Miscellaneous Market - Dede Cowart

My Tik Tok feed is full of videos entitled “Things you need from Amazon”. It’s become the most accessible, and some would say fulfilling way to quickly satisfy our need to consume and treat ourselves in stressful times. However, the habitual one-click purchase continues to hurt local businesses, already reeling from an unimaginably hard 2020. If you’ve decided to be a more conscientious consumer that still wants cute, functional and reasonably priced goods, I hope you’ve discovered Miscellaneous Market.

Two years ago, sisters, Dede and Landrea, opened up shop in Ivanhoe Village. It’s filled with goods that cover just about every aspect of life where you may want to allow a little retail indulgence. Home decor, planning and organization, kitchen tools, accessories, health + beauty products, and as the name states, many miscellaneous things in-between. As a small local business themselves, they support other small local businesses on their shelves, like Bloomwolf Studio, Naked Bar Soap Co., and others. Intermixed, you’ll find items for men, and as seasons change, so does the inventory. Actually, it changes faster than the seasons. Within one week, I visited the shop twice, and new merchandise was already on the floor, which meant new sales items in the back.

The product remains fresh and in step with consumers' current needs and wishes, with cute masks and high-end essential oils, and gifts for those most worthy right now, like teachers and nurses.

That attention to curation and demand, while allowing us not to break the bank, are just a few reasons why this store is a local gem.

I interviewed one-half of the sisters, Dede, to get some more insight into their journey into business ownership, how they keep their shop enticing, and how current events have affected them.

LH: What is your professional background?

DC: “Graphic design. I'm a Full Sail alumnus. This sort of came about on a whim. Prior to the last five years or so, I never viewed myself as a creative. There was a time when I thought I'd be on the corporate side of things, went to the University of Miami for my first two years of college. An interest in marketing + advertising and the intrigue I experienced when I started working for (what is now) our family business lead me here. Haven't looked back.”

LH: Your family’s business is in the wedding industry. Being involved in that before opening up your shop, how did it prepare you for pivoting to retail?

DC: “The wedding industry introduced me to styling, set/event design, curation, and so many other aesthetic-driven avenues. I learned the importance of personal connection + customer service and the impact of sensory experience. Referrals were a major contributor to new business, so I was also able to see how necessary it is to network and build relationships.”

LH: You and your sister curate beautiful spaces and settings, and have great taste in products. How do you let trends dictate your taste versus your inherent sense of style? How do trends play a role in the offerings at Miscellaneous Market?

DC: “One of the best things about retail (and sometimes overwhelming) is that you're always buying at least one season ahead, so you have early access to trends. They're great for inspiration, a way to stay current, and a tool for seasonal planning. I like to use trends versus rely on them because they come and go. My mom, sister, and I are all buyers for the store, and we tend to source products that we like and that personally move us as consumers. Of course, we also focus heavily on and pay attention to the needs/wants of our customers, who luckily share our same taste. Miscellaneous has allowed us to set some of our own trends.”

LH: What was the overall concept for Miscellaneous Market and how do you envision pivoting or maintaining relevancy as online shopping trends continue to rise? 

DC: “It all started with knowing we wanted to open a store filled with really cool, (fun)ctional stuff at a fair price point. To make gifting easier, convenient, and enjoyable. We're launching an online store this fall, which has been a process, but we're really excited about it! We've put some serious thought into the site, trying to figure out how to recreate our in-store experience in a digital space. You can expect lots of ready-to-go gift sets, bundles, and boxes versus a ton of individual products.

LH: Your shop got a lot of attention around Blackout Tuesday as people sought out Black-owned businesses. What are your thoughts on receiving that attention when your shop has been here for two years?

DC: To be completely honest, I had mixed feelings about it. We appreciated the exposure and definitely benefited from the social media buzz. Supporting Black became trendy, and like I mentioned before, trends come and go, so I couldn't help but wonder how much of this sudden support was actually genuine. How long before the newfound "wokeness" fizzles and folks are lulled back into their slumber? My hope is that all of these Black-owned lists and highlights are eventually incorporated into lists just featuring great businesses. Miscellaneous being Black-owned is merely a bonus.”

LH: What have you learned about your business and the community from dealing with the current pandemic?

DC: The pandemic has been a wild demonstration of our interdependence. We are all one, and we all need one another. I think everyone was reminded of the value of kindness and empathy. Over the past few months, we've had so many people come to the store for little pick-me-up gifts, and small things for those they knew were going through a tough time. It's been refreshing and rewarding to see so much care in our community. We're hyped about this upcoming holiday season, not only because we love this time of year, but because we're noticing that people aren't just giving to give. There's a rise in meaningfulness and intention. Though celebrations look different in 2020, the gift is becoming the gathering.”

LH: What are you most excited for regarding your family’s businesses?

DC: “I'm excited about our businesses truly transforming into what we know they can be. The slower pace and down time have given us the opportunity to improve on all the things we keep putting off or couldn't seem to make time for. Ultimately though, I'm just looking forward to still being here and the ability to remain optimistic and foresee growth at such an uncertain time. “

Miscellaneous Market is located at 1903 N Orange Ave in Orlando. Their current hours are Wednesday - Saturday 10am - 6pm and Sunday 10am - 3pm. Follow them on Instagram @misc.market for new product info, inspiration, and of course the new website launching soon.

All images are property of LemonHearted Creative. This is not a promotional post or ad.