Wander into the White Wonderland of Beautiful Things

Creative inspiration for your home and business

Start by learning about the owner of Georgie Emerson Vintage–

Polly Cruit McCormick

Polly is cheerful and giggly. She owns a boatload of pens; her favorite comes with a cap from her color-coordinated drawer. You’ll find her engaged with customers with contagious joy inside Georgie Emerson Vintage Mercantile, a home-gathered goods shop.

As a kid

Young Polly loved being outdoors at farms and creeks. She remembers playing Nels Oleson’s Mercantile from Little House on the Prairie, a playset created from a 1970s western. When Polly became bored, her mother would send her outside with a list of natural things to gather up, like moss, sticks, and leaves. Then, they would make art out of it. This made sense because her mother was a combination of Caroline Ingalls and Martha Stewart, always decorating, canning, cooking, gardening, and antiquing.

Selling golfballs instead of lemonade

The time spent outdoors -Polly called herself a tomboy because she spent much time at the neighboring farm and creek.  She spent years near the golf course where she would hunt golf balls in her friend’s field. Afterward, she would set up a stand: “GOLF BALLS FOR SALE,” not lemonade, but golf balls! The ability to find a treasure would certainly circle back into her adult years and assist her future in sales and fun finds.
Partytime

Polly was not a typical high school student. Her main priority was making sure she had her social life. She would go out for dance parties, mainly to 80s music, and spend many nights congregating at parties of what was called “Party Road.” She also recalls fun memories at the local YMCA and the Knights of Columbus in Lancaster, Ohio. Tunes from the famous rocker Billy Idol’s song “Mony, Mony” and “Shout” by Ottis Day & the Knights stand out as fond memories.

College life

When she entered college, she took her interests in people, psychology, and writing. She became an Ohio University graduate of Psychology and Magna Cum Laude, where she took her favorite courses in Humanities, English & Writing, and Psychology. She took extra steps with her “study routine” and used her approach of rewriting notes to memorize her material. Today, it suits her well when you read her excellent, well-written posts on social media.

“I was not super studious in high school.  I was known to rewrite my class notes repeatedly as my way of studying.  I think it was my way of incorporating some art, i.e., handwriting and pens/markers, into my studies.  Somehow, this method helped me memorize more than just reading a book.  In college, however, I was very studious.  It was normal for me to be at the bar at Happy Hour with my roommates and friends, and I would be studying {rewriting my notes} while they were having fun.  It still makes me laugh when I visualize it!  I received scholarships each quarter based on my grades and graduated Magna Cum Laude from O.U.” -Polly Cruit McCormick.

Business, family, and taking a risk

From Big Lots to the Olde Shoe Factory

1996 Polly worked at Big Lots, a widely known retail chain company. She loved her job title at the Department of Human Resources and became the HR Manager for the Corporate Office. Her duties included managing, recruiting, employee relations, relocation, philanthropy, and event planning. While she loved her position at the retail company, her life would move in a different direction.

Losing her mother

In 2006, when both of her parents became ill, she spent the last six months of her Dad’s life with him and then became a caregiver for her mother for the next 6.5 years.  While caring for her mother, she opened a small booth at The Olde Shoe Factory Antique Mall in Lancaster, Ohio.

The same year she opened her shop, her mother had passed away. Luckily, at the time, the shop was a distraction from her depression and grief. It was a saving grace and a place for the business owner to express herself and utilize business skills from working at a National Retailer. But she had a bigger vision.

Once a dream

She dreamed of owning an antique brick building with an overflow of vintage, handmade, and new goods, but she never had a long-term or extensive business plan. One day, she and her husband were driving through Canal Winchester, and her husband pulled over to see a “FOR RENT” sign in the window.

Push the button

He insisted Polly call right then, and the owner agreed to meet. While she didn’t feel ready, she had her laptop open one evening to the lease agreement, and her husband asked if she had sent the lease to the owner. Before she could do anything, Mick had walked over, “pushed” the button and clicked “send” for her. She learned a quick lesson in trust and taking risks.

