Wandering through The Mercantile in Brook Highland Plaza, you can’t help but be transported and inspired. Filled with vendor booths from local purveyors and artisans, you’re struck by the exquisite range of items. Each vendor handpicks (or handmakes) a carefully crafted collection of truly unique finds.
Kay Miller, the woman behind the market, has always had an eye for design. From being dubbed the interior design liaison of her friend group to designing for home remodeling and interior design projects with Yellowhammer Construction, Kay is well-versed in finding design harmony. Meet Kay Miller of The Mercantile by Miller!
Tell us how you found your way to Birmingham and interior design.
I grew up in Flintstone, Georgia, just outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and I always wanted to be a fashion designer. When my husband and I got married, he was at the University of Georgia, so I moved there and took some night classes. One of my professors said, “Do you really think you can be a fashion designer in the world we live in today?”
It was almost insulting. As if he was saying, “You don’t have enough money to do that kind of stuff.” It was a reality check. I thought, “I’m going to do all these great things!” and he just threw water on my fire. But I think that was a good thing.
We moved a lot for my husband’s job. While we lived in Atlanta, I worked in a law office, where I met Sally Hood, who is still my dear friend today. She and I loved to decorate. Our friends would ask us to come to their houses to change their pillows or help pick out curtains, and that’s how the design work started. She and I have been designing ever since, and she still goes to market with me. We have a great time together.
Our family continued moving around quite a bit, including Orlando and just outside San Francisco, before settling in Birmingham to stay close to our kids while they attended Auburn.
You run several businesses. How did Yellowhammer Construction lead to The Mercantile?
I always say that I got my sales savvy from my father, a car salesman who had a knack for selling anything — even the shoes off his feet a time or two! In addition to my interior design-related businesses, I also run a car wash in Sylacauga with my husband called Neon Bubbles.
After my son graduated in 2005, we started Yellowhammer Construction, which began with us flipping a 1942 bungalow in downtown Birmingham. We found there was a market for flipped homes for UAB students at that time.
One day, I needed to rent a U-Haul, so I went to a place near where we were working and got talking to the lady who worked there. There was all this stuff around the office, clearly not related to the U-Haul company, so I asked her about it. She explained that people often wanted to sell some of their stuff when they moved, so she rented them space and charged a commission so they could sell their stuff there.
I called my husband that night and told him, “I think I found our next business.” Of course, we have taken it to a whole new level, but that’s how the idea for The Mercantile came to be. I like to tell people I walked in to get a U-Haul and walked out with a business.
So you bought the business that was operating from a U-Haul store?
Yes. It was called Trader Bob’s, and we still have about nine of those vendors with us today along with our original general manager, Mark Tucker, who I could not live without! They’ve been with us from the beginning — when we were in that little building. I still help with Yellowhammer Construction, although my son has an eye for design and decor, so he can do most of it now.
That’s allowed me to focus on taking The Mercantile to the next level and making it better and better. For us, the key is having the store decorated in a way that makes items sell by giving people ideas. They love coming in, seeing the pieces, and getting inspired.
Tell us more about your vendors at The Mercantile.
We have over 50 vendors, and they sell everything from decor to bath products to baby items to clothing. We even have a new vendor that sells pickleball and disc golf gear.
We are very picky about our vendors. We vet them all to ensure they offer high-quality items you won’t find anywhere else. We also work to ensure there isn’t too much overlap.
We also try our best to help them be successful. We place booths strategically and help with layout and decor — anything we can. This helps them and helps us maintain a cohesive atmosphere in the store.
We like to say that we work too many hours to not be a happy family, so we really love our vendors. If you ask them, they’ll tell you that everyone is family. If you’re not happy, not having a good time, and can’t enjoy your day, then what’s the point?
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Well, I’m always working. But sleep is probably my favorite thing to do when I’m not. I also love to watch old black-and-white movies. I’m always trying to find one I haven’t seen, or I’ll watch my favorites over and over again.
Who is inspiring you right now?
Ricky Gonzalez, our store designer. He and I have worked together for years. He “retired” about four years ago, but he’s been working as my store designer ever since. You just need that person to bounce ideas off of, and he’s that person for me. We are always putting our heads together to see how we can improve the store. Whatever you give him, he’ll make it look good.
Aside from faith, family, and friends, name three things you can’t live without.
My grandkids are at the top of the list! And I can’t live without a crunchy snack — I call it my anxiety medication. Of course, I have to have ice cream after that.
Lightning Round!
Last delicious local meal: Crab cakes from Chuck’s and anything with pickled onions from Little Donkey
Favorite place to vacation: Alys Beach, Florida
Your go-to gift to give: Our store’s signature candles, Char Char and Evergreen. They’re named in honor of my grandkids — “Char Char” for Charlotte, and “Evergreen” is inspired by the boys, Ethan and Elliot.
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Birmingham women are doing inspiring work. Meet more of them over at our FACES archives!
