The vision behind the business

As a newly married girl of 23, my future was laid out before me. I had just been fired for the first time EVER and I was absolutely beside myself with humiliation. I had never been fired before and in my mind, was completely confused as to why. I questioned everything I was as a person. I could not believe that being terminated had really happened to ME!

Two years previously, my husband and I had graduated from our beloved Bible college in Tulsa, OK. With a fire in our hearts to preach the gospel through music and ministry, I was ready to take the world by storm. We married 4 months afterward and then moved to Florida the following Spring with the intentions of beginning our own ministry.

Low and behold, ideals got knocked out of the way and time line expectations got pushed back. In my youth, I had realized that what I thought I had figured out actually needed to be surrendered and given to the Lord to be worked out. One of these incidents was being asked to leave my first job in Florida.

My heart was to be a homemaker. To have children, raise them from home, homeschool in the future, then interior decorate, entertain guests, and be the chief cook, cleaner, and organizer of our home. I dreamed of being full-time in the ministry with my beloved and I couldn't see it any other way. However, the hobbies that I enjoyed also played a major role in my futuristic plans and ideas.

I love crafts, food, family, animals, and music. All of which is heavily influenced by God. Rachel's Nic-Nac Corner is an idea that reflects all of that.

It all started with the idea of trying to make money from home. I began teaching piano and built up to a cliental of 8 students at once time. After I got pregnant with our son, I had to stop teaching all together and to fill up my time, turned to puzzles and other crafts. I created a display piece of his name for his room and got a lot of attention from it.

After a while, I went back to work and then got pregnant with our oldest daughter which meant I had to come home again. During this time, I started to advertise the making of these display pieces and sold two during my second pregnancy.

I really began to explore the potential of this idea as a business and since then, made four more displays. Three of which I sold. The fourth was a gift. As I prayed and talked to friends and family about my heart behind the whole, I realized that I had quiet the plan.

My desire for Rachel's Nic-Nac Corner is for it to be a shop in which we sell pre-made and custom made hand-painted and designed wooden display pieces that can accentuate the home. Whether it be for a child's room,

nursery, den or kitchen; I would like for a person to be able to walk in and find a piece that fits for them. However, I don't want it to stop there!

I would like to sell fudge and specialty popcorn, old fashioned children's toys, ladies bags and accessories, music, books, home decor, old fashioned stationary and office supplies, small tech accessories, Art by Abigail, and a forever Christmas display complete with fireplace mantel and tree, showcasing decor, ornaments, and gifts for everyone! My desire would be for this shop to just be one of four parts of a larger general store, including a farmer's market, cafe, and seasonal barn.

My farmer's market idea was inspired by my love of spending the day as a child walking through the local farmer's markets in Ohio. Listening, looking, and smelly those unique booths and scents throughout. Tasting samples and enjoying fresh food of all kinds! I would like for Rachel's Nic-Nac Corner to be across from Caleb's Farmer's Stand where you can get seasonal fruits and vegetables from local farmers and gardeners, as well as fresh flowers, local honey, and herbs!

To continue on the tour of my Clement's Family Market plan, I would like to explore the adventure of running a cafe called Hannah's Brunch and Lunch Cafe where you can get a late breakfast, early or late lunch, Saturday suppers, and baked goods all year round. With a buffet that changes meals twice a day and styles every day, you will find something on the menu that will 'hit the spot'! Or at least that is the plan.

I would like for the cafe to have a country feel with a chic contemporary style, offering hot or cold, comforting or light, meaty or vegetarian, seasonally inspired food for the whole family. With tables suited for small or large parties, and dining spaces indoors and outdoors to enjoy the weather accordingly.

All of these parts I plan to have connected to a living space of sorts in the center, encouraging folks to take a rest, chat, warm up or cool off, and all in all, have a pleasant experience. The last part of this whole idea is the barn. And that is what it will be called THE BARN.

In the month of September, my plan would be to open it annually for Apple Celebration. I would love to have a small orchard for folks to go pick their own apples, have pre-bagged apples for folks to buy, and a shop selling apple baked goods.

