 years.
She met Thibault through mutual friends and was offered a job after Thibault wanted to add the retail space.
“I absolutely love working here,” Call said. “We have a lot of college students and young professionals — they come in and are introduced to the salon while they are here. I love the speed and the energy of salon.”
With prices ranging from $10 to $60, Thibault’s clientele agree she keeps her customers in mind.
“I definitely appreciate the prices and the clothing in here,” business sophomore Katie Andes said. “All of the stuff is just as cute as Urban Outfitters but half the price.”
Business has gotten better as more people learn about the store and more is built around it. Most of the business at Mercantile comes from pedestrians finding the store.
“There are a lot of conventions, out-of–towners and people who walk up and down Central looking for something to do and stop in here,” Thibault said.
But Mercantile is not all about money. Thibault often offers deals for people who come in wanting to trade in clothes or want to buy many items.
“If people come in with some great pieces I will gladly trade them a haircut,” she said. “If someone has multiple pieces in their hands I will knock off a few dollars as a discount. It’s not an exact science, it’s just whatever I feel like.”
Mercantile also is the home of repurposed bow-tie company “Dapper + Dash.” Aaron Kimberlin, owner of the brand, had nothing but praise for the budding shop.
“I think it’s a seamless thing,” Kimberlin said. “I love what they represent and the aesthetic of the shop. It also means a lot to me that it is a reused location just like my fashion is. They have the exclusive to my brand and I love the integrity they uphold.”
Contact the reporter at brittany.mcgonagle@asu.edu
