Detroit News Feature 10.1.20
Catching Fireflies in downtown Berkley is among small businesses that are finding ways to keep their doors open as they struggle with the unprecedented circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
April McCrumb, who owns the “fun gift gallery” with her husband, Steve, said one of the keys to their survival was being able to “supply something that everybody needed” — masks. “It was a way to support another Michigan maker, as well as be able to bring in money.”
The masks were made by a west Michigan crafter and sold for $11.95 each. “We are still selling them, and we’re still buying them from that one maker,” said McCrumb. “With these kinds of situations, it’s all about pivoting and because we’re a small business, we could act quickly and source things locally. We were able to pivot and find success in that.”
And, in a recent email, she noted, “Even when our doors were closed for a few months earlier this year, our fans still shopped online and kept us afloat during trying times.”
Making all the right moves at the onset of the pandemic, and with an already well-established online presence, played major roles in the fact that this month, the Beverly Hills couple will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Catching Fireflies. “As long as we are able to create smiles and lift spirits, I believe we’ll continue to be relevant for another 20 years,” she stated.
In the past 20 years, she and Steve have seen babies grow into teenagers, and mothers become grandmothers, so to celebrate the two-decade milestone, they’re inviting those who shopped at the store to share their memories, some of which will be highlighted during the month of October on their social media platforms. Twenty participants will be rewarded with a $63 shopping spree as a “thank you” for sharing those memorable moments.
McCrumb said, “Memories could range from finding the perfect gift for a special situation to just visiting our shop in search of some sunshine on a dark day. The idea is to reach out to our Firefly fans who have shopped with us as a way to celebrate 20 years of making days brighter. We are a gift store, but we take pride in sending people off with a happy smile.”
Persons interested in taking part in the contest are asked to email their entry to service@catchingfireflies.com with the phrase “Catching Fireflies Memory” in the subject line. Share your shopping experience with a few sentences, and include a photo, if you’d like. Entries must be received by Oct. 11, 2020.
The couple is also planning to celebrate with a 20 percent off sale Oct. 9-11, that will allow customers to shop either in-person, or virtually at catchingfireflies.com, using coupon code: BIRTHDAY.
There will also be a sale at their other business, Yellow Door Art Market, located at 3141 W. 12 Mile, next door to Catching Fireflies. “We will have a sale there the same three days. We opened it 10 years ago. It’s a different business platform. It’s 70-plus vendors with their own small space that they rent and display items they made.,” explained McCrumb.
Everything at Yellow Door is handmade in Michigan, however, many of the items sold at Catching Fireflies are not only handmade but from people all over the world. Some are imported items, as well.
Catching Fireflies in Berkley is just one of three locations. About 14 years ago, April and Steve opened a second one in Rochester at 203 E. University, and seven or eight years ago a third location was opened at 419 Detroit in Ann Arbor.
“We really enjoy what we do, and we feel grateful that we’ve been able to grow over the years,” McCrumb stated. All four shops have reopened since the shut down created by the pandemic.
Detroit News Columnist Jocelynn Brown is a longtime crafter. You can reach her at (313) 222-2150, jbrown@detroitnews.com or facebook.com/DetroitNewsHandmade.
