Meet the Makers: Mercantile 12

At Evergreen Custom Gifting we focus on curated, elevated, and locally-inspired keepsakes that create a meaningful connection to our destination. Partnering with fellow creative small business owners whenever possible. In our “Meet the Makers” series we feature the local artisans and makers that provide products for our gifts.

Today we highlight Mercantile 12. Founded in 2014, Mercantile 12 creates gift items for wine country lovers. Their popular ceramic mugs, tea towels, insulated wine cups and water bottles, canvas totes and apparel let wine country visitors take the memory home with them. They feature Washington, Oregon and California wine destinations as well as are able to create products for your destination.

Our Favorite Products

Mercantile 12’s ceramic mugs, tea towels, insulated wine cups and water bottles have been a top request for many of our custom gifts both corporate and for weddings. We love the quality, durability, and design of these products too!

Meet Janet and the Story Behind!

I fell in love with wine country on my first real wine tasting trip to Napa & Sonoma in 1993. I moved to Seattle in 1997 and discovered Walla Walla in 2005 and it became my happy place. I've been in product development & merchandising since 1990 and a light bulb went off when I was in a tasting room in Walla Walla in 2010. Where were the wine country gifts I would want to take home? That's when Mercantile 12 concepted. It took 3 1/2 years to develop and we launched the brand in 2014.

What's your favorite part about doing what you do?

I especially love sales and working with my best customers who buy for their wineries, gift shops, resorts and gourmet markets. Trips through wine country in Washington, Oregon, the Central Coast of California are a joy.

Photo: Good Times Jute Pocket Tote

Do you have any new products that we should know about?

This year we have launched our new State of Wine WA Terra Mug (pictured) and not to forget our new stemless wine cups and corkscrews that came out in 2020 and are taking off like a rocket!