Stacy Wengler and her husband, Kyle, have been organizing the 605 Made Markets for 10 years, giving local makers an outlet to sell their items.
One day while driving home from a vacation, the couple wondered about having a physical location to help out the makers who didn’t have storefronts or were just pursuing their hobbies.
“I thought, ‘Could we do this all the time?’” said Stacy. “Kyle was like, ‘Yeah, we could,” she remembered.
On that truck ride they started a list, writing down everything they would want in a building for a storefront in Hartford.
“We got home and just kept moving forward with it,” said Stacy.
The couple opened Knotty Gnome Variety & Salvage in 2016.
INVENTORY INQUIRY
Knotty Gnome carries all of the following:
Accessories
Bags
Baby Gifts
Bookmarks
Craft Kits
Earrings
Embroidery
Gnomes
Greeting Cards
Honey & Jams
Home Décor
Soaps & Bath Bombs
Prior to owning their own business, Kyle worked on communication towers and for the local cable company.
Stacy had worked with her father, Beaver, for 25 years at his metal fabrication business called Beaverbuilt Inc.
On top of that, the couple was craftily creating at home: Stacy made handmade goods, while Kyle would do woodworking.
“He was doing more and more to help with some of the products or ideas I had with things I wanted to make, and we had the garage filled,” said Stacy.
When the store opened, everything moved from home.
Now, Knotty Gnome primarily carries handmade goods from regional makers. Stacy shares she has about 25-30 makers who rotate depending on the season.
“We also have a small collection of retail lines, some of the snarky, funny stuff that people love,” she said. “But I would say 95% of our items are handmade.”
One local maker featured at Knotty Gnome is Sew Doggy Boutique, which offers everyday and seasonal collars and bandanas for dogs.
“We have a shop dog, Ella, who’s a really good model,” said Stacy. “She’s probably the best dressed pup in town.”
Finding local makers is a breeze for Stacy after organizing the 605 Made Markets.
“People are looking for places to be able to sell their items on a regular basis instead of just having to do pop-ups and craft shows,” she reflected.
The shop owner keeps a keen eye out for new products on social media as well, sharing that she’ll reach out to makers if she thinks they’ll be a good fit for her store.
“It’s always changing, what people are making, and what we have in the store,” she said.
“When people come in, especially if they’ve never been here before, they’re so surprised and excited.”
– Stacy Wengler
In 2021, Stacy’s dad retired from Beaverbuilt Inc., and the couple bought the company, splitting their time between the two businesses.
“Thank goodness it’s in the same parking lot, because we walk back and forth multiple times a day,” laughed Stacy.
With the assets of the metal fabrication shop, Stacy herself is a maker of steel yard décor, sewing projects, earrings, general crafting, laser engraving, and more.
“I do a lot of custom engraved items or promotional items for businesses, or individual wedding or anniversary gifts,” she said.
Plaques, awards, tumblers, beverage holders, keychains, and engravings are all available to be customized and even done in large quantities.
“We have such a variety of things,” said Stacy, sharing that some customers come in just to pick up specific items like locally made honey and jams.
From coming up with the ideas for products and making them, to the daily routines of running the store and greeting customers, Stacy says it’s important to her to be an active participant in the community.
GNOMENCLATURE
Knotty Gnome found its name when Kyle and Stacy, fans of vintage garden gnomes, ran across a chainsaw-carved gnome statue. The gnome is about three feet tall and sits proudly in their home.
CRAFTY CLASSES
For pop-up classes and events, follow along on facebook at /knottygnome605.
Knotty Gnome gives donations and hosts pop-up classes, tours, and events in conjunction with local organizations like the library or the school.
“Our students and our school depend on their local businesses to support them, so we’re trying to do everything we can to step out and be a role model for the kids, or be able to speak on how you can be in a small town and own your own business and be successful,” shared Stacy.
As far as her favorite part of the job, Stacy says it’s all about seeing the different people who come into the store.
“It’s just really fun to see how surprised people are about how many unique things are in the store and how much creativity all of my makers have,” she said.
Stacy continued, “We just have so much color and so many fun things that it’s hard not to be happy when you come in.”
