PROFILE
By Glenda Graves | Portrait photo by Keith Branch
Michelle Barnes
Gathering with Purpose
When Michelle Barnes talks about Gathered Goods, she rarely starts the conversation with home décor. Instead, she talks about people, the feeling she hopes customers experience the moment they walk through the door, the stories behind the pieces they choose and the community that has grown organically around a shared love of home.
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“I want people to feel a sense of community the second they walk in,” Michelle said. “That’s really the heart and soul of everything we do.”
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That spirit is what sets Gathered Goods apart. More than a home décor store, the space operates as a modern mercantile, housing more than 50 woman-owned businesses under one roof. Inside, customers can wander through a thoughtfully layered mix of new furniture, refurbished finds, vintage treasures and one-of-a-kind décor pieces. It’s the kind of place where shoppers grab a cup of coffee, linger longer than planned and leave inspired.
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“Our goal has always been to provide affordable options that help people turn a house into a home, one that reflects who they are and the stories they carry,” Michelle said. “You don’t have to have all new or all vintage in your home. Mixing pieces adds warmth, character and meaning.”
Michelle didn’t always envision herself running a retail business. She spent 25 years in the nonprofit sector doing work she loved deeply, until a rare tumor diagnosis prompted her to step back and reevaluate her life. “It gave me an opportunity to think differently about what I wanted the next chapter to look like,” she said.
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At that time, she and her mother had a small booth at Gathered Goods when the store was in Rogers. When a tornado damaged the area and the original owners decided it was time to retire, what followed felt less like coincidence and more like a calling. “It was a series of events where I just knew God was leading me here,” Michelle said. “My mom and I had always joked that one day we’d open a store together. When this opportunity came, we knew it was our moment.”
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Michelle left nonprofit work and dove headfirst into rebuilding Gathered Goods alongside her mother. For Michelle, the shift wasn’t a departure from her time in the nonprofit sector, it was simply a new way to live it out. “I’ve always believed in doing God’s work through whatever I’m doing,” she said. “This just became another avenue to give back and serve.”
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Running a business with a parent can be complicated, but working alongside her mother has been one of the greatest joys of the journey for Michelle. Growing up in a military family, she moved every few years. Yet her mother made it her mission to turn each new house into a home within days — pictures hung, details in place and a sense of comfort established almost immediately. “She always wanted to make sure it felt like home for us, and that stuck with me,” Michelle said.
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Her mother’s eye for detail and love for décor shaped Michelle as a child. While living abroad, her mother often took on creative side work, designing silk florals, crafting, sourcing pieces — anything that allowed her to stay connected to beauty and home.
Today, their strengths naturally complement each other. Michelle manages the operational side of the business while her mother thrives in creative expressions within the store. “She’s in her element when she’s piddling around the store, creating displays,” Michelle said, laughing. “She does things I would never think of, and I love watching her work.”
One of her favorite parts of the business is sourcing pieces with her mother, a process that has created some of their most cherished memories. Early on, the two took a sourcing trip to Hermann, Missouri, which turned into a four-day adventure of antique shops and unexpected finds. One of their first major purchases was a beautiful antique secretary desk. “We quickly realized how hard it was going to be to put things in the store instead of taking them home,” Michelle said, joking.
Gathered Goods operates out of a 7,500-square-foot space just off Wagon Wheel Road in Springdale, which — with fewer logistical challenges and better accessibility for customers — has allowed the business to grow. “We’re really loving this space,” Michelle said. “There’s more parking and less congestion than our previous location. I wish it were even bigger,” she admits. “There are so many talented makers I’d love to bring in. We joke about figuring out how to use the ceiling next.”
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In a world of fast furniture and mass production, Michelle believes the renewed interest in vintage and repurposed pieces reflects a deeper cultural shift. “People are choosing pieces because of the stories behind them,” she said. “Something reminds them of their grandmother’s house or a piece their parents had growing up. It brings them back to who they are.”
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Michelle said she encourages customers to release the pressure of perfection in their homes. “Your home doesn’t need to look like a magazine,” she said. “It needs to feel lived-in, warm and comfortable.”
The Gathered Goods team at the Habitat for Humanity home in Gravette on Oct. 30, 2025
That philosophy was never more evident than during Gathered Goods’ recent partnership with HGTV’s Fixer to Fabulous, the Marrs family and Habitat for Humanity. When the opportunity arose, Michelle brought the idea to her vendors, and every single one said yes.
Michelle Barnes at her daughter's law school graduation May 17, 2024
“Not one person said no,” she said. “Even vendors who don’t sell furniture or décor contributed financially just to make it happen.”
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What followed was controlled chaos — sourcing and refinishing pieces to match the home’s aesthetic, storing furniture until filming, coordinating volunteers and unloading trailers in the mud.
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“It was boots on the ground,” Michelle said, “but it was magical.” The most touching moment came when HGTV unexpectedly requested to film the store while Michelle was away on a cruise with her daughter. Without hesitation, vendors stepped in, restocking the store, cleaning late into the night and ensuring everything was camera-ready. The episode aired on HGTV in January, and Gathered Goods hosted a watch party at the store for their vendors and customers.
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As Michelle looks ahead, her vision for Gathered Goods is rooted less in growth metrics and more in meaning. When asked what advice she would give someone who feels called to start something purposeful but isn’t sure they’re ready, her answer is simple and heartfelt. “Go chase that dream,” she said. “Whether that looks like working in a nonprofit, volunteering or supporting in some capacity, everybody has a talent. Yours may be hidden, but if you dig deep and find it, use it. Nobody’s expecting perfection. A community thrives when we all pull together.”
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Gathered Goods is definitely more than a home décor store. Michelle sees it becoming a true reflection of its name — a gathering place. A space where like-minded people can come together around conversations that matter, whether that’s a night of shopping paired with discussion about affordable housing, or a welcoming evening for women who simply need encouragement and support in their homes and lives.
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“In this fast-paced world, we’ve forgotten how to connect,” she said. “We want to create a space where people can slow down, where we can come together around something that brings peace. And for so many people, that starting place is home.”