As time passed, Hanley took on more responsibility. She and the previous owner, Kristin Brittan, started talking about the future. And when Brittan decided to step back, Hanley and her husband, Chase, purchased Roanoke Trading Co. in August 2020.
Hanley said the business started out selling mostly clothing. Over time, she said she started displaying more home interior items. The sale of those items quickly bypassed the amount of clothing sold.
The store is now geared to reflect the demand for decor items, she said.
The store is subtly divided into categories—patio, men’s, jewelry, home interiors, kitchen and baby/kids—but it is not unusual for the categories to blend into one another.
At RTC, creativity is encouraged. A pale blue 1970s van serves as a display case for baby items while a rustic farm table boasts a menagerie of home interior pieces.
“Our store has one-of-a-kind finds. We work really hard not to have what everyone else does,” Hanley said. “We want a diverse selection, yet cohesive. I like to think of it as you shop here for the people who are hard to shop for.”
Chase Hanley explained that due to the pandemic, they added a new facet they had not considered in the past.
“We now have an internet presence, which was a direct result of having to pivot and change gears,” he said. “As a nonessential business, we couldn’t let people in.”
This added revenue stream will continue since it has allowed them to increase their reach. Chase Hanley said it is great to send packages to places such as Virginia or New Hampshire.
Laura Hanley said she is very particular when deciding which items to buy.
“I don’t get online and scroll,” she said. “I want people to have quality things from my store.”
Roanoke Trading Co., 115 N. Oak St., Roanoke. 682-237-7896. www.roanoketradingcompany.com Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., closed Sun.
