by Ellis Smalley
Step into The Orchard Shop, and you’ll be greeted by a cozy, colorful space filled with beautiful displays and seasonal merchandise. With eye-catching consignment pieces, delectable treats, Bob Ross-themed gifts, and more, there’s always something new to discover. But do you know who is behind all the magic?
As Minnetrista’s Retail Manager, Cari Cawthon works hard to curate The Orchard Shop’s merchandise and create appealing displays to browse. While Cawthon has worked at The Orchard Shop since April 2023, last year she was promoted to Retail Manager, and in this position, she has brought a fresh vision to the beloved shop.
Cawthon has always loved the idea of working at a museum and thought the atmosphere would be perfect for her. However, prior to her arrival at Minnetrista, she worked largely in healthcare, aside from a few years running a thrift store affiliated with a homeless shelter. “I loved it, but it was a very hard job,” Cawthon says of the thrift store. While it was a deeply fulfilling workplace, it still offered a wide array of challenges, and she ultimately decided to return to healthcare.
But it was a difficult time to return to such an industry. Cawthon worked during the COVID-19 pandemic, traveling around Indiana to fill in for emergency room staff who had COVID. Faced with burnout from such a stressful and demanding job, Cawthon decided she needed another change. “That was when I said, ‘I hate this, I want to be happy…When was the last time I was happy in a job?’
The answer was the thrift store: Cawthon had loved the retail environment and its creativity, but now she wanted to find something she could thrive in without once more risking burnout. Cawthon set her sights for Minnetrista and applied for a cashier position at The Orchard Shop. It was a perfect fit and offered just what she needed, and soon enough, Cawthon was promoted to supervisor. When the Retail Manager position opened, however, she was hesitant to take on the role.
“I realized I love this job,” Cawthon says. She decided to give the position a try, and now, “I do love being a manager.” Backed by a strong team, Cawthon works hard to cultivate a welcoming environment filled with creativity and wonder. Her favorite part of working in The Orchard Shop? “I love the creativity, the display making, the ordering, all of that…It makes me feel fulfilled. It scratches that itch.”
Always prioritizing customer satisfaction, Cawthon searches far and wide to bring exciting merchandise to The Orchard Shop. She scours catalogs, visits other shops, talks with local artists, asks friends for recommendations, and even chats with Orchard Shop customers to learn what they like and what they want to see more of. This dedicated research process ensures that she brings only the best items to The Orchard Shop.
As someone who loves to shop, create artistic displays, and chat with people, it’s the perfect fit.
After you visit the Open Space art exhibition or wander the late-autumn beauty of the Nature Area, stop into The Orchard Shop to warm up, peruse the displays, and get a start on your holiday shopping. It’s apple season at Minnetrista, and we have delicious, fresh apples and apple cider pressed in-house ready for you to enjoy. You can also buy your own cider-making kit or find other apple-themed items such as kitchen tools, decorations, and even lip balm.
With December on the way, holiday decorations and treats have turned
The Orchard Shop into a winter wonderland, and it’s the perfect place to find delicious mixes for soup, spiced nuts, and hot chocolate to make yourself or gift
to a friend. Add a sweet-n-savory touch to your holiday party’s snack tray with pepper jellies paired with your favorite crackers.
Need some gift ideas? At The Orchard Shop, you can expect the return of beloved items alongside exciting new additions. As always, Bob Ross merchandise and consignment items from local community artists—such as jewelry, wood burning art, and glass—make thoughtful and unique gifts. Vegan-leather Chala bags, new to The Orchard Shop this year, feature whimsical and colorful designs that are perfect for the fashionista in your life. For a hands-on gift, buy a craft kit or mechanical set to entertain for hours. Lastly, you can once again find seasonal Swan Creek candles, featuring aromas that will turn your house into a cozy space to curl up with a book, work on a craft, or host a party.
With chilly weather outside and the holidays fast approaching, The Orchard Shop is the perfect place to find cozy gifts, accessories, and decorations. And while you browse the lovely displays, keep an eye out for Cari and say hi to her and her team—they’re happy to talk with you!
