Diana Marsh founded Thistle & Bess after residing in New York City for 11 years. Having grown up in the Ann Arbor area, she always wished she could open a business here.

“I was a school teacher in New York City for about 11 years,” Marsh said. “I knew that I wanted to open a business at some point and was researching what I would want to carry and what I would want it to look like.”

The motivation behind Marsh’s business was the goal of selling all handmade specialty items and working with independent designers to stock “quirky” products that you might not see in other places.

Marsh has experienced many challenges over the course her time as a business owner, particularly during the pandemic,

“The approach to handling setbacks is all about trusting your gut and staying involved,” Marsh said.

Looking to the future, Marsh aims to expand Thistle & Bess by focusing on new products and product types to bring into the store.

“We really focus on the local artists and products,” Marsh said. “We’re local through and through.”