Cedarburg Mercantile:
A Store for Everyone
Shop One-of-a-Kind Handcrafted Goods in an Environment Where Everyone Feels Welcome
Do you love supporting small businesses that make a difference?
When you shop Cedarburg Mercantile you’ll discover a place that inspires. A place to gather with friends. A place that supports our local community and provides a platform where adults in the IDD community can blossom.
Visit Cedarburg Mercantile today! You’ll find exclusive products made by people with extraordinary stories to tell.
Cedarburg Mercantile works in tandem with BLOSSOM IDD to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to hone their individual talents and gifts, and give them a platform to blossom into one of our valued community members here in Ozaukee County and beyond.
We look forward to welcoming you personally and introducing you to our talented and joyful community!
Did you know: We have supporting vendors outside of the disability community as well as exceptional vendors who are a part of the disability. Here you can meet the curated exceptional vendors that make our store unique.
Welcome to
Cedarburg Mercantile
Cedarburg Mercantile is a store like no other. It’s home to one-of-a-kind items crafted by talented artists, artisans, and craftspeople, each with a story to tell.
Located in historic downtown Cedarburg, Wisconsin (just outside of Milwaukee), the goal of The Mercantile is simple: showcase diverse products, foster an inclusive and fair-minded environment, and support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to hone their individual talents and gifts and give them a platform to bloom into one of our valued community members here in Ozaukee County and beyond.
The Mercantile works in tandem with BLOSSOM IDD, a much-needed resource and social hub for adults with IDD and their families.
Become a Vendor
Do you have a product or service that is a fit for our one-of-a-kind store? Do you have a heart to help those that have IDD? We would like to learn about your product or service and get to know you better. It’s easy, just click the link below and tell us about what you do and we will take it from there.
Meet Our Founders
Mike and Cindy Purnell
Mike and Cindy Purnell had the vision to provide their daughter Dakota and others in the IDD community with opportunities to work and develop the life skills necessary to not just survive, but to thrive.
Mike and Cindy designed Cedarburg Mercantile as a destination that provides unique, meaningful experiences for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. The Mercantile will be a place of discovery, wonder, enrichment, learning, jobs, social interaction, achievement, fun, and so much more.
The Mercantile employs individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, many of whom have been denied the opportunity to become self-sufficient.
In addition, Cedarburg Mercantile provides a place for people with IDD to develop their talents and skills through the sale of handcrafted items that are sold via our store, website, and other outlets. The earnings they make help them gain financial independence while they learn important social and community skills.
Samantha Bear
Executive Director – Blossom IDD | Co-Owner – Cedarburg Mercantile
Samantha Bear is one of those rare people who just make things happen. She brings an electric energy to the Cedarburg Mercantile that is palpable as soon as you walk in the door.
Samantha thrives on helping individuals with IDD grow and develop in a variety of settings, including classrooms, worksites, and social environments.
She has worked with people of all ages and she is a strong advocate for increasing understanding and acceptance of people with IDD.
Samantha is an advocate for people with IDD and has worked closely with members of the IDD community for close to a decade.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Exceptional Education with an Autism Spectrum Certificate from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a Masters of Education from Loyola University of Chicago.
Our Community
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Share Our Vision
By volunteering at Blossom IDD, is not only rewarding but, we can direct more of our funding towards programming while providing valuable support from individuals like yourself who share our vision for building strong communities through service.
RESOURCES
Support You Need
Blossom IDD offers free resources to not only educate the general public, but also help individuals with IDD and their families realize their full potential by helping them find jobs and develop the skills to make an impact on society.