As I sit in Basse Trading Company, listening to Johnny Cash on the record player and hearing the cars drive by from the open door, I feel at ease. Being in Basse is truly my happy place. I'm surrounded by old, funky, vintage items. The smell of cupcakes and cinnamon rolls are constantly in the air from the bakery next door. The customers who come in are friendly and take their time to browse around. They comment on old items. "Oh my grandmother had one of these old Pyrex bowls" or "I haven't seen one of these old suitcases in years". I have the opportunity to sell merchandise from local handmade artists. Some of them are family, some of them I've just met since we've been open at Basse. It's so great to see these artists and crafters grow into young businesses.
What excites me the most are the growth spurts Basse is going thru. Back in June of 2016 Beth (my sweet mother), Tony (my supportive and very patient husband) and I opened Basse Trading Company on 6th Street in Tuscumbia, AL. It was the perfect mix of old and new, sprinkled with handmade and local vendors. As our lives changed and Basse grew, we open a second location. In October of 2017, Basse (or, Basse on Main as we lovingly call it) opened in Moulton, AL. This location is housed in my late Godmother's old antique store. Before she sold Victorian Era couches and pewter picture frames, the building was her Father's grocery store. It is funny how so much history and memories can be attached to a simple brick building.
This brings us to the spring of 2018. As both Basse locations are running smoothly, we start to focus on our future. What do we want Basse Trading Company to be? Where do we want it to go? As a family, we have been blessed in the opportunities we have. We hope we can bless others and bring happiness to events, growth spurts and memories in people's lives.
You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don’t try to forget the mistakes, but you don’t dwell on it. You don’t let it have any of your energy or any of your time, or any of your space.
~ Johnny Cash
