MIDLAND, Mich. (WNEM) – It is holiday shopping time, and stores are buzzing with people and deals. Local shops across Mid-Michigan are getting ready for Small Business Saturday.
“It’s Thanksgiving weekend this weekend, so you have families that start coming in on Wednesday and they say we always come here as part of their tradition and shop together,” said Julia Kepler, owner of both Serendipity Road and Joyful Tantrum.
Julia Kepler is all about empowering small businesses. She opened Serendipity Road, a gift boutique filled with items from small makers, in 2017.
“I have a bunch of artist friends, and I could see there was a struggle for them, like ‘where do I sell my things, do I go to events every single weekend, now that neglects my family,’ and this was kind of a way to bridge that gap,” said Kepler.
In 2020, Julia opened another small business, Joyful Tantrum, right next door to Serendipity Road.
“It’s a toy store unplugged, so you can plug in with those you love,” said Kepler. “It is a toy store that connects young people with their humans. There’s no electric toys in the store unless you make the electricity, like circuit things and things like that.”
Serendipity Road has bags filled with goodies and coupons for several small businesses in Downtown Midland, and they will have them until supplies last.
“The great thing about shopping local is for every dollar that you spend in a local shop, 67 cents per dollar stays within the community,” said Kepler. “So, if you think I am paying my employee to be here, she goes and has lunch at Molasses, she tips the waitress at Molasses, and she goes out for a drink at Three Bridges afterwards, and then that Three Bridges employee goes to Heather and Holly next door, and it just keeps trickling in. So, when you shop local that money percentage wise more stays within the community that you live in.”
Serendipity Road will also have a hot cocoa and coffee bar, along with a permanent jewelry station during Small Business Saturday.
“Midland means, to me, community, and that is one of the best things about Midland,” said Kepler. “It really is a community that cares about each other, and you see that on days like Small Business Saturday, where the care is really there in Downtown Midland.”
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