Debra Austermuehle, owner of Main Street Jewelers, is located right here across the street from Divine Marketing Group. Her vision is to create a comfortable environment for customers to shop and enjoy the establishment, which is their number one priority. No budget is too small, and they aim to find or create the perfect item for people and their loved ones. Originally an established jewelry store when Debra and her husband purchased it, the business was driven by her husband’s initial vision. At the same time, Debra, after spending 22 years as an elementary school teacher, made the big but rewarding leap into jewelry ownership. What she finds most fulfilling is the people and the emotion behind each piece, whether it’s repairing a ring passed down from a grandmother, resetting stones into a new mounting, or restoring broken or unworn jewelry so it can be cherished again. With 20 years in business, recently celebrated on Valentine’s Day, Debra has seen firsthand how meaningful jewelry can be, often bringing tears of joy as customers rediscover pieces meant to be passed down for generations. Her advice to aspiring business owners is simple but powerful: love what you do, truly understand the business you’re getting into, and never stop learning, whether that means taking courses, studying gemstones, jewelry making, or the craftsmanship behind every piece.
Marianna is the co-owner of TRI-M Roofing and Exterior, located in North Carolina. Her company believes your home deserves the same care and integrity you put into it every day. The business is mostly family-owned, founded by her husband Matt Paquet, a roofing professional with over a decade of hands-on experience. Their company’s mission is simple—to honor God and serve others through trustworthy roofing services across North Carolina. For Marianna and her family, launching the business in June 2025 was a leap of faith that aligned with a long-held dream of building something together while maintaining flexibility for family life, allowing her to be a stay-at-home mom while still supporting the company. She shares that one of the greatest rewards has been the freedom to prioritize family, faith, church, and community while working hard and operating the business according to their values, without outside pressure dictating how things should be done. Though owning a company was new territory for them, Matt’s deep roofing experience helped pave the way, and Marianna emphasizes that no matter your situation, having a strong support system is essential. Above all, she believes a foundation of faith in God, along with people who encourage, guide, and stand by you, is the key to stepping out confidently, staying grounded, and building a business that truly reflects your values.
Christi Thompson is the owner of three businesses located here within downtown Clayton, NC, which are The Station Clayton, Three Little Birds, and LaDiDa Wine Shop. The Station is one of Clayton’s oldest buildings. It’s a 100-year-old historic landmark in downtown Clayton, NC, that once served as the fire department, police station, town court, jail, and library. It has been renovated into a multi-tenant experience primarily focused on local businesses providing food, drinks, provisions, and community wellness. That Station officially opened this year on January 30th, 2026, making it a mixed-use venue for dining and local goods. Three Little Birds is another business Christi owns. She opened Three Little Birds in 2015 when she decided to share her love for painting furniture with her small town of Clayton, North Carolina. After upsizing to a 10,000 square foot store just a few blocks from the original location, Christi branched out with The Market at Three Little Birds, which became a retail space for local business owners to sell home decor, handmade goods, apparel, and more. Erin is her partner-owner at Three Little Birds. Erin had owned her own home decor business for several years, but it wasn’t until Christi and Erin connected at The Market during 2020 that they saw the spark that would ultimately become a fierce business partnership and an even better friendship. At Three Little Birds, you will find carefully curated home decor, furniture, unique gifts, wine & beer, apparel, jewelry, and so much more for home interior decor. Lastly, at Christi’s other business, LaDiDa Wine Shop
It’s a cozy, adults-only wine shop and bar that’s located in downtown Clayton, as well as offering a relaxed, social atmosphere for enjoying great wine, craft beer, small bites, and events. She hosts a variety of experiences like trivia nights, book club meetings, vinyl listening nights, bingo, live music, wine tastings, and seasonal celebrations, making it a community gathering place beyond just a typical wine store. In addition to Christi’s regular lineup of fun and engaging events, LaDiDa also takes reservations and offers private space rentals for parties, showers, business meetups, and other special occasions with different room and full-venue options. This wine shop is a combination of wine culture and community experiences to show how local businesses in Clayton are creating welcoming spaces that bring people together.
Jordan Robinson is the owner and innkeeper of Magnolia Inn, located here in downtown Clayton. Inspired by her love of meaningful gatherings, historic homes, and thoughtfully curated spaces, the owner of The Magnolia Inn set out to create something tangible and deeply rooted in the community. After a career in public service and strategic communications, she felt called to build a place where people could slow down and celebrate life’s most important moments. Believing that environment shapes experience, she designed the inn to feel elegant, warm, and personal, a seamless blend of hospitality, storytelling, and service. Since officially opening on February 1, 2025, the first year has been fast-paced and fulfilling, filled with bridal showers, baby showers, anniversary weekends, and even restorative stays for caregivers through a partnership with A Mother’s Rest. The inn’s impact has not gone unnoticed, earning recognition as the 2025 New Business of the Year by the Clayton Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Clayton’s Rising Star business award. As the business continues to grow with plans to hire an Events Director to meet increasing demand, she remains grounded in her advice to other women entrepreneurs: own your vision, don’t wait until you feel “ready,” align profit with purpose, and build strong community connections. From hosting community leaders and veterans to creatives, families, a renowned sculptor, a senior-ranking Navy officer, a PGA professional golfer, and North Carolina elected officials, The Magnolia Inn has become a gathering place for remarkable stories. In many ways, she says, meeting people from all walks of life makes her feel like a traveler, too, journeying through each guest’s story while creating a space where memories are beautifully made. Jordan Robinson’s journey with Magnolia Inn stands as a powerful testament to what vision, resilience, and heart can achieve, making her not only a celebrated entrepreneur but a true example of the impact a successful, women-owned business can have on the local Clayton community.