Agápē Mercantile wants to provide an authentic and inspiring space for connection, community, and kindness through simple pleasures. Those pleasures being laid back gifts and goods you can find online. The store, owned by Michaela Schaffer, features products made by small businesses in the Tri-State region as all we other small businesses from around the country.
The inspiration for Agápē Mercantile came from Schaffer’s love for gift giving. “It’s probably my most favorite thing to do in the world,” she says. “I love the hunt for the perfect gift. I love making people cry happy tears. I love making people smile by sending them a little token to show they are loved and cared about and seen.”
So, she decided to take this passion for showering others with love through gifts and turn it into a blossoming business.
When you shop Agápē Mercantile, you’ll find a variety of specialty goods and items made locally and around the country. And to put additional emphasis on the shop local mission, Agápē Mercantile has a special section on the website that highlights local makers you can find in the Agápē Mercantile shop. On top of the makers featured in Agápē Mercantile, the store also has two in-house lines – The Paperie by Agápē and Late September by Agápē.
The Paperie by Agápē is the brand’s paper goods line, featuring greeting cards, prints and more while the Late September by Agápē line features vintage and reclaimed items. “We believe in seeing beauty, purpose and value in things that others may not,” says Schaffer. “We look at items from a different perspective and love how we can bring new life to already-loved items.”
Schaffer says that when you shop Agápē Mercantile, you’re not shopping any normal store. “Our hope an prayer for all who come across the path of Agápē Mercantile is to feel welcomed and loved,” she says. “Is that silly for an online retail store? Yeah, probably. But that is the heart behind it. We hope that as you browse the website, and someday the store, that you think about someone who would love something you come across. Sometimes we just need someone to say ‘Hey, I see you. I see how hard you’re trying. You’re doing great. You’ve got this.'”
Schaffer says that throughout 2022 you can expect to see collaborations with fellow local small businesses, as well as additions to inventory and pop-up shops. She also hopes to eventually open up a storefront where she can build into, and give back, to the community. “We want people to stop by and hang out, grab coffee with a friend and chill, and just feel welcomed and accepted,” she says. “But for now, watch Facebook and Instagram for our occasional pop-ups.”
To learn more about Agápē Mercantile, visit http://www.agapemercantile.com. You can also follow along on Facebook and Instagram.
