Whimsical door chimes greet customers entering The Shed, a Knightstown boutique. Carefully-arranged products, such as candles, soaps, lotions, apple butter and more line antique wooden shelving once used when the building was a pharmacy.
Knightstown resident Wendi Sorrell owns the business, which is located at 102 E. Main St. The storefront location opened June 16, 2022. A registered nurse, Wendi runs the boutique with help from her husband, Daniel, the couple’s two children and extended family.
“I get my work ethic from my mom, Wanda Pope,” Sorrell said. “She is my best friend. My husband helps me with everything. My kids, Corbin and Brynlee, make me want to be the best that I can be.”
The Shed offers a variety of home décor, gifts and women’s apparel.
“I’ve always liked decorating, but for me it’s more about making an area feel like a calm, happy, cozy place to be,” Wendi said.
Before opening the boutique, Wendi’s husband built her a “she shed,” which she uses as a quiet place to exercise and work on crafts. That shed was the inspiration for the boutique’s name. Prior to opening the boutique, Wendi rented space at a local antique store and sold products there.
“Everything just kind of happened to fall into place,” Wendi said. “I was absolutely burnt out with nursing during COVID. It was a really difficult time for healthcare workers and I got to a place where I was so depressed with everything happening at work that if I wasn’t at work, I only wanted to sleep. I happened to stop in a local antique shop that had a space open and went for it. It gave me something positive to work on.”
When The Shed’s current building became available, the Sorrell family fell in love with the space. They still have a booth at the antique store and run the shop. Wendi also continues to work three nights per week at an area hospital.
“We wanted to stay local because we love getting to see people we know and supporting the place we live,” Wendi said, adding that being a small-business owner has had its ups and downs.
“Some days are great and some days are really rough,” she continued. “It is very rewarding to see the business grow and all the hard work I have been putting in starting to show. I want this business to thrive.”
Wendi has met many people since opening the boutique.
“One couple usually stays for an hour or so when they come in because we end up chatting,” Wendi said. “We got on the topic of apple butter that we sell at the shop and they told me about how they make their own. The look of happiness on that man’s face the next time he came in to bring me some of his homemade apple butter was the best.”
Another memorable moment happened after Wendi placed potted flowers outside the shop’s front door.
“I am awful with flowers and plants,” she said. “I always seem to kill them. But these flowers looked great all summer. Turns out a couple comes by each evening with a jug of water and has been watering them for me. I love that!”
When she isn’t working, Wendi enjoys shopping.
“I love finding great pieces to bring to the store and picking for my booth,” she said. “I also love a nice long nap.”
The Shed hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, follow The Shed Knightstown on Facebook or email [email protected].