Welcome!
I feel that with the loss of so many locally owned businesses due to the growth of big chain stores over the years, it is imperative that I establish a personal identity for my store as what makes a neighborhood or town unique. All too often, we end up going from city to city to see the same stores again and again in our travels. The "Miracle Mile" in Chicago is a good example of this - simply the same stores we have here in the Detroit area with doors on the sidewalk rather than in the mall.
So, here we are in the worst economy in the nation with the auto industry (which fuels EVERYTHING here) in a precarious situation, making small business owners such as myself worrying about not so much losing a job, but everything we have poured my heart, soul and money into to build something special. It has been my entire identity for the last 6 1/2 years.
I am lucky enough to be in a town like Ann Arbor, where residents typically have a dedication to what it means to live here - they like the diversity of having an interesting downtown (and surrounding areas) that attracts all sorts of people and offers something for everyone. Our store is well loved by its loyal customers and we see new faces everyday, so I feel that it is a good possibility that we can weather this economic disaster that has affected all of the nation.
So here is my pitch for making a difference in your local community, then on to the fun stuff! Support your locally owned businesses - they are what makes your community unique. Can't find what you need? Ask around. Have a problem with a local business? Let them know. We often put a slip of paper in our retail bags thanking customers for their purchase and asking them to let us know if there is anything we can do to make their shopping experience better via email. The few times people complained, we made changes to better serve our customers and let them know what we did in order to remedy the situation. And we are glad to do it.
What's coming up next at Acme?
- The Downtown A2 Green Fair will be Friday June 5th from 6-9pm, showcasing all manner of environmentally conscious local businesses.
- We are vending at a hot rod show called Billetproof in Davisburg, MI on Saturday, June 6th. Come by and say hi, while taking a look at all of our Rat Fink stuff, Gearhead Magazine and other related merchandise.
- Father's Day - we have a great selection unusual gifts and cards such as the baseball, golf, fishing and bowling crying towels (seen above), exploding golf balls, Rat Fink themed stuff and Bodum stainless BBQ tools.
