Pflugerville - Hutto Edition | July 2025

Business

BY DACIA GARCIA

The store sells items like jewelry, spices and cards.

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The Merc is owned by Rebecca and Derrick Davis.

Co-owner Rebecca Davis opened The Merc in 2023 featuring local artisans and her product line, Grace & Charm.

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The Merc celebrates artisan talent with local goods

in the bathroom, for example, while home decor goods enhance the kitchen and dining area. “Before we had opened the store, I was in here one night working and I was sitting on the oor and I was like, ‘God, this really feels like a home. It’s so homey in here,’” Rebecca said. “The light was coming in the windows and it was kind of an emotional moment for me. I don’t know if I could picture this working anywhere else.” What they oer With 15 vendors, the shop prioritizes shining a light on a variety of artisan products, such as clay jewelry, candles, planters and terrariums. Rebecca said more than half of the vendors on display at the business have been part of the home since the beginning. She said she makes a point to tell customers about vendors they are purchasing from and builds relationships with them as part of the small town shopping experience she hopes to create. “I want it to be kind of an escape for them,” Rebecca said. “I want it to be a relaxing atmo- sphere. I’m not going to be on top of them. Of course, I’m here to help but getting to know the backstory and getting to know their family—that’s been really cool for me.” In addition to the T-shirts, hats, pillows and more Pugerville merchandise made and sold at the store, customers can nd earrings specically designed for each local high school.

After traveling across the world with her individual jewelry business, Rebecca Davis was inspired by the amount of artists she met crafting unique handmade products. Once Davis established roots in Pugerville, she and her husband, Derrick, opened a storefront to bring together local artisans under one roof. Some context Rebecca worked in the big box retail space and smaller shopping space before deciding to start her own jewelry line 11 years ago. When opening The Merc in Pugerville, the couple was determined to create a space for Rebecca’s own product, but also a place to support local artisans in their business journeys. “There’s so many people who do great work and we’ve been fortunate to get a chance to see a lot of those,” Derrick said. “So, how can we nd a way to incorporate that into what we do?” Dig deeper The Merc lls the inside of a home built in the 1940s. Rebecca said the location has housed sev- eral dierent businesses throughout the decades— from a boutique to a library, which supported a local food pantry. While the duo changed some of the lighting and landscaping, Rebecca said they still organize the business like a home. Handmade soaps and bath bombs are displayed

A dedicated section displays Pugerville merchandise.

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Derrick Davis recently launched a men’s section.

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403 W. Pecan St., Pugerville www.shopthemerctx.com

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