Indiana Gifts in Lebanon Promotes and Celebrates Local Businesses

Every community needs a champion to support local businesses and help them thrive. In Indiana, Mel McMahon has become the go-to advocate for buying locally, particularly for businesses in Lebanon area.

About 10 years ago McMahon founded IndianaOwned.com, originally known as IndianaOriginals.com. The mission of Indiana Owned is to promote local businesses and encourage Indiana consumers to prioritize local shopping. In an era where national and international businesses dominate the market, McMahon’s philosophy is simple, and it is printed prominently on the Indiana Owned website: “To create healthier, stronger communities and more jobs in Indiana through the support of Indiana-owned businesses.” This core belief is what drives Indiana Owned.

When COVID-19 hit in 2020 and 2021, its impact on small businesses in Indiana was devastating. Many businesses struggled to stay afloat due to the closures of retail stores and outdoor marketplaces. Seeing this, she and her team recognized the need to step in and support these businesses, helping them survive and grow. Her objective was clear: to help local businesses market their products and convince Indiana residents, and anyone passing through, to support local entrepreneurs. To expand this service, Indiana Owned created an online marketplace where small businesses could list their products. Potential customers can use the website to search for local businesses at no charge.

Today, Indiana Owned features 150 companies and over 1,000 products, ranging from clothing and locally produced food items to unique gifts, toys, artwork and more. Consumers can search for these businesses for free, and the website showcases both independent companies and franchises headquartered in Indiana.  When you see the Indiana Owned badge, you know you are supporting an Indiana business.

McMahon’s passion for small businesses began early in her career as a radio and television personality. She has always been drawn to working with small-business owners, influenced by her mother, an entrepreneur in Irvington who collaborated with local businesses to promote their services. She has worked with various organizations, including WTTS 92.3, where she promoted local businesses, and managing corporate and major gifts. Throughout her career she has consistently supported local businesses over national corporations, focusing on helping business owners tell their stories and promote themselves as local. She is the chairperson of the annual Salvation Army fundraiser, which raises over $100,000 annually for central Indiana.

IndianaOwned.com was officially launched by McMahon in May 2014 under the name IndianaOriginals.com. The website provided a platform for businesses that were either thriving or needed help reaching consumers. In 2020 the site rebranded to IndianaOwned.com, expanding its focus to include a wider range of businesses and products. The platform allows businesses to join at various levels based on their needs and offers them the opportunity to sell their products online.

In August 2022, in collaboration with the Boone County Economic Development Corporation, McMahon opened a retail storefront in Lebanon called Indiana Gifts. The store features products made exclusively in Indiana and has quickly become a destination for visitors from across the country. The shop opened in the fall of 2022 and has since received tremendous public support, further promoting local talent and turning Lebanon into a vibrant shopping destination.  Travelers regularly stop in at Lebanon to shop at the local shops.

Her efforts extend beyond Indiana Owned. She has served as the executive producer of WIBC’s Salvation Army Radiothon for over a decade, helping to raise significant funds during the second weekend in December each year. As an on-air personality for B105.7 and 97.1 HANK FM, she has used her platform to promote local businesses and encourage the community to shop locally.

Indiana Owned provides more than just a marketplace; it creates a supportive community where business owners can tell their stories and promote the fact that they are local. The website offers an Indiana Owned badge for businesses to display on their websites or storefronts, further highlighting their commitment to the local community.

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