The White Cottage on Main: Come for the Style, Stay for the Story

Oct 1, 2025

After stepping away from retail more than a decade ago to focus on family, Kristen Ayers always knew she'd return to her dream. The White Cottage on Main was inspired by a vision she has carefully shaped over the years that blends retail with hospitality — offering visitors a unique experience in a welcoming setting. We reached out to her to discuss what motivated her to relaunch her business and what sets it apart from others here in Canton.

"What inspired you to reopen a boutique — and why here in Canton?"

I had a shop about 12 years ago, but I decided that I wanted to go home and be very present with my family. I knew that I wanted to do it again one day, so I put it on the shelf, and kept growing the idea bigger and bigger. I knew that when I did it again, I wanted to do it in a very specific way. I wanted it in a downtown area, in an old home with a big porch, and I wanted it to feel less like a retail space and more like you're visiting your friend's home.

I kind of prayed about it, and felt like, when it was time, the right thing would show itself. And the very next day, I went to lunch at Panera, and I saw a sign in the yard here, and I was like, Okay, it's time.

A lot has changed since my first business. I had to start totally from scratch, but everything just worked out. I asked one of my very good friends, Emily Long, if she wanted to come in and help me, because she had always wanted to have a boutique, but she had a career, so she couldn't be full-time here. But she and her husband were behind the scenes and helping.

"How has the Canton community supported you and your business?"

Kristen: We have become friends with several people. I love the girls at Ping Segars Salon and Revival Day Spa. A lot of business people working down here will take their lunch break and just stop in, even the sheriff's department or police, they'll peek in. I love that. I feel like our little town is kind of a family.

Fortunately, every person that I've reached out to with a question has been kind and accommodating. I remember telling the sign guy, we have our friends and family event on Aug. 1 at 5p.m. at 4:58 p.m. that day, he climbed down from the ladder after putting our sign up and you wanted it ready by five. I just laughed. I did not understand how everything was happening exactly the way it needed to. But, I just knew everything was going to work out, I just knew it.

"What's your favorite part of the shop right now?"

Kristen: Something that I think stands apart from everything else is my hat bar. People spend a lot of time back here making the perfect, custom hat. You pick out a hat, and choose from all these patches and decorations. It's been very popular with the moms and their children's sports. Like, if their kid plays football at Cherokee High School, they might get a red helmet patch and then pick out their kid's number. It's a one-of-a-kind product and experience that I put together for them, and they walk out the door with it that day.

"What's something you want people to know about The White Cottage?"

Kristen: I want everybody to feel like this is a comfortable, inviting space — like they're just leaving their friend's home. I try really hard to get to know everybody that comes in, even if they're visiting from out of town. I may never see them again, but I want to know something about them.

A lot of times I'll have coffee or some kind of drink for people who hang out or sit on the porch and eat their lunch. I feel like it provides a very welcoming and accommodating atmosphere.

"What do you foresee for your business in the next coming year?"

Kristen: Hopefully we just continue to grow, and start to see lots of new faces. We've kind of taken this year to learn who our people are and what they want. I had no idea when we opened what people were going to want to see, and so I just bought what I like which has pretty much worked out. There's a lot to choose from, but I do listen to what people wish I carried. I just want everyone to find something that makes them happy.

The White Cottage on Main is located at 200 W Main St, Canton, GA 30114 in Downtown Canton. They open from Tuesday to Saturday at 10 a.m. and closing times vary. To see their full store hours and what they have to offer, click here.

Author

Claire Blakey

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