Not So Shabby Gifts Awarded Best Small Business Award

At the 18^th annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business Gala held May 3 in Lansing, Erica Yost, owner of Not So Shabby Gifts and Primitives, was awarded the Best Michigan Small Business Award.

Not So Shabby Gifts and Primitives is housed under the same roof at Up North Coffee and Cupcakes by Tammy Sue on First Street in Harrison.

In 2014, Yost started a small hobby and side hustle making signs and attending craft fairs. In 2019, she purchased a building and went full time incorportating the café and gift shop into her craft offerings.

In 2020, we all know what happened. Though COVID closed the doors to the business, Yost was already working with the Mid Michigan SBDC team receiving business consulting, training and creating a business plan. In 2020, that became pursuing rescue fund assistance and making a plan to reopen.

In 2021, Yost opened her online store with an upgraded website and new e-commerce services, and online sales took off. With fashion shows and online sales events, sales took off further.

“It’s been incredibly valuable to have the team at SBDC helping me,” Yost said. “It’s important to have someone knowledgeable to talk through ideas with and encourage me to try new things.”

More than 800 attended the small business gala, and awardees for best small business were selected based on demonstrated growth as a small business, embodiment of the American Entrepreneurial spirit and strength of the businesses’ relationship with the SBDC, PTAC or SmartZone.

“MCSB has always prided itself on its spirit of collaboration and celebration,” said Jennifer Deamud, MCSB board chair. “We love seeing our awardees celebrating one another’s success and sharing in this amazing moment is each awardee’s journey. It’s true – success is best when it is shared.”