Posted: 2:03 AM - Dec 01, 2010
From The Wilmington News Journal dated Monday 29 Nov 2010.
Kris St. John and Becky Godfrey are not only first cousins once removed but have joined together to bring to Clinton County and the surrounding area a new concept and service they have named The Peddlers Lodge.
The Peddlers Lodge sits off of U.S. 68 and Interstate 71 just behind McDonalds next to the water tower at 280 West Curry Road and was created to help the local economy and local venders venue and display their homemade and nostalgia creations.
Visitors to the business will find items they're not likely to find anywhere else all at the same location items that take you back to a time long gone. Once inside, the décor, complete with old fashion milk crates, baskets, turn of the century cupboards, and old-time furnishings, give the visitor the feel of what it was like to live a hundred years ago. Among the shelves and displays, customers can browse through comparing items such as Country Joes Coffee, Backyard Bees Honey, Willow Wind teas, Quaker Lady Fudge and Candy.
"We have people tell us that its so cozy that they feel like their at home" says St. John.
Just past the counter in the back of the room is the wood burning fireplace that gives the room a glow and down home neighborly feel.
"It adds to the overall cabin effect." said Godfrey. The cousins first came up with the concept of when they began discussing how they could help the local community.
"We had a 20/20 visionary plan," said St. John. "How it works is we wanted to have a store within a store. We wanted items and venders who had products that could fit into our theme of an old general store with no overhead, manning the register, paperwork or managing employees. All the vendor does is price their items and have stock
available so we can shelve them as they are purchased. We mind the shop while the vendors create."
St. John and Godfrey opened the store in a cabin in October and had the official grand opening Nov. 13.
"Our motto and goal in this business venture from day one has been local people helping local people," said Godfrey. "With all of our venders being local residents, they have something personally involved with their product. They take pride in the product they produce and we take pride in displaying quality items."
Said St. John, "We're not a resale type of store either. The venders have invested their time and money into their production of products. When someone has a small business or a particular talent or craft, it's too costly to assemble the item and rent an entire store to display their product.
"Also, if they sell out of their home, they just cant get the exposure that we can provide them. Its just too costly. Our venders rent a space for $20 a month and pay a 20 percent commission on each item sold. We only ask one thing apart from the 20/20 plan and that is for our venders to do some type of marketing to promote their products as being located at our store. The Peddlers Lodge has no product of our own; we just supply the space for local artisans and crafters."
The complete product line displayed at the lodge includes Country Joe's Coffee, Backyard Bees Honey,Willow Wind teas, Unicorn leather, Way House Natural Soaps, Laura Spot Jewelry, Eva Jane Designs no slip headbands, Marias Unique Foods Amish canned goods, pie filling, sauces, jams, and jellies, Country Charm Candles, Vintage Collectables and Glassware, Libby's Likables sheet music and dolls, Country Manor Family limited edition prints of nationally-known artists, certified and numbered, Quaker Lady Fudge and Candy, Quaker Barn Jellies with very unique flavors such as apple mint, gooseberry and hot pepper, John Johnston Grapevine Creations, Just a Token homemade bread and rolls, His Fingerprints Photography, note cards, pocket fillers, penny candy and local author books such as Jim Ellis and Nancy McCormick.
"We also have additional space that can be used for meetings and parties," said St. John. "We have a great offer we're promoting now. If a group, club or family rents our room, it is free as long as the products used to serve the guests are Peddlers Lodge products. We have available items such as breads, teas, coffee, fudge, salsa, jams and jellies. If you would like to rent the room and provide your own refreshments, we rent it at $20 for a two-to four-hour period. We're also in the process of providing box lunches to those interested in the room rental. And with the upcoming holiday season fast approaching, Santa has promised to take time out of his schedule to pose with children for pictures."
The Peddlers Lodge is always looking for complimentary items such as jewelry, woodworking, candles, grapevines, walking sticks, bird houses, quilts work wear and other crafting items. The Peddlers Lodge is located at 280 West Curry Road and can be reached at 937-382-8074 or at email at clintoncountypeddlerslodge@yahoo.com. Hours of operation are 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Extended hours are planned.
