The first time Jeanell Sheffield set foot inside Debbie’s Handmade Soap, the owner, Debbie Acree, shared the story of how her business came to be.
“She told me how she started in her kitchen, then moved to her garage, then into the shed at the back of her property, until finally she decided to open a storefront,” says Sheffield, who loved hearing about the passion behind the product. Since then, Sheffield has become an avid shopper, using Acree’s soaps, body lotions and lip balms to fill up the “sunshine baskets” she creates for folks who are hurting, lonely, sick or bereaved.
Over the past 60-plus years, Sheffield, a lifelong Muncie native, has witnessed downtown Muncie go through peaks and valleys.
“When I was young, I shopped downtown Muncie all the time,” she says. “It went to nothing, then tried to come back, then nothing, and now it’s starting to boom again.”
Small Business Saturday is a nationwide initiative created by American Express in 2010 to support local and independent businesses during the holiday season. By encouraging consumers to show their support for small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, it’s a way to celebrate the start of the holiday shopping season while also showing love to local business owners.
“Although it’s impossible for small businesses to offer the kinds of discounts that the chains can, there is power in numbers, and there are a lot of small businesses,” says Cheryl Crowder, events director with Muncie Downtown Development Partnership.
The DWNTWN Gobble Wobble Pub & Eatery Crawl takes place on Saturday, November 30 from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. All day long, DWNTWN bars and eateries will participate with food and drink specials, and other fun surprises. Patrons are encouraged to shop DWNTWN retail locations as well.
Kirk’s Bike Shop has been part of the Muncie community since 1865. Through the years it has seen several different owners and settled into various locations, but is now back downtown on the original block where it started. Jason Allardt purchased the business in 2007 and has enjoyed participating in Small Business Saturday. Although it’s more of a seasonal spring and summer business, it’s open year-round.
“Boutique shops, jewelry stores and gift shops get more intentional business on Small Business Saturday, which is understandable for holiday shopping, but we do get people who want to support small business and buy locally, so they buy a bicycle for their child or grandchild for Christmas,” says Allardt.
Christy Blanch and her husband, Jeff, own Aw Yeah Comics, which has been in downtown Muncie for 10 years.
“It’s really easy to run to a large store or order on Amazon, but it takes dedication to shop small,” says Blanch. “We appreciate any reminder that we are here in the community, for the community.”
Blanch notes that oftentimes people will find them on Small Business Saturday and become a regular. Frequent customer Stuart Settle calls small businesses like Aw Yeah Comics “the bedrock of local economies.”
“They directly impact the areas we live in by creating jobs, providing goods and services, and making our communities more vibrant,” says Settle. “Small businesses like Aw Yeah Comics also provide unmatched customer experiences you just don’t get online or from the big-box stores, such as personalized recommendations and friendly conversations.”
Kim Ferguson, owner of Patterson Block, says small businesses are often the first businesses to invest in community.
“They are the ones who support our tee-ball teams and bowling teams, so Small Business Saturday is an important day to highlight those who offer such support,” she says.
Patterson Block was built in 1876. Ferguson, who has owned businesses and real estate in Muncie for more than 15 years, purchased this wonderful piece of history 3.5 years ago. Patterson Block houses two restaurants, six retail businesses, a yoga studio and two nonprofits. All but one business in the building are locally owned, small businesses. In addition, there is a 3,000-square-foot ballroom in the building.
“On Small Business Saturday, we like to highlight the hardworking, often women-owned small businesses that are year-round part of our building, but we also hold an event in our ballroom showcasing other small businesses and vendors throughout our community,” says Ferguson. That day will also include live music, children’s activities, and food. “We make it a wonderful day to do some holiday shopping and support the small businesses in our community.”
To make the DWNTWN Gobble Wobble Pub & Eatery Crawl even more fun, participants can partake in a game by grabbing a Gobble Wobble map at a DWNTWN location. Visit at least six locations, purchase an item at each, and have your map marked. Post a photo of your completed map on the DWNTWN Muncie Facebook page. The first 10 people to post will win a DWNTWN hoodie.
