Pretties and Grace blends faith, community, and decor | News

“I started with a little booth at a flea market just to sell some decor and furniture I didn’t have room for after we downsized our home when the kids moved out, or left the nest, so to speak. But I caught the bug—I loved creating a pretty space, and before I knew it, I got my wholesaler’s license and started buying things to resell,” Baker said.

That was years before Pretties and Grace opened its first location in 2021, at 1218 Military Road, the former home of Blush Boutique.

“One day my husband (David Beeson) and I saw the building closing, so I mentioned it to him and went inside, before I knew it, I signed a lease,” said Baker.

Success followed for the couple in their first business venture. They now have a location in Malvern and Fayetteville and have moved from Military Road to Downtown Benton, where they share a space with Wild Boutique.

“The space is phenomenal, it’s a huge location, and I needed more space – we were bursting at the seams on Military Road. Right before the holiday season, we were sharing half the space with Wild Boutique, now we have left Military Road and occupy 2/3 of the location in Downtown Benton at Wild,” said Baker.

The move has been a positive for the local small business.

“We love being downtown. The businesses work together a lot for things like Small Business Saturday and Third Thursday. We were just off the beaten path before, and now we feel included in everything,” said Baker. “Our customers are so loyal—I think they’d follow us anywhere—but downtown has definitely helped us reach new people. It’s been a great move for us.”

Baker’s faith is an essential part of her life and the culture of her store.

Faith and fellowship are exemplified by Pretties and Grace’s dedication to supporting the local community.

“We model our giving like a church—whatever our sales are for the month, we give a percentage of that back to the community. And truthfully, we probably go over that, because I have a hard time saying no,” said Baker. “We give to churches, schools, New Beginnings, Civitan, the Empact One Foundation—all of these great organizations that make our community what it is.”

Pretties and Grace offers candles, lanterns, vases, containers, greens, blooms, faith-based and inspirational items, self-care items, and more. The Downtown Benton Location is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The Malvern store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and the Fayetteville location is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

 “Prayer is our number one business plan. We pray about everything before we make a decision – that’s just how we operate,” she said. “We’re very faith-based. When you walk into our store, you’ll see Bibles and a lot of faith-centered decor and gifts. That’s intentional because it’s a part of who we are.”

Baker says the Bible verse she tries to live by and operate her store by comes from James 1:17.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above.”

“We see Pretties and Grace as a gift to the community,” Baker said. “People in Saline County really do try to support small businesses. They eat at the local restaurants, drink the local coffee, shop the local boutiques—and we feel that support every day.”

Baker also strives to work with local vendors whenever she can.

“We have two or three signature candles and wax melts we use from someone who lives right here in Saline County, who pours our candles for us. We have a man who does wood cutting boards, and he is from Arkansas,” she said. “We try hard to seek out small businesses that are new and different like we are, but we also make sure they maintain quality.”

Baker expressed the importance of shopping locally and how it can create a much more personal experience for customers.

“If you come in and want something specific, we’ll do everything we can to find it—even if that means losing money or time. That’s the kind of service you don’t get at big stores,” she said. “We connect with our customers. We know your name, we know your family—you’re not just a transaction to us. It’s more of a shopping experience than just a store. Even if something costs a little more, people around here are willing to shop small because they know we give back and care deeply. It’s a relationship, not just retail.”