Focus On: Rockford Cheese Shop

As a wine and cheese lover living in Europe for two years, Heather Baehre grew to appreciate the fantastic variety of good artisan cheeses available there. When she returned to the US, she noticed a lack of those same quality cheeses in Rockford, where she lives. So, when she found herself facing a layoff after 16 years working in corporate America, Baehre decided it was the perfect time to make a 20-year dream come true.

Focus On: The Seasoned Home

It’s all about the kitchen at The Seasoned Home. With everything from soothing teas, kitchen gadgets and accessories of every kind, spices with a twang, and the utmost in decadent gourmet foods from all over Michigan and around the world, this dynamic duo has your kitchen needs covered – and then some.

Delight in Designs

The Delight in Designs store, with its mix of country cottage, shabby chic, and boho with splashes of contemporary mixed in, is intended to be an incubator. A variety of design ideas are set up in ways to help customers imagine what they can create and how it might translate to their own home or office.

Focus On: Magic Mud Ceramics

Magic Mud continued to grow, and, in 2014, Claus and her partner Christopher Piper purchased a home on 12 acres near Ludington. They converted the walkout basement into a combination studio and retail location and opened for business in 2018. Now open year-round, customers can visit, peruse her wares, and take home one-of-a-kind pieces.

Gemini Handmade

Gemini Handmade on Cherry Street in Grand Rapids has been an evolving undertaking for Elyse Welcher and Jake Vroon. Back in 2013, Welcher was setting into motion her vision of a combination studio workshop and gallery that would double as a place for local artists to sell their wares. Vroon, her husband now and owner of Harbinger Designs, showed up with an offer to help.

Focus On: Patricia’s Chocolate

Over the course of two years, Patty Christopher honed her art and focused on chocolate - high-quality chocolate. As she continued to study, she began buying supplies, equipment, and ingredients, creating her own special melt-in-your-mouth treats and sharing with family and friends for taste-testing.

Focus On: Boxed Water is Better

In 2009, Ben Gott found himself noticing plastic everywhere – from the cafes he visited with friends to the consulting jobs he held. One such job included a water bottling plant where pallets of empty plastic bottles awaited shipment. So much plastic everywhere! Gott knew that 68 percent of all plastic is not recycled, and he also knew that an alternative was needed.

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