Why I Decided to Open a Booth at Painted Tree (and What I Hope You’ll Learn from It)

This past weekend, I took a leap of faith and signed a vendor agreement to open a booth at Painted Tree Boutiques—Cooper City’s brand-new location. If you’re not familiar with Painted Tree, it’s a franchise of boutique-style retail spaces filled with handmade, curated, and small-shop goods. Think of it like an upscale, ever-changing marketplace for makers and creative entrepreneurs, all under one roof. You rent a booth, stock it with your products, and Painted Tree handles the staffing and sales—allowing you to focus on creation and branding without being there every day.

Disclosure: This blog post is not sponsored by Painted Tree. All opinions are entirely my own, based on personal research, conversations, and my experience as a new vendor.

After weeks of research, conversations, and reflection, I decided it was the right fit for me—and not just for business, but as a learning opportunity I plan to share with you in true That Mom With A Laser style.

The Inspiration Behind It

My love for this boutique-style concept actually started during a trip to Illinois where I had the chance to visit two beautiful shops in the laser community—Quinton’s Crafthouse and Makers on Main Street. I was there filming for Aeon Laser USA and got to meet the owners and long time TMWAL fans, Suzie and Jessica, who each had thriving storefronts built on collaboration, handmade goods, and community. Their stories stuck with me.

• Watch Suzie’s story here: Quinton's Crafthouse Makers Market & Creative Studio
  
  

• Watch Jessica’s story here: Makers on Main Street
  
  

Hearing how both women started with a single laser and grew into retail spaces that now support dozens of other makers made me realize that this model could be more than just a booth—it could be a way to uplift others, test new products, and inspire makers through the process.

Why I Said Yes (Even After Reading the Negative Reviews)

To be clear—I did my homework. I read the rants. I spoke with vendors who’ve had great success and others who didn’t continue beyond their first term. I took it all in.

Some of the common concerns included:

• Loss prevention/shoplifting — which, to be fair, is a challenge across all retail.
  
  

• Distance from their booth — several sellers mentioned they loved the concept but lived too far away to restock frequently, and didn’t find it worth paying someone else to do it for them. That inconsistency affected their results.
  
  

These were valid points, and I didn’t brush them aside. But here’s what I know about me:

1. I’m not afraid of failure. I’ve launched a product shop, a course, a file club—you name it. I’ve learned through trial and error, and that’s part of the journey I love to share.
   
   

2. I’m not afraid of marketing. Painted Tree has its own marketing efforts—TV ads, local events, direct mail campaigns, and social media—but I plan to bring my own voice to the mix. I may not be an ads expert, but I am an expert in showing up with consistency, intention, and energy. Social media is part of what I do every day, and shouting from the rooftops (in a strategic way) is kind of my thing.
   So while I truly appreciate the visibility Painted Tree brings to the table, I’ll be doing plenty of my own. And honestly? I don’t know if Painted Tree is ready for full-on TMWAL energy… or if they’ll even know what to do with me. 🤭🦄
   
   

3. This location is local. It’s only 30 minutes from home, and one of my teammates, Sara, lives just 15 minutes away. She'll  help with restocking, so I feel confident we’ll stay on top of it.
   
   

4. Florida is a year-round shopping state. It doesn’t freeze here, so shoppers don’t disappear in the winter like they do in other parts of the country. That gives me a consistent potential customer base.
   
   

5. It’s the first Painted Tree in the state. Being a part of a brand-new launch in my own community felt too aligned to ignore.
   
   

A Learning Space, Not Just a Retail Space

For me, this is more than just a business decision—it’s also a content and educational opportunity. I plan to document the entire journey on YouTube, from selecting a booth to designing the display, restocking inventory, learning what sells, and uncovering how to stand out in a space full of creatives.

This blog is just the beginning. I’ll be sharing updates, tips, and reflections as I go so that you can learn with me—whether you’re considering opening your own Painted Tree booth (or similar), looking to refine your craft show setup, or just curious how it all works.

I Didn’t Do This Alone

One of the best parts of this experience was visiting the space with my partner-in-crime, Sara—my teammate and dear friend who’s been by my side through countless business adventures. She’s the one who reminds me I can do it, even when I doubt myself. I’m beyond grateful to have someone like her holding my hand through the leap.

I’m also thankful for my support system—my family, my team, and most of all, my faith in Him who has guided me through every single chapter of this journey so far.

And how could I not mention the incredible people I met during the vendor meetup? It truly confirmed that I’m entering a space full of heart and possibility. One of those people was Janet—a vendor who flew in for this event to celebrate opening her third Painted Tree booth. Yes, third! We snapped a photo together while pointing to our booth locations on the store layout...

...and she even came to visit my shop the very next day while she was still in town.

I also connected with Barbie, a local laser maker who decided to join the journey too. She’ll have a booth right next to mine, which makes this adventure feel even more special. 

And then there was Melissa—an absolute wealth of knowledge and experience. She currently runs SEVEN Painted Tree spaces, and the insight she shared was so generous and thoughtful. I walked away from our conversation feeling empowered, encouraged, and more prepared than ever.

This is shaping up to be more than just a shop—it’s a growing, supportive community, and I’m so here for that.

Join Me on the Journey

So here we go. I’m stepping into something new and sharing it with you every step of the way. If you’ve been thinking about retail or exploring new ways to grow your maker business, I invite you to follow along. Maybe this won’t just be my learning space—it’ll be ours.

Let’s find out what’s possible.

♥
Emily
That Mom With A Laser