In the beginning

Finding the perfect palette

In the late nineties, Georgie Emerson Vintage came with quite a pop of color. Waverly cabbage rose print……was the ‘go-to” with reds, sage green, and yellows until her mother-in-law bought her a subscription to a book club.  A monthly decorating magazine called “At Home with White” would arrive and become a future inspiration for the day-to-day main look and overall feel of Georgie Emerson Vintage. With the older color scheme, Polly hasn’t looked back since late 1990 or early 2000. She sticks to her favorite neutral, appealing palette that allows her to mix and match her vintage finds.

When receiving her monthly magazine, “At Home with White,” Polly shares- “I could not put it down. The heavens shined down, and I realized this all-white color scheme was appealing, especially when mixing vintage elements. That was probably around 1999 or 2000.  I haven’t waivered in my love for a light and airy, mostly white color palette since.  It is very calming and soft to me.  I feel so cozy surrounded by light.” -Polly Cruit McCormick.

Shopping experience

Inside of the shop- a creators paradise

Inside the White Wonderland of Things, you’re greeted by the voices and faces of five lovely ladies inside the dearly decorated doors of Georgie’s. The instant scent and superb smell of soy-based candles take over your senses. Every inch of the large building carries conversations between new and old customers. A girl’s shopping day, or new folks who have made a day trip to see what the fuss is about.

The things you see

Baskets filled with handpainted ceramics, vintage finds, handmade jewelry, and marvelous makings from local artists. Framed art and various quotes are placed throughout the store to keep customers happy and inspired.

Big throws and toss pillows are strategically stashed around the shop. Gathered giant bows, frilly feathers, and white cloth wrapped to connect the trendy textures are seen above. The inspiration for your home will leave you overwhelmed in the best way. The 5,000 sq. ft. mercantile stays packed with creative concepts and new layouts every season.

What you hear

Music from Matt Nathanson and Joshua Radin, Mindy Gledhill, Holly Humberstone, and Norah Jones, to name a few, plays in the background while customers casually stroll the store. Nathanson and Radin are two of Polly’s favorite musicians. The sounds of women carefully collecting goods are also heard in the store.

A pup named Pippa

Dumpster dog to a popular pooch

A once skinny, tick-infested, sick little dog was found at a middle school beside a dumpster, hiding under leaves. A teacher discovered her and instantly thought of Polly. The Jack Russel Terrier/Chihuahua mix was treated as scared, and she had no idea her life was about to change.

Next, the teacher hand-delivered the pup to Polly and told her she would make the perfect shop dog. Polly took the dog home without her husband knowing, and they both woke to wormy surprise- as the pup

had to be de-wormed three times. Even though it started rough for the Terrier mix, the timing was perfect because Polly and her husband had just lost their other little dog, Riley, to cancer.

Being famous

Nowadays, the famous pup, Pippa, prefers to be positioned in her cozy bed on the counter where customers check out. She is placed with her favorite stink bomb dog toy and tiny cat-size tennis balls. Anyone who has been to Georgie’s knows the prized pooch. The famous pup never goes without an abundance of treats, gifts, and lots of love.

Who’s that girl?

She has four wheels and can’t knock your socks off with the decorative details

The well-known shop shares an outdoor space with another celebrity with rusty wheels and a bed full of flowers and vintage finds. She is Gerty, a sexy 1966 Ford Truck named after her husband, Mick’s Grandma. The truck came from Tennessee. Initially, Polly had marketing goals and wanted to rent it out for photo shoots and have Gerty become a staple for the business.

But things changed quickly when Gerty had an accident after a trip for ice cream. She lost a wheel, and it rolled down Waterloo Street in Canal Winchester. Later, it was decided that Gerty would be better suited as the landmark.

Teamwork makes the dream work

Polly’s duties include Buying, Pricing, Merchandising, Social Media, Customer Service, Event Planning, Project Management, Financial planning, and Forecasting. In addition to these tasks, she also provides team management to keep her business moving forward.

Employed are multi-creative women who work alongside Polly to contribute to the smooth-running business. Everyone adds their personal touch. Karen, the resident fashionista, sources most of the clothing and accessories. April assists with reels and photography, and Mick, Polly’s husband, handles the majority of office obligations.

