The Eclectic, located in downtown Florence, is home to a variety of exotic fashions and gifts from around the world. The definition of “Eclectic” is deriving ideas, styles, or tastes from a broad and diverse range of sources– and the store definitely lives up to its name. The store owner, Madam Eclectic, moved from Los Angeles to Florence in hopes of bringing big-city diversity to a small town.

“They were hungry for something different,” Madam Eclectic said, looking back on how culture-deprived the people of Florence were at the time she moved here.

“There are people here that are tired of the same thing in every store. I didn’t want my store to be like all the others.”

After being praised for her enchanting Stevie Nicks-esque style, Madam Eclectic decided to step out of retirement and open her own store where she could sell all the things she loved to all the people she loved. Her original intention was to open a pop-up shop that was only open during the holidays, but the store quickly grew in popularity and she fell in love with her customers. Now, The Eclectic is a staple in Florence.

“I’ve never had as good of a time making a living,” Madam Eclectic said about her store. And how could she not when she treats everyone in the store like family? The workers are handpicked by Madam Eclectic herself, most of them being close friends or old customers that she recruited. Instead of housing tacky decorations on her walls, she chose to decorate the store with pictures of her family, friends, dogs, and customers enjoying the merchandise.

Some of the most popular items at The Eclectic are the various kinds of incense and the diverse jewelry selection that the store has to offer. However, Madam Eclectic’s personal favorites are her plant collection and the bohemian fashions. She originally did not intend to sell many clothing items, but the demand for bohemian chic swayed her to fill the store with more styles. Now, these exotic fashions make up half the store.

The rest of the store is filled with various essential oils, handmade bags, beautiful crystals and many other peaceful products that appeal to the modern hippie. Yet, one is unlikely to find the same product in the store twice. “I don’t want to be a grocery store. I don’t want to be a place where people come to get the same supplies every month– I like to shop the world for something different and unique. I like switching things out,” Madam Eclectic explained about the variety of products in her store.

“I don’t want to be just a metaphysical store. I want to be an import store that has true variety. I want to keep searching the
world and finding stuff that people haven’t seen before.” She likes to keep a diverse product base that appeals to a variety of consumers. The goal of the store is to make everyone feel welcome and accepted, and Madam Eclectic has certainly achieved that goal.

“My store is a central place for diversity. It’s a place where people can go for non-mainstream ideas. I hope that everybody feels like they can come in here and be treated with respect and acceptance and dignity– all the things that we as human beings deserve. When somebody feels good in here, it makes me feel good. I’m very proud, and I know I’ve made an impact.”

Impact is an understatement. For many citizens of Florence, The Eclectic is a place where they can go to not only shop, but feel at peace. It offers a sense of community and acceptance, providing a breath of fresh air for people looking to escape the ordinary. Whether you’re greeted with a friendly face or Fleetwood Mac music, coming into The Eclectic feels like coming home.