The Secrets Behind Salt & Sundry's Success

Amanda McClements's decor stores have become essential destinations Launched in 2012 in Union Market, the home-goods store Salt & Sundry opened its first freestanding shop four years ago, on S Street near 14th After expanding to a larger space nearby and opening a plant-focused sister store, Little Leaf, the company is now taking on its biggest project yet: an ambitious multipurpose space in Eckington called the Sun Room, which quietly began hosting events in October.

The new venture is in a turn-of-the-century warehouse that was originally a bakery for Nabisco National Biscuit Co The idea was to build a sort of playroom in which Salt & Sundry founder Amanda McClements can host workshops, panel discussions, pop-up dinners, and other events Before opening her first store, McClements was a journalist, best known for writing a food column in Roll Call.

The idea for a stylish, carefully curated housewares store hit her one day in 2011 while she was searching for gifts from independent local producers, and less than a year later she began peddling artisanal candles, shibori-dyed linens, and other products at Union Market As Salt & Sundry has grown more successful, McClements has become something of a mentor within DC's retail community One example is jewelry designer Mallory Shelter, a former Salt & Sundry employee who often wore her own creations to work. Source