The Butler’s Pantry, located in Escalon, CA and owned by Jamie Butler was recently named a 2022 global gia honoree during The Inspired Home Show 2022. The Butler’s Pantry was one of five honorees selected by a jury of designers and media from the 33 national winners honored this year.
Butler soon transformed the success of the truck’s business and opened a brick-and-mortar location in 2015, stocking the store with a carefully curated array of kitchenware and cookware. Butler’s penchant for creating engaging, visually pleasing displays enticed customers both near and far, as she spread word of the store through a successful Instagram program.
Butler continued on with her truck services, offering brides-to-be a mobile shopping experience in which they and invited bridal guests could peruse, test and shop for kitchen goods.
Butler’s energy and passion for sharing innovative ideas and pivoting to the ever-changing needs of her customer base is one of many of the reasons The Butler’s Pantry was chosen as a 2022 gia merchandising excellence winner and global gia honoree.
“It is such an honor,” said Butler. “We will be in business for nine years in May, and it’s such an honor to see people shopping with us. I would never have dreamed this would happen but I just love retail and housewares, and to be able to represent the industry in this way is just a huge accomplishment.”
And it doesn’t stop there. Butler kept busy amid the pandemic, making plans and launching several complementary business ventures in hopes of expanding her vision and offering locals and visitors a retail experience unlike any other in the area.
In 2021, Butler signed the lease to open a restaurant three doors down from The Butler’s Pantry. Slated to open later this summer, Butler said she aims to provide the shop’s customers, many of whom are out-of-town vacationers, a place to linger a little longer and enjoy a fuller experience.
In addition, Butler also opened Poppy On Main, a 900-square-foot gift shop devoted to a younger clientele — pre-teens and up — whom she observed was missing a go-to spot for gifting and gathering with friends.
“The new store is full of experience geared towards that younger crowd, with whom gifting is popular,” Butler said. “The pricepoints are a little lower than at The Butler’s Pantry and the color palette is brighter, more whimsical with a nostalgic 70s vibe that is on-trend right now. The store gives us the chance to provide them with customer service they won’t get at mass retail, such as helping them put together a thoughtful gift for their best friend.”
Butler said Poppy On Main gives her the opportunity to be curate a more gift-specific selection of goods, separate, yet still complementary to her core kitchenware business at The Butler’s Pantry.
Butler also plans to expand The Butler’s Pantry location to 1,700 square feet, enabling Butler to widen and reorganize the various categories of product she carries into specific sections.
“Our customers travel to come to the store, so we are happy to give them a fuller experience with more to explore,” she said.
Butler’s cooking classes remain a strong attraction, as does the creative workshop room in which she hosts various classes, such as wreath making, calligraphy and other lifestyle-oriented activities.
Butler’s best advice for other independent retailers looking for inspiration in these uncertain times?
“Surround yourself with people that are like-minded,” she said. “It’s the only way we have gotten through this. And don’t let anyone tell you your ideas are crazy, follow your dreams.”
