A sudden announcement has left vendors across the nation scrambling after Little Rock-based Painted Tree Boutiques revealed it is shutting down operations, effective immediately.
In an email sent to shop owners, the company said it has “made the very difficult decision to cease all business operations today” and will no longer conduct retail sales at any of its locations.
The news comes as a shock to many vendors who operate booths within Painted Tree’s marketplace-style stores. The business model allowed individuals to rent their own spaces and sell goods ranging from home décor to handmade items, boutique clothing and more.
“It’s with a heavy heart—and a lot of frustration—that I’m sharing this news,” Love Story Boutique posted to Facebook, noting it will relocate its own boutique to 501 Pyro in Bryant. “We’ve been informed that Painted Tree Marketplace has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and the store is now closed. Vendors were given just 10 days to remove everything, with little notice.”
According to the announcement, limited staff will remain on-site at each store to help vendors retrieve their inventory in the coming days.
“We understand the impact this has on you and your business, and we are truly sorry,” Painted Tree wrote in the email. “We know many of you have invested significant time, energy, and resources into building your spaces at Painted Tree, and this is not the outcome any of us hoped for.”
The abrupt closure creates immediate uncertainty for small business owners who relied on the retail concept as a primary or supplemental source of income, as well as disappointment for customers who frequented the stores for locally sourced, unique goods.
“I’m honestly still trying to process this,” Threefold Grace LLC posted to Facebook. “That location made up about 90% of my business, so this is a major and unexpected shift. To say this is hard is an understatement.”
However, with two other locations currently operating in central Arkansas and two more coming soon, Threefold Grace remains optimistic.
“This business was built with purpose and faith, not just a location… and I trust that still stands,” the post says. “I’m not giving up. I’m just pivoting.”
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