Candy, jerky, jewelry and more: Michigan Makers opens in Green Oak Village Place

BRIGHTON — A store filled entirely with Michigan-made items has come to Green Oak Village Place.

Michigan Makers Marketplace, which opened June 1, carries items from over 100 vendors.

Heather Fulghum created Michigan Makers after she had trouble finding craft shows for her daughter to sell jewelry at during the pandemic.

“Three and a half years ago, I started Michigan Makers craft shows," Fulghum said. "For the last three years, we've been looking for a storefront so we can showcase all of our vendors."

Products range from trinkets and clothing to food and treats. Some notable vendors include Crunchy Bits and Bites, which produces freeze-dried candy; Otter Wear, which specializes in dog bandanas; and Detroit Jerky, which makes vegan jerky.

Michigan Makers offers seven different boutiques, with products like candles, jewelry, purses, signs and furniture.

“We had an application process a few months ago ... and we had over 600 applications," Fulghum said. "We chose the first 100."

Vendors operate on a three-month contract. After the first three months, they're given the opportunity to renew or cancel their contract. New vendors are drawn from the waitlist.

“We have a huge waitlist,” Fulghum said. “We still have about 500 (vendors on it)."

Fulghum reports “business has been booming” among customers as well. Hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays. Since opening, "so many people" have come in, Fulghum said.

Four years ago, she said, she never imagined Michigan Makers would reach this level of success.

“I've always wanted to start a store, but I really didn't have a reason or an idea to create it until I started the vendor shows,” she said.

When her realtor showed her the old Charming Charlie’s building in Green Oak Village Place, whose décor matched the logo for Michigan Makers, Fulghum was pulled away from another lease option in Howell.

“It had bright pink doors,” she said. “I just felt like, this is it.”

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Even though the store just opened, Fulghum said they're already outgrowing the 6,000-square foot space.

“We're hoping to add more vendors to this current spot and then, maybe in the future, opening a second store."

— Ari Hickman is a sophomore at Brighton High School and a freelancer for The Livingston Daily. Contact the newsroom at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Michigan Makers opens in former Charming Charlie's in Green Oak Township