A mixture of marketing, humor, and creativity

The ladies bring their blended silly sense of humor, fantastic style, and creative juices together every holiday. The small group knows how to make the boutique sparkle and glam, sprinkled with a splash of the best customer service. Combining all the personalities is the perfect recipe for this Mercantile shop. The employees always dress up for Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas. Customers love the well-thought-out videos shared on Facebook and Instagram.

Pulling a Madonna

During election years, Polly has seen business struggles in certain areas due to uncertainty about where the economy is headed. The primary mode of customer communication is through social media. With changes and updates occurring often, it’s hard to stay up-to-date with algorithms and changes in social media. With a saturated market, the store stays unique and delivers creative ideas. To keep up, Polly refers to this as “pulling a Madonna” because the store and team are constantly evolving and keeping things fun and fresh. Polly isn’t big on trends and leads her team to set their own. The goal is to stay true to the “classy, timeless, and beautiful” in a simple, soft way. Selecting unique goods allows the shop to stay consistent, – cohesive, and aesthetic.

What Polly loves most

” I love our little Georgie community! I feel like so many women come to Georgies for a reprieve or respite from their day/life. When I opened my little shop, I told Mick I wanted everyone to leave feeling like they got a hug. I have MY PEOPLE during this journey. I never truly felt like I fit in. My head was always kind of in the clouds, dreaming.” -Polly McCormick, Owner of Georgie Emerson Vintage.

Travels

Roadtrips to fill the Mercantile

Even though Gerty retired, Polly still travels far and wide for the perfect find. When venturing out for quick trips – she takes her Telluride.

But she uses the old church van with the seats removed for more oversized furniture. State-wide road trips have included Georgia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Michigan, and Indiana.

Polly the Picker

Polly enjoys sourcing products at auctions, thrift stores, old barns, yard sales, and ordering from national vendors. While it isn’t glamorous, she prefers finding a needle in a haystack and enjoys the challenge of hand-picking unique finds. The Atlanta Gift Market is one of her favorite places to find perfect finds.

Inspiration

Polly’s inspiration comes from multiple places.

The shop’s inspiration comes from ever-evolving creative finds on Pinterest, Google, France, Nature, social media, music, old movies, and the countryside. As a shop owner, she loves the aesthetics and goods from Linen and Fox in Roswell, GA.
From a personal perspective, Polly strives to manage like her old mentor and favorite boss from Big Lots. From a social media perspective, she looks to Beth from Olde Tyme Marketplace.

“I LOVE to support emerging Makers. Women switch gears from the corporate world to small business ownership, women who have been home with babies and are starting a new craft to earn additional income, or women who are retired but still want to create. I love partnering with like-minded individuals who are creative, fun, and ready to adventure on a dime.”- Polly Cruit McCormick.

Creative Process

How her creative world comes to life

Polly pops out of bed at 5:00 a.m. with ideas, then jots them down on her phone before going back to sleep. As an extroverted introvert who loves human interaction, some of her best ideas are generated when alone. Her creative energy comes from working in silence, but not complete silence. The hard-working woman wanders the store while repeatedly listening to Matt Nathanson’s track. She enjoys the solitude to create because it’s hard to get back on track once she gets interrupted.

Favorite moments are spent alone when the sun sets, and the golden light illuminates everything. She turns up her motivational music, turns off the fluorescent lights, and works on her displays. The creative process is organic—it could start with a generalized idea and fall together once she gets moving.

Two quotes Polly lives by are from her late parents: her mother’s “Always do your best” and her father’s “Always stay true to yourself.”

How she wants others to remember their visits

When customers leave GEV, Polly wants each person to feel relaxed, calm, softer, hugged, inspired, and like they made a new friend. Check out Georgie Emerson Vintage and stop by the checkout counter to tell Pippa, the pup, “Hello.”

You can follow GEV on Pinterest, Facebook, and IG, Georgieemerson.com, or visit the Georgie Emerson Vintage location in person.

Emerging makers at Georgie’s:

https://www.instagram.com/etceterahandmade

https://www.facebook.com/christinekjonesart

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Zentilly

https://www.instagram.com/oliverootsllc

https://www.instagram.com/lindymcgaughey

https://www.instagram.com/farmgirlremade

https://www.instagram.com/fritzandfernco

https://www.facebook.com/Watercolorbliss20

Written by Darian Rowles