Shortly after Hayden McIntosh Geer and her husband Richard Geer relocated to Ancramdale from their hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, they noticed a “For Rent” sign in a newly empty storefront on Main Street in nearby Millerton. Hayden, a trained cardiac ICU nurse, wasn’t necessarily looking for a new career as a gift shop owner, but the recent loss of her parents spurred her to seize the opportunity she saw for something magical to blossom in the 600-square-foot shop. “On a lark we called the realtor, and suddenly I was at gift shows in New York City and Atlanta buying things before I even had the lease finalized,” she says. “From the first day we opened, people started complimenting the curation of the store. It revealed a talent I didn’t realize I had.”

Opened in the fall of 2020, demitasse. (named for an espresso cup, in reference to the store’s tiny-but-mighty footprint) offers a joyous selection of gifts thoughtfully sourced from vendors and makers with strong environmental or social values. “The curation happened very organically,” says Hayden. “I just went to market looking for pretty things from small companies and women-owned businesses, and my husband, who is a former environmental engineer, started asking all these questions about labor conditions and recycled paper content.” 

As a result of their combined sourcing philosophies, shoppers will find a diverse array of independent, mostly women-owned brands whose products create meaningful impact and add a little sparkle to the hum-drum of everyday life. All the store shelving is made by Richard from fallen trees on their 30-acre property, and the store’s pagoda logo is a nod to the little ceramic “oonies” or fairy homes that the previous homeowner made and hid all over the yard and woods of the property. “There’s heart and soul everywhere in our store,” Hayden says. “We’re really proud of every single thing we carry.”

From women’s apparel and accessories to home goods, bath and body products, paper goods, baby clothes and toys, and holiday items, there’s a little something for everyone on the gift list—or just a special pick-me-up for yourself. 

There are style-forward sunglasses and reading glasses made from recycled materials by Parafina, a Spanish company that donates five percent of sales to efforts to provide stable and quality education for children in Paraguay. New York-based KAMARIA makes its jewelry with lab-created semi-precious stones (which are free of the ethical issues of mining), and has a non-profit that provides direct support to survivors of campus sexual assault. Mother-and-daughter-owned Ordinary Habit collaborates with female artists around the world to create puzzles from recycled materials, and donates proceeds to groups that support emotional and mental wellness. “It amazes me that all these people (mostly women) are not only trying to create a difference through what they make, but to better people’s lives, too,” Hayden says. 

Customers can stop by demitasse. Thursday through Monday from 11am to 5pm, or explore brands and make purchases online at Demitasseny.com. 

 

Produced by Chronogram Media Branded Content Studio. This content is made possible by our sponsor. It does not necessarily reflect the attitude, views, or opinions of the Rural Intelligence editorial staff.

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Chronogram Media Branded Content Team