in good spirit
The MVDA welcomes In Good Spirit to our downtown! Ken and Bob McLaughlin opened In Good Spirit in November 2019, just in time for the MVDA’s annual Ladies’ Night Out: Downtown Sip & Shop. In Good Spirit opened with a goal to offer a unique and safe environment, filled with things to enrich the lives of customers and community.
Everything sold is intended to evoke positive feelings and promote well-being. Ken and Bob “strive to make our items accessible to everyone. We all need more joy in our lives. We aim to be as inclusive as possible in all our offerings”.
In Good Spirit offers a wide range of products; their shop is an excellent resource for hand-made, small-batch goods including soaps, lotions, and candles from local and international artisans. They also offer unique glass items from as nearby as Stanwood, WA to as far away as Romania, including their ever-popular blown-glass flying pigs. Additionally, In Good Spirit offers healing wares, such as Spirit Tree Witch Balls, crystals, unique stones, and gemstones from around the world.
When asked how Ken and Bob decided to bring their business to downtown Mount Vernon, Bob’s replied: “I think it’s more appropriate to ask how Mount Vernon brought itself to us.” When looking for a home in 2016 to set down roots, they initially set their sights further south. Their realtor recommended they take a look at Mount Vernon and downtown Mount Vernon’s charm worked its magic:
People were friendly, the stores were cute and eclectic. There was a good vibe here. Nature has a way of guiding you if you listen. We were listening. We opened our store here in downtown Mount Vernon and couldn’t be more thrilled with the reception. – Bob McLaughlin
The very first time they walked through downtown Mount Vernon, Ken and Bob fell in love with their current location, 505 S 1st, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. The space was vacant at the time and the building’s architecture and unique entrance resonated with both of them. Fast-forward three years and luck presented the opportunity to occupy and bring new energy to the space and to downtown Mount Vernon.
Ken and Bob offer excellent insights for those looking to start a consumer-based business. They believe that it is vital to offer meaningful experiences and interactions to clients, given how easy it is to order things online without a clue to an item’s backstory. Each item in their shop has a story. “If someone steps foot in your physical store, they’ve already told you they care about that. Share those stories, share your stories.” says Bob, “They provide a value that just isn’t available online.”
In Good Spirit is located at 505 S 1st, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. Find them online at ingoodspirit.org. Keep up with current events and offerings on Facebook.
