When Cheryl Crist moved from upstate New York to North Carolina in 2017, she had no idea that her love for travel and locally made products would one day spark a business. What began as a career transfer soon grew into an adventure—Cheryl set out to visit all 41 state parks in North Carolina, a goal she proudly accomplished within a year.
That journey didn’t just take her into the great outdoors; it brought her into small towns across the state, where she discovered the richness of local artisanship—foods, wines, crafts, and more. She often found herself wishing there were a single place where she (and others) could find these products without traveling hours to get them. That idea became the seed of Gather NC Mercantile & Gifts.
Building the store has been both rewarding and challenging. Cheryl has set a bold goal of carrying products from all 100 counties in North Carolina, an ambitious but meaningful mission that she and her team continue to pursue. She sources products through word of mouth, festivals, research, and even customer recommendations. Sometimes she and her employees take “adult field trips” to visit vendors directly, building stronger connections and stories they can share with shoppers.
Cheryl’s background in the beauty industry gave her an entrepreneurial mindset, but opening Gather NC was something different—something more challenging and more deeply connected to her values. For her, it’s about quality, diversity, and authenticity.
Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs? “Have a backup plan, create a solid business plan, and use the resources around you. Don’t treat it like a hobby—treat it like a business from the very start.”
Cheryl is proud to call Sanford, NC home and grateful for the supportive community that has embraced Gather NC. Her story reminds us that sometimes the path to our greatest work begins on a hiking trail, in small towns, and in the everyday discoveries that connect us all.