The Hansroths are inspiring beautiful chaos and supporting the community through their charming Berkeley Springs business.
written by CARYN GRESHAM
photographed by NIKKI BOWMAN MILLS
WHEN PEOPLE FIRST LEARN ABOUT INSPIRED CHAOS, they are drawn in by its unusual branding: “A shop for those leading beautifully messy lives.” Once they see the brightly painted Victorian house and cottage gardens that lead to the eclectic gift shop, they are immersed in the sense of community and attention to carefully curated—albeit quirky—gifts, women’s clothing, and accessories. That’s the way mother and daughter owners Lori and Jenna Hansroth want it to be.
“I dreamed of opening a shop as a way to leave an office job or corporate gig I didn’t love,” says Jenna Hansroth. “I walked by this house every day and thought someday I’d have a shop on the first floor and live upstairs.” When her father died unexpectedly, Hansroth and her mother decided to make a few life changes and do some things they always imagined. With a little retail experience and a vision of selling locally made items, they bought the house that’s home to Inspired Chaos.
In making buying decisions, the Hansroths aspire to follow three guidelines: They prefer items made in the United States; they prioritize women-owned, small producers; and they source products that are created ethically by companies with fair practices.
“We opened in April 2018 and immediately had a supportive community of friends, mentors, and local shoppers,” says Hansroth. “In 2019, we were talking with local customers about the importance of family and community, and someone said, ‘We all need to just love our neighbors.’” From this, the Hansroths initiated the Love Your Neighbor (LYN) project, featuring a popular LYN–branded T-shirt. They invest money from shirt sales into the community by supporting organizations that fight hunger and homelessness, support victims of domestic violence and drug addiction, and more. They established a scholarship program awarded to regional high school seniors based on character references and community involvement. “I feel like people prefer to shop where they can make a difference.”
In July 2023, the Hansroths took another big leap. They opened Mischief–Sweets and Shenanigans. “Mischief is a unique shopping experience for ‘kids’ of all ages. It’s a blast to watch younger kids’ expressions when they walk in and see the candy and fun toys, to hear older folks reminiscing about candy they loved as kids, and to watch people crack up at our snarky shenanigans,” says Lori Hansroth. “Mischief is a little bit Willy Wonka, a little bit Harry Potter, and a little bit Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, with a little bit of orneriness and a lot of spunk added in!”
The duo is clearly having fun as they expand both of their Berkeley Springs shops and make a difference in their beloved community.
47 Independence Street, Berkeley Springs, inspiredchaoswv.com, @inspiredchaoswv on FB
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S FALL 2024 ISSUE
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