What started with mystery boxes, a liquidation pallet and sales through Facebook Marketplace has grown into a brick-and-mortar business for Blount County business owner Eric Davis.

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HomePlace Market, now operated as a DBA of Davis’ Traders Den LLC, celebrated its grand reopening Aug. 21 at 702 E. Lincoln Road in Maryville.

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For Davis, however, the journey to the storefront began well before the opportunity at HomePlace Market came along.

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Davis said he began looking for something he could eventually turn into a retirement business while still working his corporate job. Reselling also had a personal connection.

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His brother, who died when Davis was 15, previously operated a business under the Traders Den name.

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“My brother, who passed away back when I was 15 years old, ran a company or a corporation called Traders Den, which was established in 1990,” Davis said.

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Years later, Davis and his wife, Amy, began buying mystery boxes together. Occasionally, they found items worth reselling on eBay.

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Then Davis decided to take things a step further.

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While Amy was away on a business trip, Davis bought his first liquidation pallet. What began as an experiment soon started growing into something much larger.

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When he initially applied for his business license, Davis said he registered under minimum activity because he was not sure how far the idea would go.

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As Traders Den grew, Davis began selling merchandise through Facebook Marketplace and developing relationships with customers throughout the community. “Treating people right, and when people buy things from you and you’re able to make a connection with them, it really matters,” Davis said. “It has really grown. I enjoy meeting people.”

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Those relationships remain an important part of the business for Davis.

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In an April feature with the Blount County Chamber of Commerce, he described Traders Den as a family-run, faith-based resale business focused on providing affordable goods and building relationships within the community.

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Moving into a retail location has given Davis the opportunity to meet some of the customers he previously knew primarily through online sales.

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“I was doing that on Marketplace, and now that I have them here at the retail store, I can get to know them,” Davis said.

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UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITY

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Davis said his path to HomePlace Market was not something he had planned.

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One day, while at home with his oldest son, Davis decided to go to his church, a location he frequently used to meet customers for Marketplace transactions.

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Instead, he said he felt compelled to stop at HomePlace Market, a store he had visited only once before, and speak with its owner.

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That conversation eventually led to an opportunity for Davis to take over the business.

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Davis said the moment held particular significance because of his faith. He later learned the previous owner had been praying for someone to come along.

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“On the other side of that, God sent me here that day,” Davis said.

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Today, Traders Den is Davis’ LLC, while HomePlace Market operates as a DBA of the company.

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Shoppers can find a variety of liquidation merchandise at the store, including baby gear and supplies, tools and hardware, health and beauty products, household items, rugs, home decor and other goods.

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Davis sees room for both names to develop their own identities as the business grows.

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“Once we expand, HomePlace Market will stay this side of the building,” Davis said.

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He envisions HomePlace Market focusing more on merchandise for women and home goods, while Traders Den would focus more heavily on tools and hardware.

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“But together, I mean, we have something for everyone,” he said.

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LOOKING AHEAD

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Davis’ plans for the property extend beyond filling the shelves.

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Over the next several years, he hopes to improve the East Lincoln Road location and establish it as a place where customers feel comfortable returning — not because it is elaborate, but because they know the people behind it.

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“I would like to beautify this place here on East Lincoln and make it somewhere that everybody wants to stop at,” Davis said. “Nothing fancy or flashy, but somewhere where people can come and know me, know my family, and we grow together.”

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HomePlace Market, 702 E. Lincoln Road in Maryville, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Customers can also browse Traders Den merchandise online at tradersdenmaryville. com.

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For those who have not stopped in yet, Davis offered a simple invitation: “Come stop by. Find a good deal. I think you will.”