POINT CLEAR, Alabama -- A native of Milton, Fla., Melissa Smith established a successful career as a customer relations specialist for Toyota in Fort Walton Beach. But life events moved her to Point Clear in 1997 and a job as membership and marketing director for Lakewood Golf Club.
"Everyone knows me from the golf club. It was an awesome position, and I loved it," Smith said. "It had a huge membership, but it was a heavy work schedule."
When her grandmother was diagnosed with cancer, Smith left full-time employment to care for her. After her grandmother’s death in 2008, Smith made a career-altering discovery.
"After she died, we discovered she’d developed dementia and had liquidated her insurance policies and gave away all her money," Smith said. "I had to sell everything to pay her bills."
Smith turned to a life-long, family hobby to help her make it through the difficult time.
"I’ve been around antiques all my life, and so I got a booth at the Daphne Antique Galleria, and I started the Dragonfly Emporium," she said. "Then I had friends whose relatives passed away, and I helped them sell the belongings."
It was an unexpected change that allowed her to help others who were dealing with emotions she understood.
"I’ve had to pack homes and help people who couldn’t do it because they were overcome with grief," Smith said. "I offer it as a service to help the families. It’s hard."
As her business grew, she saw an opportunity to create an antiques market in her area.
"I was storing my stuff at the mini storage off (Alabama) 181, south of (Baldwin County) 32. I asked the owner if I could turn it into a gallery," she said. "I’m now the manager of the 181 Market, and I’m so proud of it. It’s huge."
The 181 Market is open Thursdays through Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Smith said they have a variety of vendors featuring everything from antiques to baked goods.
"I do custom Shabby Chic furniture, and I have samples with paints and colors in my market booth," she said. "We also have an outdoor gardening vendor, a collectibles booth, a custom-woodworking person who does children’s furniture, jewelry makers, painters and glass art."
They try to feature a specific booth each week, and they’ve added a hot dog vendor and a maker of sweet breads.
"It’s listed on the website for the Dragonfly Emporium (thedragonflyemporium.com)," Smith said.
Smith is also involved in charitable work locally, organizing and co-chairing The Knight Family Benefit, which is raising money to help a family who lost their dad. She also donates her Shabby Chic furniture to local charity events, such as the Rileigh and Raylee Angel Ride and Tee-Off for a Cure.
And when she’s not running her small business or volunteering, Smith enjoys being outdoors. She’s an avid canner and collects antique Pyrex glassware, which she said she’ll even accept as payment. And she enjoys spending time in her garden.
---Leigh T. Moore, Correspondent