In the month of October, I would love to have a small pumpkin patch for folks to go pick their own pumpkins, have pre-picked pumpkins for folks to buy, and in the shop we would sell apple and pumpkin baked goods.

In the month of November, I would love to continue the pumpkin festivities, but sell cranberry baked goods as well and receive donations for hungry families for Thanksgiving.

And in the month of December, I would love to have a small Christmas tree farm to allow folks to cut down their own tree, have pre-cut trees for people buy, and sell gingerbread and peppermint baked goods in the shop.

Of course coffees other hot beverages being sold with to-go lunches available as people spend time on the farm. Home decor and gifts items for the entire holiday season would be available as well as hayrides during the fall.

Imagine with me, if you will, a family comes to town. Maybe a family who has never been to our county before, looking for something to do. They see the Family Market off the side of the road and stop in. As the walk up the steps to the front porch, they are welcomed by softly playing hymns over the sound system and a crackling fire in the lounging space. To the right they see Rachel's Nic-Nac Corner so they walk through the shop doors.

The kids run to the fudge display while mom is slowly lured to the Christmas tree. Dad buys some treats for the family while the kids follow the path of the store to the kids corner where toys and art supplies can be sampled and purchased. Dad takes notice of the accessories that suit him while Mom turns towards the purses.

As the family takes a whiff of the home-cookin' next door, they make

their way to Hannah's Brunch and Lunch Cafe. The family seats themselves and their order is taken. Dad orders the taco bar, while Mom selects a meal-sized tossed salad. The kids don't go hungry when they can choose anything from peanut butter and jelly to fish sticks and fries to pizza.

With to-go cups in hand, they begin to head out when Mom sees Caleb's Farmer's Stand directly across the lounge area. She remembered that she needed to go grocery shopping so why not get her veggies here? The family makes their way across the floor and begins to select fresh their fruits and veggies for the week. A bag of assorted nuts for Dad and some preserve filled cookies for the kids makes this stop to the Family Market complete.

While loading up in the car, the children point out the horse leading the hayride as it makes it's way around the barn for it's third trip of the day, and ask if they can see what's inside the barn. Dad decides to go for it since this is their first time to Jackson County. They leave their purchases and left overs in the car, and make their way across the gravel parking lot while watching folks rocking on the front porch of the Store.

As the approach The Barn, Christmas Music begins to fill air. The hayride from afar actually is a mock sleigh ride with bells jingling as the horse walks. The kids are delighted with joy when they see the trees leaning on the inside walls of the structure. The family makes their way to the shop within and notice the people filling the space bundled in coats, scarves and hats, carrying their evergreen trophies to their vehicles.

On their way in the shop, Mom sees the Christmas decorations on display. The family tours the shop and then exits back into the main barn space. The kids excitedly ask for a sleigh ride and Dad concurs. The purchase tickets and climb aboard the decked out hay wagon for the holiday. A festively dressed man slaps the reigns on the horse's back, and as the wagon pulls away from The Barn, the country side spans out before them.

With the bare apple trees to the left and the empty pumpkin patch before them, the family takes in the beauty of the Christmas tree rows. The scent of pine fills the air and the music from The Barn can be slightly heard as the move out further and further into the field. The kids watch the other children duck and run between the trees while their parents are ever so meticulously

picking out the perfect centerpiece for their living rooms.

As the sleigh ride comes to an end, Dad realizes that the Clement's Family Market is a place they must visit again. Maybe to the point of being a must-do on their list ever time they visit Jackson County. All in all, this will be a place for family time and making memories.

Ultimately, what the Clement's Family Market will provide is a place for tradition, economy for Jackson County, and a financial support for the preaching of the Gospel. If you have a heart to support my business idea, please feel free to contact me. My desire is to design for you a piece that will bring joy to your heart through Rachel's Nic-Nac Corner, and to take one step at a time in building the idea I have for the Market, the Farmer's Stand, the Cafe, and The Barn.

Will you help me in building this for our community and the Lord?

Yours respectfully,

Rachel Clements

Owner of and Designer for Rachel's Nic-Nac Corner