Main Street Matters by Heart on Main Street

Come explore the gem of Door County Wisconsin: Sturgeon Bay. We highlight the brilliant retail stores around downtown, and what they're doing to help stand out amongst the crowd. Filled with longevity and love, these stores serve their community in unique ways to bring together the town of Sturgeon Bay. We look at a kitchen store, apparel shop, quilting store, bookstore, and children's stores along the way. And, of course, we talk about the fish on the street. 

https://www.heartonmainstreet.org/

In this episode, we talk about what Heart on Main Street has planned for Independent Retailer Month, including a donation that we made to The Mix Mercantile in Sulphur, OK. We also catch up with our friend, Kara Polyner, the owner of the Ely Mercantile in Ely, MN. Since we last spoke, Ely has entered into its busy season, and The Ely Mercantile has seen a significant growth in traffic. We talked with Kara about her learnings, the surprises, and what she plans to do differently next summer based on what she has experienced so far.

We recently visited Estes Park, CO, as part of our Main Street Monday series. This is a beautiful part of the country that has a fantastic independent retail scene, in part because the history of the town has prioritized a focus on its community. The area has seen devastating natural disaster that has only made Estes Park more resilient and more apt to supporting each other's growth. Come explore Estes Park and learn what makes it so special.

https://www.heartonmainstreet.org/

Come explore the first US town named after Abraham Lincoln! I was invited to this town by one of its wonderful store owners and not only learned much about the town of Lincoln but also saw first-hand how a group of business owners worked together to make their downtown a better place. 

Donate to help retailers affected by natural disasters: https://www.heartonmainstreet.org/donate
Shop Heart on Main Street products: https://www.heartonmainstreet.org/shop

Heart on Main Street's Summer Sourcing Series kicks off with a panel discussion about the importance of attending trade shows this summer! Hear from retailers and representatives of Dallas Market Center and AndMore (formerly International Market Centers) about why summer trade shows are so crucial for your business and how to make a plan to get the most out of your time at the market. 

https://www.heartonmainstreet.org/
https://www.heartonmainstreet.org/upcoming-webinars

It was eclipse day when I visited Noblesville, IN, and the atmosphere was incredible! Downtown Noblesville has vibrant retailers and unique shopping environments to meet the needs of all shoppers. And the community of retailers has banded together to ensure that everyone's experience in Noblesville is a positive one. 

https://www.heartonmainstreet.org/
https://www.heartonmainstreet.org/main-street-monday

Since it burst onto the scene over the last couple of years, AI has been positioned as a force that can completely change our lives. Yet, most people are still figuring out what AI is and how to incorporate it into their work. For retailers, the potential uses for AI are limitless, but they need to know where to start to take advantage of the possibilities. Crystal Vilkaitis of Crystal Media joins the Main Street Matters webinar to discuss how AI can help make retailers' lives easier! 

https://www.heartonmainstreet.org/
https://www.crystalmediaco.com/

Join us as we explore the resurgent downtown area of Waukon, IA. Located in the Driftless, Waukon is an extraordinary setting that has seen local residents invest in over the last decade. I met with new retailers to see how they're reshaping the town of Waukon, and I interviewed Valeria Reinke the Director of Economic Development in the county to find out what makes Waukon a thriving Main Street community. 

Heart on Main Street Website: https://www.heartonmainstreet.org/
Register for Upcoming Webinars: https://www.heartonmainstreet.org/upcoming-webinars