New Shop Oakland County Site Makes It Easy to Order from Local Businesses
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Sept. 11, 2023)
Oakland County, MI – Getting small businesses online has been a goal of Main Street organizations across Oakland County for the past few years, and this month is the soft launch of the solution – www.ShopOCMainStreets.com .
About a dozen Main Street organizations teamed up to fund the pilot program which comes at no cost to the businesses in those communities who participate.
Businesses in a participating community can integrate Shopify to the website, or upload items directly. They have the freedom to add and remove items, update prices, and decide on pick up or delivery options. Each store manages their own fulfillment.
Visitors to www.ShopOCMainStreets.com can find can find apparel, bath and beauty products, food and beverage items, jewelry, health and wellness items, home and garden, books, collectibles, antiques, wedding items and more.
Tylisa Gober of Barbie Behavior Boutique in Oak Park was among the inaugural participants. Her fashion selections flatter bodies of any size. Many items are made with compression in mind to emphasize feminine curves. Online shoppers can find such styles as the Something Peachy Maxi Dress, the Coastal Dream Shaggy Cardigan, The Candy Apple Crop Puffer Coat, and Caviar Double Strap Heels.
Gober opened her store at 10730 W Nine Mile Rd in Oak Park just before the pandemic, so having an online presence was essential to her business’s survival. Her website offers online ordering, and she’s invested time in Facebook and TicTok videos. Including merchandise on the Oakland County website gives her yet another way to reach new customers.
Getting online was easy with the help of Economic Development Director Kimberly Marrone, who has been working on onboard businesses, Gober said. “We need to have a mix of in person sales and online sales. This will help find the right balance.”
Others in Oak Park include Peteets Famous Cheesecake, Vibrant Vizionz, Marcus Wear and Tailor, and Deborah Hecht Studio and Things.
Of all the communities participating, the one diving in with the most spirit is Downtown Lake Orion, who even dedicated an intern’s summer project to getting businesses on board.
Director Molly LaLone siad over a dozen businesses have signed up so far, with over 300 items from community businesses included on the site. “Abby Bayley, an Oakland University Student, was hired to be our Shop OC Mainstreets Intern. It was her responsibility to help all the businesses with set up for the e-commerce site. Her position was funded by the Four Counties Community Foundation and small business tech money from Main Street Oakland County,” LaLone said.
Kevin and Bonnie West of Roses of Silverbell were grateful for Bayley’s help. The couple operates a small antique and gift shop at 121 South Broadway. Like many small business owners, figuring out e-commerce has been one of those things they knew they should do, but always seemed like a daunting task. “Abby made it easy,” Kevin said.
“They provided the expertise and resources to launch and maintain it,” he said. “Hopefully our online presence will let people know we’re here.” Another benefit is being able to offer more to shoppers. Roses of Silverbell can only showcase so many items in the quaint shop space, but with online sales they can offer items from their full collection.
Such treasures include a Vintage Waterford Crystal Owl Figurine, a WWII Military Compass, and a Vintage C. Goodman Paperweight. They also have gift items including their own line of teas and honey, candles, hand creams, fancy soaps, plus contemporary jewelry and art. Roses of Silverbell also has jewelry made by Mend on the Move, an organization that supports victims of domestic abuse with the creation of jewelry made from automotive parts.
Their name comes from a street that locals may recognize – Silverbell Road. Bonnie grew up on Silverbell Road, on property that included a rose garden. As an adult she would return to help care for the roses, and tell her husband, “I’m going to Silverbell.” Hence the inspiration for the name.
Those who want to shop don’t even have to leave their home to “go to Silverbell,” with the www.ShopOCMainStreets.com website. They can also peruse items from other Lake Orion businesses including Cookies & Cream, Games 4 Life, Broadway Embroidery, Simply Marcella, Caruso Chiropractic, Lucky’s Natural Foods, Builders Custom Flooring, Amazing Petals Florist, Shaded Bloom Coffee House, Accent on Art, and Hanson’s Running Shop.
Even Downtown Lake Orion itself set up an online shop, with t shirts, mugs and bags commemorating community events.
Because the website is brand new, spreading the word is important. “With ShopOC Main Streets E-commerce site, we all can Shop Local from the convenience of our phones. Try it,” LaLone said.
Participating communities include Holly, Ortonville, Oxford, Lake Orion, Rochester, Pontiac, Oak Park, South Lyon, Highland and Franklin. Check out all the goods at www.ShopOCMainStreets.com.
