MARS HILL – Mars Hill residents Kendall and Brian Chandler labored a few years in native faculties however now are transitioning right into a second act after their retirement from schooling.
The Chandlers have opened up a enterprise in downtown Mars Hill, Quill and Honey, promoting Kendall Chandler’s native, pure, residence and physique merchandise, together with do-it-yourself cleaning soap, in addition to various different domestically sourced items from roughly a dozen regional artisans.
Kendall Chandler taught in Buncombe County Colleges for about 20 years and retired in June 2022. Her husband, Brian Chandler served as a principal at West Buncombe Elementary, and in addition retired in 2022.
“As a result of he retired this previous yr, we had been in a position to sort of do that collectively,” Chandler mentioned. “It is surreal, and loopy and great, and I adore it, however not ever what I anticipated my life to be, however higher. It is nice.”
Chandler graduated from Mars Hill College in 2005 and was a instructor’s assistant in Buncombe County Colleges for 2 years previous to her commencement.
“The Quill and Honey is my stuff, so something tub and physique, that is stuff I make right here within the store,” Chandler mentioned. “That began organically, making an attempt out important oils and making stuff with it. So, I began on-line and only in the near past we moved in right here. The entire physique stuff I make.”
Chandler opened the enterprise within the first week of October 2022.
The constructing is owned by Mars Hill College, and Kendall Chandler rents the constructing from the college.
Quill and Honey options the work of various Western North Carolina distributors, together with Coronary heart Llama from Leicester, English Woodwork Co. in Mars Hill, earrings by Knotted Moss in Candler, as properly crafts created from salvaged quilts by Roses and Pines, primarily based in Spruce Pine.
Moreover, the store options SNIG Indie Put on, which gives jewellery, clothes and niknaks, in addition to clothes from Burnsville’s Magnolia and Wren. Quill and Honey additionally spotlights handcrafted leather-based works from a Weaverville-based craftsman, in addition to fly rods made by Trout Cruisers Limitless, primarily based in Candler.
“For many of them, I’ve met them at markets as a result of I used to do quite a lot of popup markets across the space. Most of those folks I’ve met simply through the years doing totally different occasions collectively,” Chandler mentioned.
In keeping with Chandler, she began dabbling in making do-it-yourself cleaning soap in 2017.
“In 2017, I named the enterprise,” she mentioned. “Quill is my youngest son, and Honey Jo is our center daughter. In order that’s the place our title comes from. I began as a result of my husband has delicate pores and skin. I used to be messing round with important oils and he requested me to make a cleaning soap.
Each Monday I’d do that little bit on Fb known as “Make It Monday” and I’d do a category on-line on learn how to make one thing with stuff you may have at residence and your important oils. Ultimately, folks requested me to promote it to them, moderately than making it for themselves. In order that’s how it began.”
In keeping with Chandler although, proudly owning a enterprise was by no means within the plan till final yr.
“None of this was a plan in any way,” Chandler mentioned. “I’d not have dreamed in 4 million years that I’d be a store proprietor. It is nice, and I adore it, however I didn’t plan it. It’s an about face (from our careers in schooling). The schedules are totally different. The work is totally different. There may be nothing that is not totally different. I imply, working with folks is basically the identical. We labored with small folks, now it is grown folks.”
Neighborhood response
Chandler mentioned the neighborhood’s reception to the brand new enterprise has been “wonderful.”
“It has been over and above what I anticipated,” Chandler mentioned. “So many good individuals are right here. I feel this neighborhood usually is filled with actually sort folks. I’ve bought to satisfy folks from my husband’s previous. It is simply been a delight to get to know folks. They have been so sort to me, and so they maintain coming again again and again – which is a shock, and it is so humbling to me each time folks come again and get extra. It is one thing that I’ve made, and it is only a actually humbling expertise for me.”
Initially, Chandler reached out to the college about transferring into the house now occupied by Rios Mexican Kitchen’s new bar.
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“I used to be not planning on opening a retailer. I’ve thought of it and dreamed about it, however by no means thought it will be a actuality,” Chandler mentioned. “We had been going to give up and sort of beef up our on-line enterprise. It was just a little tiny house that I assumed I’d be capable of afford. So, I despatched (Mars Hill College) President (Tony) Floyd a Fb message.
“I used to be like, ‘Properly, Lord, if it is your will, I am simply going to do it, and if he solutions the Fb message, so be it.’ He answered me and mentioned that that constructing was already taken, however that I might come and see this one.”
In keeping with Chandler, the lease on the constructing began Aug. 1, 2022.
For the reason that Chandlers moved in, the opposite Mars Hill store homeowners have proven the brand new enterprise homeowners nothing however love.
“They have been so nice,” Chandler mentioned. “The girl who owns Wild Violet (Michele Clark), her daughters had been simply in right here. Everyone has been wonderful. I eat in any respect these eating places at the very least as soon as per week. Everyone’s been simply so sort. I hear the neighborhood getting excited concerning the development right here. I really feel like they’re excited that they will come and spend a piece of time in Mars Hill now. They’ll eat, and so they can store and so they can have espresso. It is nice.”
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Chandler mentioned she hopes to proceed to contribute to that ever-expanding entrepreneurial spirit in Mars Hill for a few years to return.
“My true want was to serve our neighborhood and provides them a spot the place they will come and store, in the event that they’re like me and so they don’t love to go away their home very a lot, or to go in to Asheville, which I do not get pleasure from. To every their very own, however I like to remain near residence,” Chandler mentioned.
“Actually, my coronary heart was to serve this neighborhood, and that has been precisely what it feels prefer it’s been. I’ve some school college students, and I’ve numerous out-of-town clients, however the coronary heart of the client base has been individuals who stay proper right here. We wish to be an awesome steward of the house. We wish to be a springboard for Mars Hill’s continued development.”
Quill and Honey is positioned at 18 S. Predominant St. in downtown Mars Hill.
