In 2013, Morgan Wenger was a post-college graduate diligently managing a successful Etsy shop that specialized in celebratory party pieces. As the shop’s popularity grew, she felt compelled to expand her creative endeavors. “I loved what I was creating, but I wanted to offer more and help people plan their parties,” Morgan explained. “I started researching wholesaling while dreaming of opening a party shop. I left my day-job in Connecticut and moved back home to Kansas with the goal of securing a new job while putting together the necessary components to open a store.”

Morgan’s commitment to opening her dream store remained steadfast. From 2013 to 2016, she continued to run her Etsy shop while immersing herself with online workshops and research on starting a business—all while balancing her responsibilities as a teacher. In 2016, Pink Antlers officially launched with a freshly signed lease and an August opening. She turned to her trusted family members for buying and sourcing advice and assistance within the shop.

“My mom always dreamed of opening a small home decor store in our hometown, but raising three daughters kept that dream from coming to fruition. I valued her perspective, and Pink Antlers greatly benefited from her keen eye and knowledge of trends and decor. Together, we sourced paper, party supplies, and gifts. Shortly after, my youngest sister, Claire, joined the shop full-time. We each found our unique rhythms and strengths, which helped us run the shop successfully.”

Fast forward to today, Morgan and Claire run the store full-time, while their mom, Julie, and older sister, Erica, are silent partners who also lend a hand during busy seasons.

Celebrating the Everyday

Pink Antlers is rooted in celebrating everyday moments while helping others bring their festive visions to life. From birthdays to holidays and the changing seasons, Pink Antlers offers a thoughtfully curated selection of joyful pieces that add a touch of magic to any occasion.

“Holidays are what keep our doors open year-round! Our most popular seasons are Easter, Halloween, and Christmas. We love sourcing items for these celebrations, and we believe our customers can feel the passion we put into every collection. These launches create an exciting in-store atmosphere, and our customers eagerly anticipate them each year.”

Perfecting holiday assortments is an art form, and a key component of the process is a tried-and-true strategy: listening to customers. “We always pay close attention to the pieces our customers are most excited about. We use Instagram to share sneak peeks, even documenting moments from our market trips to gauge excitement and adjust quantities accordingly. We also keep a close eye on comments, DMs, and in-store conversations, which guide us in sourcing the ‘next big thing.’”

The Art of Joyful Space

Creating a joyful and uplifting in-store environment keeps a festive and fun spirit alive all year round. “Our approach to decorating, both in our own homes and in the shop, is simple: buy what you love. If you love it, everything will come together to create an eclectic and meaningful space. In the shop, we focus on color stories rather than specific themes, and we ensure a variety of textures, layers, and sizes to make our displays vibrant and inviting.”

When the team finds themselves pondering the approach of a vignette, they lean into color groupings. “Color is a great way for items to harmoniously play off each other. It also helps customers maintain their focus while shopping.”

Holiday Merchandising Quick Tips

With the onset of Fall, Morgan offers some of her merchandising quick tips for creating holiday-themed vignettes that are thoughtfully on-theme and shoppable.

Halloween:
“While traditional Halloween is all about black and orange, we love highlighting black and white with pops of orange. This color combination tends to appeal to a wider audience.”

Thanksgiving:
“Thanksgiving is all about gathering and togetherness, and we love creating vignettes with statement centerpiece items that tie the entire collection together. We select these centerpieces specifically for display purposes, and we’re okay if they don’t sell. However, many customers often want to take these centerpieces home, making it a win-win!”

Christmas & Hanukkah:
“Creating displays with similar items and coordinating colors is so much fun during the holidays! We keep the front of our store more neutral and classic Christmas, while the back is all about vibrant colors!”

Words of Wisdom & Guidance

To fellow small business owners on a quest to create a unique and inviting shop, Morgan offers sage advice. “I’ve found it’s best to keep your head down and do your own thing. It’s so easy to get caught up in what others are doing, but if you focus on what you know and love, you’ll find success that’s more fulfilling and lasting than the latest trend.”

Stay up-to-date with Pink Antlers on their website and @pinkantlersshop.

To shop Accent Decor’s wholesale decor, wholesale home accents and wholesale Halloween decor along with new flower, plant and home products, visit accentdecor.com.

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