Two New Stores Bloom in Downtown Topeka April 2020
ASH Boutique and Makers are a retail “power couple”
The stores are Makers, with unique artisan products, and ASH Boutique, offering contemporary women’s fashions. Topeka entrepreneur Ashley Dassinger Carson is at the heart of both store concepts and operations, which will flank the north and south sides of The Pennant restaurant.
“We’re thrilled to be part of downtown Topeka’s burgeoning retail and restaurant scene with both Makers and ASH Boutique,” says Carson. “We are joining the downtown community to continue making the area more vibrant, walkable and shoppable than ever.”
Makers is a new concept with locally designed, handmade gift and lifestyle items. It will feature a curated selection of jewelry, clothing, baby gifts, furniture, soaps and lotions, stationery items, candles and artwork by Kansas artisans and books by Kansas authors. The store will also offer fresh florals. Carson says that the idea for Makers has been a passion project in the making for several years.
“There’s an exciting shift happening in retail with a focus on handmade merchandise, a maker’s movement,” says Carson. “I’m excited to bring something brand new to downtown Topeka.”
ASH Boutique is moving to downtown from its current location in the historic Westboro Mart in order to grow with customer demand. “Frankly, we need the room because we’ve outgrown the space at our current location,” says Carson.
The store double the current retail space and add much-needed warehouse space that will allow the store to serve the shop’s expanding online business.
“This is crucial to us meeting customer demand. More room means we’ll offer more brands and variety. We’ll also have more sizes including more plus sizes (Ash for All is our tagline for Plus) and more shoes,” says Carson.
More About Makers
The concept behind Makers is new, according to Carson. Makers has reinvented the concept of the co-op. Vendors will not pay “rent” for shelf or booth space.
“I’ve been part of co-ops before and felt the frustration of paying for a business that was based on my rent, not on sales of my products. Makers will be a win-win for all involved because we’re all invested in the success of these carefully selected items,” says Carson.
Creators who are selected for the store will pay marketing and operational fees plus a commission on sales. Makers will market and display products throughout the store in a beautifully integrated and merchandised set up, not as vendor booths. This team approach helps everyone: customers get a seamless store experience and creators get the compound benefit of each other’s artistry.
As a veteran retailer and entrepreneur, Carson is leveraging her 19 years of retail experience and success in marketing ASH Boutique into the launch of Makers.
“I know my customers very well. I know what they want,” says Carson. “Shopping is more than just a purchase, it’s an experience. Customers are looking to buy something that has a story, has style and has roots in this area.” High quality and locally made are what they are seeking.
Makers will be located at 913 Kansas Avenue, on the north side of The Pennant. “Right now we’re in the midst of renovating our space, and it’s going to be beautiful!” says Carson. The retail space will be approximately 2,500 square feet.
The store will host a Grand Opening event in early April. “We plan to open by April 1,” says Carson, “Naturally that will depend upon the renovations going smoothly. Stay tuned!”
Makers is currently accepting applications from creators and artisans who are interested in having products sold in Makers. Submissions can be made online at MakersKS.com.
More About ASH Boutique
ASH Boutique opened in 2014 in the historic Westboro Mart. The purpose of the store is to help women feel great in their clothes. “When we feel great in our clothes, then we feel we can accomplish anything—with family, career and community,” says Carson. “That’s what ASH is all about.”
