With merchandise from 70 Buckeye State vendors, Simply Vague is a mecca for Ohio-made goods.
Inside the 800-square-foot store in Delaware, shoppers can find everything from jewelry and onesies to furniture and food− tortilla chips from Athens, syrup from Fredericktown, and salsa from Zanesville, just to name a few.
“My husband Nate and I have always been passionate about buying local, but it was hard for us to do being from Ostrander,” said Andrea Archibald, who co-owns Simply Vague with Nate.
“We also found that it’s hard to find more than a few local items in one place,” she added. “We wanted to offer a mix of local food and handmade items under one roof in hopes that people could do their replacement shopping without having to go too far out of the way or without having to go to 10 different places!”
Prices range from $1 for a dog bone to $950 for an armoire.
The Archibalds discovered several of Simply Vague’s vendors at farmers markets. They also approached Etsy sellers with unique items. After the store opened July 1, though, several merchants came to them.
“We know every vendor in the store and their story, and we love to share the stories with our customers so they get a personal connection to the products they are buying,” Andrea said.
The merchandise mix changes daily because it’s consigned. And if an item doesn’t sell well, the Archibalds look for ones they think will do better.
They also take the Delaware community into account. For instance, the store carries gluten-free products because there is a demand for them in the area.
Also, “We are big on custom orders,” Andrea said. “Because all of our vendors are local, you can order almost anything through the store with a quick turnaround.”
Simply Vague has gotten so popular the Archibalds are already working on a second location off the food court at The Mall at Tuttle Crossing.
“We hope in the mall that people will see why buying local is so important and we hope being there makes it more convenient to do so,” Andrea said.
The second location is scheduled to open Sept. 1 at 10 a.m.
