Baldwin City became a little more fashionable this summer after Elizabeth Knispel got to town with the goal to create a shopping destination.
Her new Twill Trade store, 717 Eighth St., opened for business July 15.
The store’s hours mirror its Eudora location, operating 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday and closed for Mondays and holidays.
Baldwin had always been considered for a new location, Knispel said. Due to timing constraints and other properties not meeting Knispel’s needs, plans for the new location were frequently put on hold.
However, during the summer, Knispel was given a new opportunity for a location resulting in Twill Trade opening on Eighth Street between Daylight Espresso Cafe and Homestead Kitchen & Bakery.
Knispel is renting the property space through Homestead owner Lori Gardner.
The two businesses share an open floor together for customers to easily walk between the stores without stepping outside. The addition of Twill Trade has worked out perfectly, Gardner said.
“The store turned out quite nice,” Gardner said. “My customers love them and her customers love us.”
Since the store opened, Knispel has seen a demand for her services. Many customers coming in to shop have previously shopped at the Eudora location, helping to support the newest addition to the Twill Trade brand.
“There have been a lot of people who come in and say they’ve shopped with us before,” Knispel said. “We love hearing that because it means we already have a customer base in the Douglas County area.”
Janet Breithaupt of Lawrence said she heard so much of Twill Trade through friends and family she finally decided to give the store a look.
“It’s awesome,” she said. “This place has a lot of cute clothes and things you don’t find in a lot of other places.”
Breithaupt hopes to visit the Eudora location after her first experience with the Baldwin City store, she said.
The Baldwin store is approximately half the size of the Eudora location and stocks the same product, Knispel said. The product is more readily available to Knispel also, as shipping delays and backorders are becoming less abundant.
While the new store has been open for almost two months, Knispel is now getting ready for the fall shopping season and adjusting inventory based on the latest fashion trends.
Shoppers should expect a shift in denim trends for more straight-leg and trouser options within the store in addition to the usual suspects such as plaid.
Knispel is eagerly awaiting the return of suede clothes for the fall.
“Suede everything,” she said. “Anything with suede people love right now. Jackets, skirts or anything suede is going to be very popular this year.”
Knispel is managing both Twill Trade locations believing the newest store is a good fit for the Baldwin community. She is committed to the Eudora store being a “home base” for the business.
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