Today we’d like to introduce you to Rosie Baker.
Hi Rosie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been in love with business and creating. My parents (Breck and Janie Nelson) owned a few businesses before moving to Greenville and starting Evergreen Plant Company in 2019. When my mom (Janie) told me she wanted to make merchandise for her store, She asked if I’d like to try something to make it happen. I had been doing vinyl and HTV for a few years but wanted something longer-lasting. So, I taught myself how to screen print! I started screen printing in my basement in March of 2021. As my customer base grew, so did my need for space. I rented a small studio and kept going.
A little back story: I’ve always loved reading and was a librarian at Greenville Public Library for almost 10 years. For years, I’d told my husband (Ross) that a bookstore would be my dream. But it was never the time, or we didn’t need the means. In June of 2023, a storefront became available. When we looked at the retail space, I knew it could happen. We don’t have any indie bookstores within a 30-mile radius. The front space would be perfect for a small bookstore. Plus, I could screen print and embroider out of the back. After two months of renovating, the bookstore opened on August 19, 2023. The turnout was incredible! People love having a place to come, sit, and read. It may be a smaller store, but we make it work! Currently, I have 4 employees who work in the bookstore. One day, I’m not up front; I’m screen printing or embroidering different orders. I also stock the store with apparel I’ve made.
The bookstore has a little for everyone. I wanted to create a space where you could come in and find any book. From indie authors to mainstream, there is something for everyone. We can order it if you need help finding what you want. There are new and used books available. The community has supported my bookstore dream. I wanted to give back to the community, so my third-grade book program was created. All donated books sold in the store go to fund the program. Every third grader in Bond County will receive a new book at Christmas. I wanted the books to be something the kids would like to read instead of something they had to read. I worked with the third-grade teachers to select various books, from non-fiction to graphic novels. This past Christmas, almost 200 kids received books!
Besides the store, I took over the Bond County Farmers’ Market in the spring of 2023. The season runs from June to October. It’s grown dramatically in the last year from fourteen vendors to forty! I also started a kid’s market program called Happy Beans. Kids aged two to twelve can come to have their own “mini market” experience by completing challenges and earning “Bean Bills” (like monopoly money) to spend at the vendor’s booths. Last summer (2023), over two hundred kids signed up. It was a fantastic market season!
Overall, the store has allowed me to do more than I thought possible. None of it could have happened without the support of my family (Ross, my husband, and our three kids: Addie, Clark, and Mark), my parents, and the community. We can continue to grow and share the love of reading with more and more people each year.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been challenging, but it has been simple. The biggest struggle is getting your name out there. Funding was something we also knew would be a big hurdle. I was fortunate to receive a grant from Bond County. It was meant to support businesses that started in 2023. The bookstore fit the criteria, and we received the grant!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a screen-printer. I don’t use the typical products (plastisol- think plastic). I specialize in water-based screen printing. Everything I use can be cleaned with water and soap. It helps keep chemicals out of the process. Since I am a smaller operation, I can create small batches of items. There aren’t any minimums to an order. So I can process orders for 4 shirts to 100s. Customers can work with me to create the item they truly want. I love working with someone to help them design their desired item. From color options to the design, it is a fun challenge.
How do you define success?
Success can come in different ways. Obviously, it makes a profit. But I love it when people come in and love the space. They can escape for a little bit.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thefreckledpress.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/thefreckledpress
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086781824786
