- Covington boutique Handzy offers colorful, design-driven apparel, gifts and stationery curated by two DAAP-trained artists.
- Co-owners Suzy Hinnefeld and Brittney Braemer focus on limited editions and unique items rarely restocked, ensuring a fresh experience for returning shoppers.
- The shop has grown into a community hub, hosting workshops, craft fairs and a small coffee bar inside the historic John R. Green building
Upon walking into Handzy Shop + Studio, customers are hit with waves of bright colors and eclectic products.
It’s part of the vibe co-owners Suzy Hinnefeld and Brittney Braemer wanted to curate in their space. As artists, the duo strives to curate an environment that reflects their creativity. The store is arranged in such a way that every corner feels intentional. The layout invites shoppers to wander, experiencing the shop as if it were an art installation.
“If you want a neutral thing, that’s fine, but it’s probably not here,” Braemer said. “We really try to focus on what makes us Handzy? And I think that is the color, the energy, the vibrancy.”
Hinnefeld and Braemer founded Handzy in 2016 after graduating from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning. While in college, the pair became fast friends through their shared love of graphic design. The friendship blossomed into visions of opening a boutique together.
“We always joked about doing our own thing, especially toward the end of school, when you’re, burnt out from what you’re doing,” Hinnefeld said. “What if we just opened a cute shop? So we would definitely daydream about that, and then, we just made it happen.”
Their first store was located along W. Pike St., with the pair eventually outgrowing the space. In 2020, they moved into their current store at 421 W. 6th St. inside the former John R. Green building.
The name Handzy was inspired by reading celebrity gossip news about Justin Bieber and Kendall Jenner getting handsy, something the pair committed to after compromising on switching the ‘s’ to ‘z’ as a differentiator.
Handzy offers exclusive, design-oriented products, including apparel, stationery, cookbooks, and niche gifts such as chicken boot earrings. Hinnefled mentioned they focus on limited editions, usually six to 10 of each item, and seldom restock the same products, providing a new experience for repeat buyers. The store primarily appeals to women aged 30 through 50, many of whom purchase gifts for friends, children or themselves.
“I think that design background gives us an advantage as we’ve created this space,” Braemer said. “This is a place for creative people, and I think anybody can be creative. You don’t have to be like an artist or designer.”
Although both are from Cincinnati, the duo has made a home south of the Ohio River in Covington. Since opening in the city in 2016, Hinnefeld and Braemer have seen it evolve around them.
“This was a place that was affordable enough for us to give it a go,” Braemer said. “It was really cheap. Covington is such a creative, gritty place for small businesses.”
In recent years, Handzy’s focus has shifted more toward engaging with the local community. Hinnefeld mentioned that they previously attempted to open other shops in Cincinnati, but it didn’t work out, so they decided to concentrate more on Covington. Handzy now hosts workshops, seasonal craft fairs, and even runs a small coffee bar to give shoppers an additional reason to stay longer.
