In many ways the 21st century in Michigan has been driven by a need to recover, revitalize, and reinvent. At the start of the millennium the state was plagued with many challenges brought on by the negative biproducts of the industrial era like an aging infrastructure and water pollutants. The nation struggled with an epic financial crisis.
Joe Faris is a season 5 alum of the popular reality show, Project Runway. Over his 30-year career he has designed for several high-profile fashion brands including Ralph Lauren, Perry Ellis, Donna Karen, Pelle Pelle, Double D Ranch, Schott NYC, and Kid Rock’s brand Made in Detroit. In 2009 Joe moved closer to his goal of a helping
About twelve years ago, while working at a co-op in Kalamazoo, Lucy Dilley began to recognize a need in the community for a shared-use, commercial kitchen. It seemed like a good business opportunity, but research led her in a slightly different direction. It dawned on her that what she really had was a social mission, and soon,
Movie fans and car aficionados often unite when it comes to their feelings about a certain Highland Green 1968 Ford Mustang GT fastback. The car was driven by Steve McQueen in what many consider the greatest car chase scene in movie history through the streets of San Francisco in Bullitt. The Mystery Begins Back then cars that
It’s time once again for the North American International Auto Show, which will take the Motor City by storm January 20th-28th. Cars are of course the stars of this annual extravaganza, but with the ever-changing cityscape of Detroit, it is also a phenomenal time to explore the metropolis. Here are 8 ways to make the most of your
EVENT: The Buy Michigan Now Festival is scheduled to be held in Downtown Northville, Michigan, August 2-4, 2024, regardless of weather. ELIGIBLE VENDORS: Buy Michigan Now (a.k.a. The Catalyst Company, LLC) reserves the right to determine if an organization will be able to participate, or sell a particular product. All applications will be reviewed and applicants will
Founder Lisa Diggs joins M2 Techcast co-hosts Mike Brennan and Matt Roush to talk about her passion project and provide some great last-minute gift ideas for those who want to support Michigan businesses. Link to source
Detroit Free Press writer Carol Cain features Buy Michigan Now as a catalyst in conjunction with the role small businesses play in revitalizing the local economy. Link to source
Fox 2 News welcomes BMN Founder, Lisa Diggs, in studio to talk about the tenth anniversary of the campaign as well as some holiday gift-giving ideas. Link to source
A small business owner who designed and made jewelry once told me the greatest business decision she ever made was to turn down the opportunity to have a product included as one of “Oprah’s Favorite Things.” This shocked other people in the room. First, it was the idea that she had been asked, then the thought that
Local entrepreneurs, Steven Mazur and Eric Huang, found success on last night’s episode of ABC’s hit show Shark Tank. The duo’s Detroit-based clothing company secured an investment from Mark Cuban, the billionaire owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, for their line of premium shirts designed for shorter men. Mazur (5’6”) and Huang (5’8”) are vertically challenged themselves,
After 47 years in business, Shelby Paint & Decorating, which has retail locations in Rochester Hills and Grosse Pointe Woods and Shelby Township, recently made a product shift that has the potential to add $1.5 million a year into the local economy. The company partnered with Lansing-based O’Leary Paints, which has been in the industry since 1891,
The winner of this year’s Up & Coming Entrepreneur Contest, is Jackson Riegler, a 17-year old senior, football player, and honors student at Muskegon Catholic Central High School. Riegler started Oshki, an apparel company, in July of this year. He funded it entirely with his own money from a landscaping job, and had over $9,000 in sales in
(Livonia, Mich, October 10, 2017) – Buy Michigan Now (BMN) is proud to announce that entrepreneur, Jackson Riegler of Muskegon, has won the Grand Prize in the campaign’s 6th annual Up & Coming Entrepreneur Contest. BMN's core mission is helping independent businesses across the state. Consequently, the contest helps newcomers like Oshki, which designs and sells apparel to
After a long winter, spring is such a delight; and summer is obviously so much fun, but it is hard to beat autumn in Michigan. Crisp air, crunchy apples, and a cornucopia of color that changes daily…what’s not to love? Thrillist just ranked Michigan #5 among the most fantastic states to take in fall, and these are
This time of year there are almost as many garage and yard sale signs dotting the Michigan landscape as there are construction barrels. Families, friends, neighbors, come together with the belongings they no longer desire in hopes that each item will find a new home, and that a little extra cash will come their way in return.
It’s Craft Beer Month here in Michigan, and it’s pretty easy to figure out what to do to celebrate. Arguably the hardest part of the decision is which pint to hoist! Lest you think the only thing to celebrate is the deliciousness of the libations our state is producing, (and indeed that would be reason enough for
(Livonia, Mich, July 5, 2017) – Buy Michigan Now is excited to host the 9th Annual Buy Michigan Now Festival in Downtown Northville. The fest promotes Michigan-based businesses. The event is coming up on August 4-6, 2017, which means vendor and sponsorship opportunities are now open. “This festival is a celebration of our state, its creative people,
Americans are expected to spend nearly $14.3 billion celebrating their fathers this year. Keeping those dollars close to home creates an enormous economic opportunity for our state. There are a multitude of ways to salute dad with locally-produced gifts, and we’ve highlighted ten to get your wheels turning. Detroit Train Depot Tie There’s no more traditional Father’s
While much of the libation attention in the state in recent years has been on the enormous growth in popularity and quality of the craft beer industry, our wineries have earned high acclaim as well. For example, earlier this year, Wine Enthusiast magazine chose Michigan as the only U.S. state on its global list of “Wine Regions
It’s hard to think of a time in recent memory that that has been more fraught with verbal conflict than this. Possibly the anonymity of the internet is chiefly to blame. Maybe the culprit is our deeply divided political system here in America. Perhaps fault simply lies with the endless physical and ideological battles being waged around
The world is filled with jokes about mothers waiting for a call from their kids, so this Mother’s Day, why not up the ante by spending some quality time with mom? While out enjoying each other’s company, consider asking her some questions that you may not have ever thought about before. Here are some great Michigan ways
All over the state kids are donning caps and gowns while the sounds of Pomp and Circumstance fill the air. Next come the graduation parties and the inevitable gifts. Sure, there’s always cash in a card, but if you want to give something memorable that also helps the local economy, there are a surprising amount of unique
Michigan has quite a bit in common with Scandinavia: peninsulas, water, fishing, cold winters, and now highly acclaimed versions of Aquavit, thanks to Long Road Distillery. The Grand Rapids-based company’s version of the popular Scandinavian spirit recently earned Best in Show honors at the American Craft Spirits Association (ASCA) Annual Distillers Convention and Vendor Trade Show in
March not only marks the return of greenery and baseball, in many cases it also harkens in the release of some of Michigan’s most popular and unique brews. You’ll notice an influx of wheat and fruit in most of these offerings that are meant to make our minds dream of summer. Here are a few fresh thirst
