A Creative Outlet brings whimsy and fun to the downtown area
of North Dakota’s capital city of Bismarck. With its creative
offerings, the store highlights local handmade artists with its unique displays.
Stephanie Smith is the owner and curator of A Creative Outlet, and I’m so
excited for you to get to know this beautiful, quaint shop better!
Another unique offering at A Creative Outlet is the presence
of a floral shop located inside the store. Crabapple Floral offers gorgeous modern
bouquets that are as visually appealing as they are fragrant. This exclusive
pairing of stores makes for a one stop shop for your gift buying needs.
If you’re still working on your holiday shopping this season,
you’re in luck. A Creative Outlet will have extended hours of 9:30am-7pm on
Friday, December 19th as Santa will be coming to Downtown Bismarck!
Find handmade pieces to be treasured for years to come.
Get to know Steph and ACO better in the following Q & A!
When did your love of handmade begin?
My dad made me a dollhouse when I was about 5 years old. He made all
of the fixtures, furniture and even put wallpaper on the walls! I would say that's
when I realized how much love and thought goes into handmade creations.
Architecture school is where I really started to appreciate craftsmanship. The
time, effort and detail that would go into building an architectural model
truly makes it an art.
Are you a crafter yourself? If so, what do you like to make?
I am constantly sketching and diving into new projects. Being around
creative people on a day to day basis inspires creativity, it's contagious!
What inspired you to open ACO?
Both my husband and I grew up in western North Dakota, and like many
others we decided to settle down and raise a family here. There is a great
community of young entrepreneurs in Bismarck, especially Downtown, and that
energy really inspired me to create a space that celebrates the unique handmade
works from around the region.
How did your partnership with Crabapple Floral begin?
It's such a small world! Kelsey's husband and I work at the same
Architecture firm and when they made the move to Bismarck from Grand Forks they
were looking for a place for her to continue her business. I had been opening
the shop one weekend per month, so with Kelsey being able to be at the shop
full time it was the perfect fit! We did some renovations to add a sink,
cooler, shelving and other necessities to run a floral shop. It has truly been
a perfect match. Kelsey has really created a buzz with her business and
continues to amaze me with the unique arrangements that she creates.
When customers step in your store, what can they expect to find?
Upon entering the shop you'll be hit by the most amazing smells from
a new shipment of flowers. You'll very likely get caught up giggling through
our collection of handmade greeting cards or browsing the unique prints
available. We carry a variety of handmade jewelry, leather products, stationary
and most recently have added a section to the shop featuring wedding
items.
Why should people shop at ACO for the holidays?
When you're looking for that perfect gift always remember that
buying a handmade gift means that you're not only buying an item with an
amazing story behind it, but also supporting an artist and helping them to
continue to do what they love!
Shop A Creative Outlet:
303 E. Main Ave.
Bismarck, ND
Thank you to the lovely Steph and Kelsey for their kindness, and for allowing me to feature them in this post!
Drop me a line at: taeamade@hotmail.com.
