Sugar Magnolia Drops ‘Antiques’ Tag to Offer Modern Home Decor

By Margaux Pope and Annie Meyer
Hottytoddy.com interns

Oxford native Leah Christman said she is proud to continue the legacy of Sugar Magnolia, the home decor store inspired by her charismatic grandmother, Lois Swaney-Shipp, who passed away in January.

The store entrance of Sugar Magnolia. Photo by Margaux Pope.

“She was our greeter – a real spitfire. She was wonderful,” Christman said.

Christman, along with her sister Molly, is the co-owner of one of Oxford’s most popular shops. One characteristic that differentiates Sugar Magnolia from other home decor stores in Oxford is its diverse and constantly changing inventory. Sugar Magnolia is home to over 100 vendors, most of whom are non-local designers and artists.

The store is located on University Ave, just minutes from the Square. Leah said her father owns the shopping center where Sugar Magnolia is located.

Vendors mostly reach out to Sugar Magnolia if they are interested in opening a booth in the Oxford store. Most vendors hear about the store by word-of-mouth or are recommended by close friends.

One of the home décor booths at Sugar Magnolia. Photo by Margaux Pope.

Most vendors come into the store a few times a month to restock their booths. Artists sign a contract with Sugar Magnolia, and typically sign a six-month lease for their booth.

“We ask that they check on their booths at least twice a month, but most of them come more often than that. Sometimes they come during business hours, but other times they come after hours to get things done,” Christman said.

The store offers a wide variety of products, and the owners said they are looking to move away from the ‘antique’ category. Along with a few antique vendors, Sugar Magnolia has shifted towards home decor, offering men’s and women’s accessories, clothing, and jewelry. Along with these items, the store is also home to many artists in the Oxford community.

“Our sign still says antique mall, but we have kind of dropped that because it’s not just antiques. We have so much more than that,” Christman said.

“We offer a little bit of everything. We have collectible items – things that men would like, some older items, just about anything you can think of for home decor,” she said.

The Oxford Artist Guild also moved in about a year ago in the loft of Sugar Magnolia. The Guild is in charge of the artists who sell at Sugar Magnolia.

The Oxford Guild Gallery is lofted above Sugar Magnolia. Photo by Margaux Pope.

“We try to reach out to the artist community having Artist Guild upstairs,” Leah said. “We have a local potter and a few painters. It’s really a good mix.”

Christman said that there are many customers who come back regularly to check for new products.

“I’ve been here a few times and found a lot of useful items for my house. I just like the atmosphere and the products,” said customer Eliza McDow.

The store is coming up on its 12th year of serving the Oxford community. While the store is looking to move away from the term “antique mall”, the Christman sisters keep the family tradition alive by providing a mix of modern home decor and traditional antiques.

“There’s a lot to look at with about 1,600 square feet. There’s always something new to find, a new vendor that you like or an improved booth,” Christman said.