In a city full of creative forces, Sagebrush Collaborative stands out for the way it brings people together. Their new Hyde Park shop is home to 90+ small makers and they host so many cool events: art shows, clothing swaps, backyard markets. And all of it has a focus on connection over consumerism. It’s the kind of place that reminds you why shopping local matters. This story was written by Sony a Feibert-Kuhn - enjoy!

Meet Sagebrush Collaborative

By Sonya Feibert-Kuhn

I recently learned about the ‘third place,’ a term coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg to describe spaces that are separate from home (first place) and work (second place) where you can connect with people and find community.

Situated in a cozy, curated spot in the heart of Hyde Park, Sagebrush Collaborative is an intentional third place. Out front, there’s a native garden and a trinket exchange library. On the front porch is a sticker, mini print, and temporary tattoo machine featuring local art. Step inside to a space full of plants and handmade magic. The backyard is more space to hold community. Right next door is Pine and Needle Tattoo Collective.

Sagebrush is an artist collective, a gift shop; host to clothing swaps, watercolor workshops, monthly markets — in short, a hub of creativity and community in Boise. I connected with Jess Wagner — artist, owner, curator extraordinaire, and community maker — to learn more about how Sagebrush Collaborative came to be, what she loves about their new space, and what she’s looking forward to this winter.

Your new space in Hyde Park is glorious! Can you share a bit about it and what makes it a dream space for you?

Jess: Thank you so, so much. It’s such a dreamy lil home! We really love the hardwood floors. Besides being in the ideal location (I live in the neighborhood, and my sweet partner grew up down here), I was able to find a location to share with one of my best friend’s business too. Being a small business in this economy is no joke and we never would’ve been able to afford our dream location if we weren’t sharing it.

Also, being in Hyde Park, and having a full yard to host events such as markets, fundraisers and workshops, is a dream come true. We always wanted to be more than a gift shop, but a community gathering place, a third place.

What are some events you’re excited about this winter?

Jess: I’m excited about our first winter in Hyde Park for sure. I’m excited for the bustling holiday season when the shop gets to shine. We’re open 7 days a week and it's a bit chaotic but really fun. I’m also excited for our annual Holiday Market! It’s on December 7 at the Linen Building and it’s always such a fun celebration of our artists.

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How do you connect with the artists you feature in Sagebrush?

Jess: Ohhh this is a fun one to answer. Before owning Sagebrush, I was a full time artist who traveled all over the West to fine art shows, and built my art career on Instagram. I grew such a wide group of friends who owned amazing small businesses or were fellow artists themselves. When I opened the shop, I had SO many friends all over that I wanted to feature. So, I started with people I knew. I eventually did some online calls and discovered a lot of new artists this way.

I also love to visit other gift shops and markets when traveling, and always come home with at least ONE new artist. Hosting Sagebrush markets is also a really fun way I’ve found new artists.

Congrats on winning Best of Boise for Best Boutique in 2024! You clearly have an awesome community! How have you seen it grow over the last few years?

Jess: Thank you! We felt so lucky, especially with it being our first year in business on our own.

I think the shop thrives and the community grows when we host free, community-driven events, such as our ‘Art as Resistance’ art show last spring. I know to most we are ‘just a gift shop,’ but we’ve been cultivating community from the beginning and I truly hope Sagebrush can be a third place for everyone. We aim to be inclusive and accessible, and our community always grows and shows up when we host fundraisers, art shows, or markets. It’s really cool to see what our community prioritizes. Of course we are so grateful that they choose us for gifts, self care days and the like, but it is so lovely to see the same (and new) faces at every event we hold.

Sagebrush Collaborative focuses on beautiful slow-made, sustainable, and handmade goods. Can you tell us a bit more about what this means to you and why it’s important?

Jess: The gift shop world is overrun with mass produced items while a thriving handmade society coexists. There is nothing more disappointing (to me!) than walking into a gift shop and just seeing the same items you see everywhere else.

Handmade items are made by the artists themselves, which is so cool, to be able to connect consumers with goods made by people in their own community or across a mountain range. With our shop model as well, the artists retain so much more of their profit vs a traditional wholesale model.

I think in a world of fast fashion, plastic, and mass produced goods, it’s SO important to focus on the small creators, businesses and artists that make things. As an artist myself, I've lost a lot of money on wholesale orders or predatory consignment agreements. I want to be a place that puts the artists first. The only "middle person" here is Sagebrush, another local business, helping artists and small businesses grow.

What brought you to Boise, and what do you love about the City of Trees?

Jess: I moved here really unexpectedly in 2020 after years of seasonal work and solo travel. I literally came here knowing 1 person and having nothing; and now I have a whole life here full of amazing friends, a lovely fiancé, a thriving business and a life full of love.

I love Boise for the kindest humans I’ve met here, and its access to the outdoors. I’m an avid mountain biker, hiker and trail runner, and having the foothills out my back door and the mountains a few hours away while still living in a relatively large city is a dream come true.

You’re super intentional about finding balance and prioritizing your life as a business owner. Any advice for other creative folks and business owners on the importance of setting boundaries and creating a more sustainable life that avoids burnout?

Jess: And the thing is, I wasn’t always! As a full time artist and new business owner I had NO boundaries, no days off, and it’s why I got completely burnt out and why I have taken almost 2 years off of my art business and practice.

Set hard boundaries! Have days off! I love my store and do not want to burn out (although, that is kind of inevitable with being a business owner), so I am trying to find a balance in my life. Find hobbies and a community outside of your business. Do not revolve your entire life around your business. It really helps me to turn “off” the shop owner portion of myself. Besides having friends and people around me that aren't a part of the business at all, being active is such a huge part of my life and helps so much with balance and avoiding burnout.

How can folks best support Sagebrush Collaborative?

Jess: This year has been a bit rough for so many small businesses and artists. I think the best way to support us, and the almost 90 other small businesses and artists we support, is to shop small this holiday season.

Showing up to events and forming community with us is always a free, fun way to help support as well.

Go give Sagebrush Collaborative a visit! You can find the shop at 1609 13th Street in Boise's North End. It's open Wednesday - Sunday. You can also visit a Confluence Market or the Sagebrush Holiday Market on December 7 at the Linen Building. And be sure to follow Sagebrush on Instagram.

As always, we encourage you to shop small and local for your loved ones this holiday season! I'll have my annual local gift guide out next week :)

Thanks for reading!

With love from Boise,

Marissa

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This story was written by Sonya Feibert Kuhn, a writer, improviser, and performer in Boise. She's an avid Treeforter and an enthusiastic patron of and participant in the storytelling and comedy scenes. On sunny days, find her in the foothills hiking with her pup, Chloe, and partner, Mitch.

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