have yourself a merry michigan christmas

Great gifts can be found close to home this holiday season

by Jen Sakey of c and g news

(excerpt)

Looking for a few more gifts on your holiday shopping list? Choosing a Michigan-made item or purchasing from a small, local business can be a win-win — recipients get to unwrap something unique, while shoppers help boost Michigan’s economy.

Instead of buying gifts online or at a large retail store, shoppers can make a real difference by staying in their own community. This option was emphasized on Small Business Saturday Nov. 26, which proved beneficial for many small stores in metro Detroit.

“Sales were up 30 percent this year,” said April McCrumb, owner of Catching Fireflies in Berkley. “I’m thrilled.”

After 11 years in business in downtown Berkley, McCrumb said she’s noticed a growing mindset among customers to shop locally. Catching Fireflies, which has another location in downtown Rochester, offers shoppers whimsical, fun items, including Detroit- and Michigan-themed gifts.

“We’re independently owned, and we offer a big variety of goods, including items from local artists,” said McCrumb.

In addition, McCrumb and her husband, Steve, own the Yellow Door Art Market, just two doors down from the Catching Fireflies Berkley location. The store sells handmade items from more than 70 Michigan artists, so not only are shoppers supporting a local business, they’re supporting the artists, too.

Catching Fireflies is located at 3117 W. 12 Mile in Berkley and 203 E. University in Rochester. For more information, visit www.catchingfireflies.com. Yellow Door Art Market is located at 3141 W. 12 Mile Road in Berkley. For more information, visit www.yellowdoorartmarket.com.