Heather Phelps, owner of The Fresh Boutique, believes in a green lifestyle, which is reflected in the products she carries.
The Fresh Boutique opened at 801 E. First St., Merrill, in July. The store features such eco-friendly products as cloth diapers and organic clothing. Also available are natural or organic candles, lotions and body products, along with locally made jewelry and art pieces. Many of the items are made from recycled, upcycled or sustainable content. Old license plates and record albums, for example, are reborn as works of art. Imported items are Fairtrade goods.
“Pretty much everything here is something I’d have in my own house or personally use,” Heather said.
Heather grew up in Merrill and her husband’s career brought them back to her hometown about five years ago. She decided to open a store to offer eco-friendly goods to Merrill.
“We needed something unique here,” she said.
The building received a complete makeover. The building owner, Chris Malm, refaced the outside of the building while Heather redid the entire inside, resulting in a fresh new look for The Fresh Boutique.
Heather said she’s heard from many people who appreciate the amount of work that has gone into the building.
Plans for the new business were in the works for about a year. This is Heather’s first venture as a business owner.
“I knew this is what I wanted to do,” she said.
The Fresh Boutique is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays. The business can be found online at www.thefreshboutique.com or on facebook.