"We basically thought that there isn't anything like this around here," said Godfrey. "It's a place that will take you back in time. People still like old-fashioned things."
By MARIBETH URALRITH
Contributing Writer
Contributing Writer
 Peddlers Lodge owners Kris St. John and Becky Godfrey. (News Journal Star Photo/Maribeth Uralrith) |
The Peddlers Lodge sits off of U.S. 68 and Interstate 71 just behind McDonalds next to the water tower at 280 West Curry Road and was created to help the local economy and local venders venue and display their homemade and nostalgia creations.
Visitors to the business will find items they're not likely to find anywhere else all at the same location items that take you back to a time long gone. Once inside, the décor, complete with old fashion milk crates, baskets, turn of the century cupboards, and old-time furnishings, give the visitor the feel of what it was like to live a hundred years ago. Among the shelves and displays, customers can browse through comparing items such as Country Joes Coffee, Backyard Bees Honey, Willow Wind teas, Quaker Lady Fudge and Candy.
"We have people tell us that its so cozy that they feel like their at home" says St. John.
Just past the counter in the back of the room is the wood burning fireplace that gives the room a glow and down home neighborly feel.
"It adds to the overall cabin effect." said Godfrey. The cousins first came up with the concept of when they began discussing how they could help the local community.
"We had a 20/20 visionary plan," said St. John. "How it works is we wanted to have a store within a store. We wanted items and venders who had products that could fit into our theme of an old general store with no overhead, manning the register, paperwork or managing employees. All the vendor does is price their items and have stock
available so we can shelve them as they are purchased. We mind the shop while the vendors create."
St. John and Godfrey opened the store in a cabin in October and had the official grand opening Nov. 13.
 Country Joes Coffee and Willow Wind teas are on display. (News Journal Star Photo/Maribeth Uralrith) |
Said St. John, "We're not a resale type of store either. The venders have invested their time and money into their production of products. When someone has a small business or a particular talent or craft, it's too costly to assemble the item and rent an entire store to display their product.
"Also, if they sell out of their home, they just cant get the exposure that we can provide them. Its just too costly. Our venders rent a space for $20 a month and pay a 20 percent commission on each item sold. We only ask one thing apart from the 20/20 plan and that is for our venders to do some type of marketing to promote their products as being located at our store. The Peddlers Lodge has no product of our own; we just supply the space for local artisans and crafters."
The complete product line displayed at the lodge includes Country Joe's Coffee, Backyard Bees Honey,Willow Wind teas, Unicorn leather, Way House Natural Soaps, Laura Spot Jewelry, Eva Jane Designs no slip headbands, Marias Unique Foods Amish canned goods, pie filling, sauces, jams, and jellies, Country Charm Candles, Vintage Collectables and Glassware, Libby's Likables sheet music and dolls, Country Manor Family limited edition prints of nationally-known artists, certified and numbered, Quaker Lady Fudge and Candy, Quaker Barn Jellies with very unique flavors such as apple mint, gooseberry and hot pepper, John Johnston Grapevine Creations, Just a Token homemade bread and rolls, His Fingerprints Photography, note cards, pocket fillers, penny candy and local author books such as Jim Ellis and Nancy McCormick.
"We also have additional space that can be used for meetings and parties," said St. John. "We have a great offer we're promoting now. If a group, club or family rents our room, it is free as long as the products used to serve the guests are Peddlers Lodge products. We have available items such as breads, teas, coffee, fudge, salsa, jams and jellies. If you would like to rent the room and provide your own refreshments, we rent it at $20 for a two-to four-hour period. We're also in the process of providing box lunches to those interested in the room rental. And with the upcoming holiday season fast approaching, Santa has promised to take time out of his schedule to pose with children for pictures."
The Peddlers Lodge is always looking for complimentary items such as jewelry, woodworking, candles, grapevines, walking sticks, bird houses, quilts work wear and other crafting items. The Peddlers Lodge is located at 280 West Curry Road and can be reached at 937-382-8074 or at email at clintoncountypeddlerslodge@yahoo.com. Hours of operation are 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Extended hours are planned.
"We basically thought that there isn't anything like this around here," said Godfrey. "It's a place that will take you back in time. People still like old-fashioned things."