Just days after New Year, Megan Morris is really busy. As snowflakes tumble from the sky, she’s in the midst of refreshing her Old Colorado City shop, Meraki Springs.
“I do it throughout the year, sporadically,” Morris said.
It’s hard to toss a pebble in OCC without hitting an eclectic art gallery, but Morris seeks a balance between curated gallery and consignment shop for hers. Featuring handcrafted wares from 40 artists, it has a little bit of everything for everyone — from jewelry to paintings, stickers, clothing and more.
The store exudes a vibe that’s casual, but not cheesy; curated, but not stuffy. It’s accessible. One of the store’s most popular features resides right by the door: a community paint-by-number that’s still in its earliest days.
I was always that entrepreneur – Megan Morris
As the shop heads into its fourth year in March, Morris said she’s grown to become her own advocate as both a sensitive artist and a decisive business owner.
“It’s been so interesting to see how we’ve evolved over those three years. It’s a learning process,” Morris said. “It’s been fun to see where we started versus what it’s evolved into. I don’t think it’s changed that much, I’m still very much with the vision I had at the beginning.”
It’s also a dream come true for a woman who imagined making and selling Barbie clothes for friends as a kid.
“I was the one who’d have the pretend shop all set up,” Morris said. “That was my play. I was always that entrepreneur.”
Morris would marry a military man and, as they moved from place to place, she learned to make custom jewelry, offering to teach squadron spouses how to make their own. Once they settled in Colorado Springs, she finally had a stable place to set up her storefront featuring the works of artists she loved.
“A lot of my artists were military friends that I met along the way or people that we’ve met (where) we had lived and been, like, ‘Your stuff’s really cool, I’m going to keep your info for some day,’” Morris said.
For this newest store refresh, she’s addressing the demand for her permanent jewelry, a big new thing with the kids thanks to TikTok, but older customers alike, where the ends are welded together, rather than equipped with a small clasp.
“Little old ladies like to come in and get them because they can’t seem to put their clasp on,” Morris said.
Buyers can pick the type of chain, pick out a variety of charms and, before the end of the month, be able to add customized charms courtesy of Morris’ new laser engraver. The whole process is done in-store about as quickly as you can pick your charms, but it’s been Morris or her daughter, Ella, who have been putting them together. She plans to hire an additional hand to meet demand.
Morris was also finishing up a changing room so customers can try on the store’s clothing, too.
But most of all, Morris wants to emphasize warmth and inclusivity, that you belong in her store and that you shouldn’t be afraid to get hands-on with the work and really explore the shop.
“I want people to feel welcome when they come in here,” she said. “The best feedback to get from people is that they feel welcome.”
IF YOU GO
Meraki Springs is at 2708 W. Colorado Ave. Hours are noon-6 p.m. Sundays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays, but call first — they might change. Information: merakisprings.com or 719-424-7185.