A new boutique in Mascoutah offers all-natural products, local merch and team gear
One of Mascoutah’s gorgeous historic buildings is home to a new business.
Needful Things Boutique opens Tuesday, Aug. 2, in a 19th century building at the corner of East Main and North Jefferson streets.
The building sits at a four-way stop, where drivers can’t help but notice the striking building with the pretty glass storefront.
I visited the new shop and met with co-owners Danielle Buss and Marie Lyons Janasik, who are cousins, and her daughter, Emily Janasik, who also helps run the business.
Buss and Lyons Janasik decided to open the boutique for two reasons: Buss wanted a studio space for her existing photography business, and both of them want to provide others with a place to shop for items they can’t easily find when they need it.
The idea came about because Buss found it difficult to find all-natural products for herself and her family. It made sense to open a shop where all of these things were in one place, for her as well as for others.
The items stocked at this boutique were selected through a simple process: Would we buy it/wear it?
Each item in the shop is something Buss or Lyons Janasik, or someone they know, would buy for themselves or their family.
The name of the boutique comes from Stephen King’s novel “Needful Things” (it’s also a movie). The story is about a shop of the same name. Anyone who enters the shop finds whatever it is they want.
Lyons Janasik said she loved that name for a store, and it seemed to fit with what they’re trying to do. But the Mascoutah version is definitely not dark like King’s story.
Available merch
Items at Needful Things include essential oils, healing crystals, all-natural bath and body products, fashion jewelry, CBD products, fashion/boutique-style clothing and “other random goodies,” according to Buss.
The women-owned shop is on an all-natural path, said Buss. Most of the items are locally sourced. Merchandise they couldn’t get locally, such as the crystals, were ordered from elsewhere.
Locally-sourced items include bath products from Infinity Bath & Body, which makes all-natural soaps and bath bombs, particularly the F-bomb (some products at the boutique have a playful quality). It’s a disc-shaped bath bomb with a big “F” on it.
Clothing at the shop was an afterthought. Lyons Janasik ordered some items that got a lot of feedback on the Facebook page.
“People went nuts over the clothes,” said Buss, so they included them in the shop.
I personally like the sleeveless shirt that says, “fit•ish: adjective /’fitiSH/ Likes to be fit, but also really likes tacos.”
Essential oils, which Buss and Lyons Janasik both use often, will include products from dōTERRA and Aura Cacia (providing a lower price point for customers).
They even offer house blends, kid- and family-friendly: sprays for ouchies, bugs, burns. A linen spray is coming soon.
Any essential oil products they don’t have in stock can be ordered.
Other merch in the shop includes team gear for Mascoutah High School. Needful Things has an agreement with the high school to use their logo for retail purposes.
Buss and Lyons Janasik are also working with Team Mascoutah, whose sole purpose is to help young kids develop athletically in preparation for high school sports. Buss said they want to help fulfill the demand for team gear, particularly for the parents who want the products but are often unable to find them.
Buss said she previewed the stock they had on social media. They sold a lot of it already, and the store isn’t even open yet.
There’s also a partnership with Warrior Logo Wear, a veteran-owned business based in Mascoutah that provides screen printing, heat transfers, embroidery, graphic design for a variety of clothing, accessories, signs, and multiple everyday items.
Buss said she wants to make items available for the surrounding community schools as well — Okawville, Wesclin, Belleville East and West. These items would be special order only.
In the not-so-distant future, Buss would like to host classes in the evenings, including yoga classes by Katie Hillen of Breathe & Bend in Albers. Hillen also leads sound therapy workshops.
Buss said they would also like to have make-and-take essential oil workshops where they can teach others about the practical uses of each oil and help them create their own mixtures.
Dani Nicole Photography
For seven years, Buss specialized in natural light photography and studio photography, mainly with families, children and high school seniors.
The boutique doubles as a photography studio, and the building’s features make it a really good one.
Exposed brick walls are a great element, but my favorite part of the building is the front — it’s all doors and windows.
The glass along the top is beautiful and possibly original to the building. So much light comes in, which is great since Buss uses natural light in her photographic work.
One wall, painted dark blue with lettering that reads, “She believed she could so she did,” is used as a backdrop in some of her photo sessions.
Buss said the lettering was hand painted by her cousin, Mikayla Weber, of Mascoutah. (I was impressed — I thought it was stenciled.)
The furnishings in the shop were made to accommodate the studio space.
The display tables and seating are all on casters, making it easy to move them out of the way for photo sessions.
Photo sessions with Dani Nicole Photography are by appointment only.
Buss is currently booking appointments for Santa photos in October.
Samples of Buss’s work can be found online at facebook.com/daninicolephotos.
About Needful Things Boutique
Needful Things Boutique is located at 227 E. Main St. in Mascoutah.
Boutique hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. They are closed Sunday-Monday.
For more information, call 618-566-0010 or visit facebook.com/needfulthingsboutique.
