Really Good Process.
Standard Mercantile Co changes the way we think about what we buy, where we buy, and who we buy from. Sharing common knowledge about the industrial process and the people behind it is not only interesting but also critical if we’re going to demand higher quality and more ethical products. We believe that behind every good product is a good story. We want to tell that story, and sell well-made products made by good people.
SMco originally started sometime around 1920 by Samuel and Jenny Lifpitz. The original location was on Los Angeles St in Downtown L.A. They sold all kinds of merchandise: boots, hats, chaps, cups, hammers, nails, and socks. Quality merchandise. Standard Mercantile Co had style, a point of view, and a story. Eventually, when the store shut down it was replaced by four shoe stores that sold $2, $4, $6, and $8 shoes depending on your budget. With permission and blessings from their grandson, Norman “Buddy” and his wife Nancy Lifpitz, Standard Mercantile Co is re-launching 100 years later.
There are three things we care about most:
People. We care about the person making the product, why they do it, and the resources they need to operate their business.
Location. We believe in collecting and sharing information about where producers are located, where the materials they use come from, and sharing this knowledge with others.
Technique. We care about the process, *really* good process, and we want to reveal the stages of production that bring an object to life.
Every product has a story. That story and everything that goes into making and telling it is why we fall in love with the products that we buy. While we all know there are lots of products in the world, we also know that not all products have good stories. We’re driven to share great stories about great people and the products they make with you.
Hoping that Standard Mercantile Co will open up to your entire satisfaction, we are
Yours truly,
Standard Mercantile Co
Zach, Alicia, and Mica