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Step into Kingston Social, and you’ll instantly feel something different. There’s no hum of laptops, no buzz of digital distraction. You smell the espresso, maybe hear a bit of chatter or laughter from the cafe. People are flipping through books, browsing the shelves. It’s relaxed, not rushed. It just feels good to be there.
“We knew we wanted it to be analogue,” says Samara Daly, who co-founded Kingston Social alongside two artist partners. “Not a co-working space. Not transactional. A true social space, with conversation at the centre.”
Kingston Social is a rare hybrid: a cafe, a thoughtfully curated mercantile, and a rotating art gallery, all housed in a sun-drenched corner of uptown Kingston, New York. Since opening, it’s become a kind of modern corner shop meets cultural hub. Inside, locals mingle with weekenders and young families sip espresso while their kids colour at the children’s drawing table.
“We’ve just celebrated our one-year anniversary,” Samara says. “It’s been incredible to see how this space has resonated across generations, from people who’ve lived in Kingston their whole lives to people who’ve just moved up from the city. Everyone finds their own rhythm here.”
We wanted to create a space where you could actually have a conversation, flip through a beautiful book, discover art, drink great coffee and find something unexpected to take home.
– Samara Daly, Owner & Chief Merchandising Officer, Kingston Social
Three businesses, one vision
On any given day, you’ll find a carefully edited mix of goods at Kingston, from handmade toys and creative kits for kids to elegant tableware, cookbooks and global kitchen staples. The art gallery features mostly women artists from the Hudson Valley and beyond. And the cafe, with its Italian pastries and robust espresso, ties it all together.
Samara, whose background is in real estate and social impact, had long dreamt of opening a modern mercantile. “I’ve wanted to do this for as long as I can remember,” she says. “Something that felt curated, communal, but not overwhelming.”
Stress-free discovery and buying
Running three retail concepts under one roof could be chaotic – but Faire helps make the merchandising side feel manageable, and even fun. “I had a really clear vision of the kinds of products I wanted in the shop,” says Samara. “A few friends in the retail world pointed me toward Faire and said, ‘You’re going to love this.’ They were right.”
The platform’s search tools help Samara hone in on the exact product she’s looking for, like a striped throw, or a colour-blocked blanket from a women-owned business not on Amazon. She uses tags and filters to refine searches and often connects directly with makers through Faire messaging. “Faire is basically my go-to for sourcing – it keeps things organised, and it’s just easy to discover beautiful things from small brands,” she says. “I’ll usually get in touch with the owner and just say hi or thank you. I really like having that direct connection.”
Integration with Shopify and Faire’s flexible return policy also streamline the process: “If something doesn’t meet the quality I was expecting, I can send it back. That makes a big difference when you’re running a small shop.”
Tips for new retailers: Start small, stay fresh
Opening a hybrid concept like Kingston Social comes with plenty of learning curves, and Samara urges others to resist the temptation to overbuy. “It’s okay to start with two of something,” she says. “If it sells in the first week, that’s a good thing. You can reorder. You’re finding out what resonates.”
Faire’s flexible minimums help her stock a wide range of items without the pressure of high-volume commitments. “At first, I passed on a few lines because the minimums were too high, but then I found great alternatives that worked even better for our space.”
Keeping the assortment fresh is key to keeping regulars engaged. “Every few months, I bring in something new – a cookbook, art supplies for kids, a new batch of reading cards. Our customers notice. They’ll say, ‘Oh, I didn’t see that last time’. And that’s exactly the reaction I want.”
Building community, one customer at a time
Every detail at Kingston Social – whether it’s the clean, intentional merchandising or the way the art echoes the palette of the cafe – reflects a clear, cohesive aesthetic. The team’s marketing and visual design strategy ties it all together. “We try to create a rhythm between all the elements so it feels like one experience, not three separate ones.”
Because for Samara, success isn’t measured in units sold. It’s in the regulars who come back weekly. The kids who draw while their parents sip cappuccinos. The conversations sparked by a new painting on the wall. “I think Kingston’s a pretty magical place,” she says. “Faire helps me keep it that way by making it easier to find beautiful, thoughtful things that bring people joy.”
