SALISBURY — Seated at a classic eating desk, surrounded by lamps, bookcases and decorations, Wendy Alexander-Persse is at household in her new store in downtown Salisbury.
Named The French Nest, the classic decor retailer is situated at 119 S. Primary St. and gives anything from household furniture to handmade candles and linen aprons.
In addition to staying crammed with goods Alexander-Persse handpicked herself — and she only picks issues likes — the retail store is comfortable to her mainly because it is in which she released her to start with foray into Salisbury commerce 11 decades in the past.
“I really like this place and how fantastic to be back where I commenced in 2010,” Alexander-Persse stated. “I appeared at a couple other spots, but this block is my favorite.”
Known as Grayshores Investing, the retailer may perhaps have been the to start with shop Alexander-Persse opened in Salisbury, but she was already a seasoned tiny organization operator at the time.
A indigenous of New York, Alexander-Persse moved to Salisbury in 1986 and stayed for about seven years before going down the japanese seaboard to Brunswick, Ga. There, she owned and operated two outlets. Soon after offering the next small business, Alexander-Persse worked at a classic keep in Brunswick, the place she discovered quite a few significant methods of the trade.
“I experienced worked for a girl my last two yrs in Brunswick who has the most effective store I have at any time been in. I bought to work for her for two and a 50 percent several years,” Alexander-Persse claimed. “I discovered a whole lot. She was pretty generous with her suppliers and sharing facts.”
When Alexander-Persse moved back again to Salisbury to escape the relentless southeastern Ga warmth, she put her business enterprise acumen and information of vintage goods to use and opened Grayshores Investing. She released a different enterprise, termed Zinc, near the coach station a number of many years later on and then acquired the Literary Bookpost in 2016.
She prepared to just take a break from being a compact organization owner right after marketing the bookstore, which she renamed South Most important Guide Enterprise, in 2019. Her concentrate through the previous year has primarily been on remaining a guardian to her infant daughter, Harriet.
Alexander-Persse’s spouse, Lauren, stated the past 12 months has been a whirlwind, but that she’s excited to help Alexander-Persse’s most the latest store.
Laruen Alexander-Persse and Wendy Alexander-Persse stand with their daughter, Harriet, in The French Nest. Ben Stansell/Salisbury Publish
Alexander-Persse did deal with to stay out of organization, but only for so prolonged. The draw of connecting with buyers the moment again proved far too robust.
“After I offered the bookstore, I genuinely skipped the consumers,” Alexander-Persse said.
What sealed her selection to reenter downtown commerce was an impromptu go to to the vacant storefront at 119 S. Major St. in November. Even however she was not all set to start off a business at the time, viewing the renovated house bought the wheels turning in her head. She began accumulating classic merchandise and signed a lease in January.
“I genuinely kind of commenced a company before I even signed the lease,” Alexander-Persse explained.
The French Nest title was coined by Lauren and is a nod to Alexander-Persse’s affinity for Paris and European-motivated decor.
Alexander-Persse’s business return to downtown has been perfectly been given, she claimed. Most of the faces she’s observed have been familiar, especially these who have frequented The French Nest on weekdays. She’s even experienced clients walk in, not understanding it’s her store, and exclaim how related it feels and appears to be to Grayshores Trading.
Working on the 100 block of South Key Road at the time once more, Alexander-Persse is performing alongside longtime pals.
“I love the neighborhood down below,” Alexander-Persse claimed. “Cheryl (Goins) at Pottery 101 and Bob (Lambrecht) at Critters are some of my best buddies. I just get pleasure from it. I could not envision getting out away from downtown and on my individual someplace.”
Wendy Alexander-Persse picks nearly all of the vintage items in The French Nest herself, only selecting goods she’d have in her own house. Ben Stansell/Salisbury Write-up
Along with furniture and decor Alexander-Persse procured from her reliable pickers and sellers, The French Nest characteristics goods built regionally by her mates, including cleaning soap crafted by Teri Fox and linen aprons built by Cindy Morgan.
“I was capable to get in touch with a couple friends that I understood had certain skills and say ‘Can you produce this for the retailer?’” Alexander-Persse reported.
The delicate, however placing mural on a single of the store’s walls was painted by another friend, Cara Reische, who also designed the shop’s logo.
The store’s candles, Alexander-Persse said, have been flying off the shelf. So as well have numerous of the shop’s other choices.
“I’ve experienced to make a few procuring outings previously, so that’s good,” Alexander-Persse mentioned.
Alexander-Persse is not on the lookout to get abundant off of her newest endeavor. She gave up that quest extended back.
“In my 20s I felt panicked to make dollars, make ‘my mark’ in a huge way,” Alexander-Persse stated. “Then I arrived to know it’s seriously about earning your corner of the earth beautiful, make it operate for oneself and present some kindness to the relaxation of the environment.”
The French Nest is open Tuesday via Friday from 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.