What It Is and Why We Built It Into Our Main Street Store in Franklin, TN
We've always believed there's something special about things made by hand. It's the belief our whole business was built on, and it's what we saw reflected back at us the first time we walked the block around our new storefront on Main Street: ceramicists, candle makers, jewelry artists, and textile makers, all within a few blocks of where we were about to open our doors. When we opened our Franklin store, we knew we wanted it to be more than a skincare shop. We wanted it to become a place where people could discover other incredible makers too.
A Place for the Maker is our way of celebrating the people behind the products. Tucked inside our Franklin, TN store at 418 Main Street, the artisan collective brings together handmade goods from talented local and regional makers alongside our tallow skincare. Every piece is thoughtfully created by the person behind the brand, and every maker has a story worth sharing. We hope it's a place where customers discover something beautiful, connect with the people who made it, and leave feeling inspired.
How A Place for the Maker Came Together in Franklin, TN
Joshua and Britney first fell in love with Franklin during what was supposed to be a simple getaway in 2023. After a long search, a couple of storefronts that fell through, and one very well-timed call from their realtor, the space directly across from the Franklin Theatre became home to Flying Cow's Franklin store.
We've shared that whole story (ER trip and all) in Franklin, TN: The Beginning and The Story Continues, so we'll keep this version short. Supporting other makers was part of the vision from the very beginning. Through our Texas stores, we'd met so many talented artisans who poured incredible skill and heart into what they created, and Franklin gave us the opportunity to make that support a permanent part of our store. The story behind the name itself is a chapter of its own in The Heart Behind A Place for the Maker.
What happened after we opened was really special. As people discovered the store, we began meeting local makers who stopped in to introduce themselves, share their work, and hear more about the vision for A Place for the Maker. Some relationships grew quickly, while others developed over time, but little by little the collective came together, much like Flying Cow itself.
What We Look for in Maker Partners
Our standard is simple, even if it takes thoughtful consideration to apply. We want the work to come from the hands of the person creating it, made with the same care we put into our own products. We're not trying to fill a gift shop with things that simply look nice on a shelf. We want customers to connect with the story behind the person who made what they're holding.
That standard has meant turning some things down, and it's also led us to makers we might never have discovered otherwise: a jewelry artist working with clay and resin, a candle maker pouring small batches, someone stitching textiles the old-fashioned way. Those relationships have become one of our favorite parts of the Franklin store, and they're something customers mention again and again.
How It Actually Works: We Buy the Work, We Don't Rent the Shelf
This is the part people are usually most surprised to learn, and it's the part we're proudest of.
We build a relationship with each maker first, set aside a real budget for their work, and purchase it outright before it ever reaches our shelves. That's different from the consignment model many shops use, where makers don't get paid until something sells. We believe in investing in their work from the very beginning.
Each maker has a sign in the store with a QR code that makes it easy to learn more about them, explore their work, and follow along after your visit. So if you fall in love with a hand-thrown mug or a pair of earrings, you can easily connect with the person behind it and continue supporting their business long after you've left our store. We love knowing a single purchase can turn into an ongoing relationship between a customer and a maker.
Why This Matters Beyond the Products
Championing other small makers and independent businesses has always been part of who we are. Flying Cow began in Joshua and Britney's kitchen, one small batch at a time, so we know exactly what it feels like to create something and hope someone believes in it enough to give it a chance.
A Place for the Maker gives local artisans another place to share their work with people who appreciate handmade goods, while giving our customers the opportunity to discover something they may not have found otherwise. We hear it all the time: someone comes in looking for tallow skincare and leaves with a candle, a piece of pottery, or a handmade gift they never expected to find. Those moments make us smile every single time.
The Makers Behind the Shelves
More than twenty makers now have work in the collective, and some have become favorites of our own team, too. Cambrie, who creates under the name Aster Clay, has actually been part of the Flying Cow family for years. Originally from West Texas and now living near Nashville, her story has been connected to ours long before the Franklin store ever opened.
Other makers come from right here in Williamson County: candle makers, ceramicists, textile artists, painters, and more, each bringing their own creativity and perspective to the shelves. Every one of them has a different story, and that's exactly the point. We didn't set out to create one specific look or aesthetic. We wanted to create a space that celebrates talented people, thoughtful craftsmanship, and the beauty of handmade work.
If You Make Something by Hand
If you're a maker based in or around Franklin, we'd genuinely love to meet you! Stop by the store, introduce yourself, and tell us about what you create. We always enjoy hearing people's stories and learning what inspires them to make what they do.
While we aren't adding new makers to the collective right now, we'd still love to start the conversation. As space opens up in the future, it's always helpful to already know the incredible people creating beautiful things in our community.
Where to Find the Artisan Collective in Franklin
A Place for the Maker lives inside Flying Cow at 418 Main Street in downtown Franklin, Tennessee, directly across from the Franklin Theatre. Stop in, sample a balm, and wander through the shelves for a bit. There's a good chance you'll discover something you weren't expecting, handmade by someone whose story we're proud to share.
If you've already taken a piece of the collective home, we'd love to hear about it. Whose work did you find?
