GRAND FORKS – Customers who wander into Flippin’ Happy Home Decor & More, located in the former location of Picks on South Washington, are often a little surprised to see all the vivid colors, said Keera Sullivan, who owns and operates the store with her husband Duane Sullivan.

They may be expecting the sort of merchandise they’re used to seeing at Picks.

Picks, which closed in December, offered merchandise that leaned toward neutral colors, such as black, white and cream, and more subdued colors – more “farm-house-y” in style, Keera said.

But Flippin’ Happy Home Decor & More offers a menagerie of products that do in no way shies away from intense, bright colors. They show up in all kinds of items, including restored or repurposed furniture, hand-painted greeting cards, paintings and other artwork, pottery, candles, embroidered jean jackets, photographs, soap, stuffed animals and toys, jewelry and, of course, all manner of home decor.

In recent weeks, Keera Sullivan has noticed that customers come into the store and “they’ve realized it changed – but they’re not disappointed,” she said. “They say, this is really fun.”

That’s exactly what she is aiming for.

“We try to make it more of a fun experience for customers,” she said.

Color is certainly a distinguishing factor in the store’s merchandise.

For example, Sullivan, who specializes in refurbishing vintage furniture, is working on a hot pink – “and I mean, really hot pink” – hutch, she said. It will be trimmed with gold accents. She plans to install a chandelier to further enhance the one-of-a-kind piece.

And the Sullivans have found that these bright-colored items appeal to customers of all ages, they said.

Since January, in the first few store openings, “we’ve had nothing but good feedback,” Keera Sullivan said. “People comment on how clean it is, how bright it is, and the variety (of merchandise).”

The popular Picks store sold vintage, houseware, repurposed and home decor items – kind of a cross between thrift store and estate sale, the owner Kelley Palmiscno told the Herald last year.

For the Flippin’ Happy Home Decor & More store, the move – after three years at 418 N. Washington – to 1224 S. Washington in late January has been a good business decision, Keera Sullivan said.

“Picks closing created a void in the community,” she said. “A lot of people enjoyed shopping there.” Some of the Picks vendors have joined the Sullivans’ business.

The South Washington location offered the couple about three times more space and a tried-and-true spot where customers were accustomed to finding locally-sourced, vintage and repurposed items.

“It’s a big popular space, and a busier location,” Keera Sullivan said. “Since moving, we almost tripled our sales in the first couple of months.”

In addition, she said, “Local shopping has been on the rise,” she said. “A lot of people want to support local makers.”

During the last weekend in February, the nice weather “sparked a fire in people,” Duane Sullivan said, with his wife adding, “There were so many people here, I was overwhelmed.”

The store, which features hand-made, upcycled, repurposed products, “is pretty special,” she said. “I think we’re only going to go up from here. Each week has been better than the last.”

The store is open on an intermittent basis – Wednesdays to Sundays – two or three times a month. This month, the dates are March 6-10 and 20-24. For more information, go to

www.flippinhappyhomedecor.com

or call (612) 581-2279.

The Sullivans know their vendors well; they started out in December 2020 with eight vendors at their North Washington location and have grown to about 30, Keera Sullivan said.

As part of their contract, the vendors work at the store, meeting customers, explaining their process and products, and handling sales, she said. “We like to have that face-to-face contact” between artist and customer.

“We like to put that personalization behind it,” Sullivan said, noting that customers seem to enjoy interacting with and getting to know vendors.

“People will ask, do you ever paint furniture in red? Or, do you do this in blue?” she said. “So vendors find out what customers want and what else they could be making.”

She and her husband share information about the artist and the products, if the vendor does not happen to be in the store.

One vendor, Chrissie Fisher of Grand Forks, makes crocheted stuffed animals.

“She puts so much detail” in each of her items, Sullivan said. “And, she makes sure her creations are kid-safe. … (One of my daughters) likes to eat eyes off them – and, with these, she can’t.”

The store contracts with vendors who wish to have a designated booth in the store, and with general vendors whose products are intermingled with others in a different space. The store receives a commission on each item sold. The booths are all full, but the Sullivans are always looking for vendors whose products do not duplicate items already in the store.

“We’re always looking for new and creative talent,” Sullivan said.

But the creative people who are connected with Flippin’ Happy Home Decor & More are not just business associates, said Kristen Peterson, of Grand Forks, one of the first vendors to join the store.

“Keera has done something remarkable with this business, in bringing together the artists and vendors and also growing it to the point where it (became) necessary to move to another location to support its growth.”

Speaking for vendors, Peterson said, “She has given us a place to sell our artwork and crafts and merchandise. She also created a team that has grown to be a family. …

“We have gotten to know each other’s children and spouses,” she said. “There is a very supportive nature about the women who are vendors … If one is sick or having health problems, we try to rally and send our support or provide ears to listen.

“If someone needs advice on a project or is looking for materials or help, we are there to offer whatever is needed.”

Along with another vendor who has also been with the business since the beginning, Peterson said, “For us, it feels like a home.”

Peterson also emphasized how important it is to have a place for vendors to show and sell their products.

“There is only one major craft show in the area per year,” she said. “And I know that I, as an artist, have struggled to find venues and galleries in Grand Forks that are willing to show my work. I have a great relationship with Artwise Gallery here in town, but otherwise, it has not been easy. Keera has brought us together and given us a place where we can show our work and be ourselves. That really means a lot to us.”

And from Sullivan’s perspective, she said, “we are pretty proud of these vendors. We actually couldn’t do this without (them). It’s really a team effort.”