Jim Fair
Meet the staff at The Trading Post at 217 Trade Street. Left to right: Jennifer Haag, Jessica Monroe (owner) and Evan Walker. General Manager Jessica Rowland is not pictured.
Mark Tucker
The panaromic view of The Trading Post shows the merhandise displayed with the Snowdrift signage on the left side of the shop. Jessica Monroe has brand merchandise displayed of Snowdrift dating to the early 1900s.
Mark Tucker
The Trading Post has an artsy feel with umbrellas hung upside from the ceiling and a lit silver tree reflecting its merchandise.
Mark Tucker
This is the view from the back looking toward the front.
The storefront has a rustic look and signage. The windows above the first floor display period furniture. "The front is our crown jewel," Monroe said.
Entering the Trading Post, at 217 Trade Street, were displays and wall art that were strategically placed for the male shoppers. Further back throughout the consignment shop was clothing items, jewelry, dolls, unique crafts and a smorgasbord of gift items. Yes, there were Clemson Tigers and South Carolina Gamecocks items for sale.
Monroe opened for business with little fanfare – she decided Tuesday night. That will come the weekend of Sept. 13-14 when the grand opening will be held featuring a reception on Friday, a meet the artists throughout Saturday and Alex Hunnicutt providing the entertainment.
Jessica Rowland is the store manager and Jenifer Haag and Evan Walker work in sales.
The Trading Post opens everyday at 10 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. except at 8 p.m. on Friday. The store is closed on Sunday.
Monroe and her husband, Nate, gave the store a complete upfit with the restoration adding another tenant that will provide valuable walking traffic downtown.
Oh, and the reason for the classical music and male items in front of the store? Monroe, who is a student of marketing, explains: “Studies show that people will buy higher end merchandise with classical music playing. The male items are in the front because another study claims men are typically interested in the first things they see.”