Growing up in a family full of entrepreneurs, it was always Calley Hoffman’s passion to start her own business. “I come from a long line of entrepreneurs in my family. Growing up in the rodeo industry, we always had something going on and a side business,” says Calley. Her family taught her the mindset of perseverance and endurance, providing Calley with the confidence to open a storefront featuring all the things that she loves.
Calley Hoffman, owner of Feathered Arrow Mercantile, enjoys using her shop to create a space for other small business vendors to gain exposure and new customers.
Initially, she was planning to open a small shop featuring her favorite items. As she started talking to potential vendors, a new idea emerged. “As I started reaching out to some of my favorite local makers to purchase wholesale from them, it was clear that most of them were seeking a place they could set and feature all of their goods,” says Calley. With her creativity and eagerness to help others, Calley tossed her original business plan and began to build a new plan, one with “a huge storefront featuring local makers, artists, collectors & procurers.”
On December 1, 2021, Calley officially opened the doors to Feather Arrow Mercantile. With help from family and friends, she launched with 45 vendors in a 5,000 square foot space in downtown Wamego, Kansas. “We expanded not once, but twice within 6 months of opening. The demand was there and the opportunity to grow into spaces surrounding us was an easy decision. We are now in 7,000 square feet and have 94 vendors.” The vision for a small shop selling her favorite things has since grown into a community-wide resource for small businesses, while inviting others to shop for their favorite things.
Calley highlights that each vendor at Feathered Arrow provides valuable and unique products that benefit the shop. “Each of our vendors put their own spin and creativity on the goods they create or procure. What I love is how diverse and creative our entire group is. Everyone has a hidden talent they can feature in their booths,” says Calley.
Word of mouth is one of the most effective marketing tools for bringing in new vendors, Calley says. They often contact her for a place to sell their products after another community member tells them about her business. “When a vendor approaches me requesting to become a part of our shop family, we start with a conversation about their goods and wares and what they’d like to do to be successful in the shop,” says Calley. The values of her business are built on the foundation of challenging work and dedication, and she asks her vendors to demonstrate these values when they agree to be part of her shop. Calley adds, “It is not as simple as slapping a few items in your space and then walking away while waiting for payday. We have to work to make ourselves known and successful and be relentlessly thankful to our guests and community, because without them, we would not be here.”
What sets Feathered Arrow Mercantile apart from similar businesses is the uniqueness of the many small businesses under one roof. In the vendor community, there are multiple fairs and markets to sell products, but Feathered Arrow differs by offering a physical building in which to sell products on an ongoing basis. “We don’t have to worry about the outdoor elements dampening the success of our events because we’re indoors and able to operate no matter the weather.” Calley adds, “I also feel we stand out as we’re open six days a week and have extended hours into the evening compared to other storefronts similar to us.” Calley is also proud of the dedicated staff behind Feathered Arrow unique that foster the family atmosphere of the shop.
Although they have already expanded the location twice in the last year, Calley does not limit the possibility of moving to an even bigger storefront. “Never say never,” she says. And even as their storefront expands, Feathered Arrow also continues to grow their e-commerce presence online. “We expanded to offer e-commerce; it is a limited offering [currently] but grows weekly. We offer shipping and store pickup,” says Calley. To accommodate their regional audience, they offer a phone-in purchase options for specific products. “In addition to e-commerce, we offer over-the-phone purchasing of items featured on our social media pages. If you see something you love on our social media pages, you can message us directly on the page or call to secure the item.”
After nearly a year in business, Calley feels constant gratitude for her community and the support she has been given. “We don’t do any advertising and the success of our shop has relied solely on the word-of-mouth referrals our guests have given us.” She adds, “We want to give a heartfelt thank you to all who shop with us, follow our journey, and share our store with their friends and family.”
Visit Feathered Arrow in downtown Wamego, Kansas, for a one-of-kind shopping experience, shop online, or plan to attend one of their upcoming events and workshops found on the events tab on their Facebook page. Workshops covered a variety of interests, including knitting, cupcake and cookie decorating, Bloody Mary-making, card-making, and more. Check out their social media to find a workshop that interests you most!
