A little bit about Christie, the dirt road, and how Backroad Daydream Mercantile came to be
If you've ever shopped with us and wondered who's on the other side of the screen picking out every piece, steaming every top, and probably talking to her dogs while she does it — hi. I'm Christie. And this is my story.
Small Town Girl
I grew up in Dexter, Georgia. Population: not many. The kind of place where everybody knows everybody, the roads have names instead of numbers, and life moves a little slower — in the best possible way.
Life took me far from home for a while. My husband's career brought us to Washington, D.C. and then Northern Virginia, and we made a life there. We traveled, we explored, we raised our son. But when he retired, there was really only one place we wanted to be.
We came home. Back to Dexter. Back to the dirt road.
How It Started
A few years ago, I found myself with something I wasn't used to having: time. Our son was grown, we were settled, and I needed something that was mine. So I did what made sense — I went to work at a boutique.
And I loved it. I loved dressing the mannequins and watching customers walk out in the outfit I'd put together. I loved the interaction, the connection, the moment someone tried something on and just lit up. That feeling? Addictive.
But not everything about that season was good. Let's just say that at some point in life, we all have to realize we're not in middle school anymore — and mean girls stopped being cute a long time ago. So I walked away.
And my husband looked at me and said, “Let’s start your own boutique.”
I said, yes please.
Why Online
We went back and forth — brick and mortar or online? But here's the thing about us: we have the souls of wanderers. We travel. We roam. We follow the road wherever it leads. An online boutique meant I could do what I love from anywhere — whether that's our back porch in Dexter or a hotel room somewhere new. The shop comes with us.
The Name
Backroad Daydream Mercantile isn't just a name I made up. It's literally where we live.
We're on a dirt road. An actual backroad. I've always been a daydreamer — head in the clouds, heart wide open. And I just really like the word Mercantile. So there it is. The name found us more than we found it.
Who I'm Dressing
When I pick pieces for this shop, I'm dressing my inner person. The woman I am, the woman I want to feel like, the woman who deserves to get dressed in something that makes her feel good — whether she's running errands, going to dinner, or just having a really good Tuesday.
I think a lot of us dress for everyone else. I want you to dress for you.
What You Should Know About Me
I'm fun-loving. I'm caring. I go with the flow — until someone messes with my village, and then all bets are off. 😄 But mostly? I'm just a happy person who found her thing and ran with it.
My days are chaos. Absolute, beautiful chaos. We have dogs, cats, Doc — our beloved mascot — and thanks to the boys, we've also got pigs, chickens, geese, and ducks. The baby pigs have a habit of making a break for it and running up the lane, only to turn around and sprint back just as fast when they realize the boys are coming. Every single time. I could watch it all day.
This is the life. The backroad, the daydream, the mercantile. And I am so glad you're here for it. 🤎
— Christie, Owner, Chief Fabric Toucher & Proud Resident of an Actual Dirt Road