Kimberly Allen
Loyola Marymount University
Ingrid Greene
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"Made in Omaha" is a retail gift social enterprise founded in 2018 on the premise that the local creative culture and artisans within a local community have a significant contribution to make in preserving the identity of a place, including its unique characteristics and traditions. By supporting and maintaining creative small businesses, the cultural elements inherent to a community are preserved, shared and celebrated. Its mission is to nurture and cultivate the creative community in Omaha, in part, through carefully selecting and curating unique products from artisans, providing a robust platform to connect efficiently with customers throughout the city. “Made in Omaha” empowers local entrepreneurs through providing a storefront to showcase products conveniently, attractively displaying finished creations, which preserves the innate resources and energy necessary for artisans to focus on their craft. The result is Omaha’s most comprehensive collection of locally designed and produced consumer goods. With a dedication to high quality, a small business focus, and a passion to preserve and protect the Nebraskan culture, this social enterprise is the go-to destination for the best Omaha has to offer. Established in 2018, the business has quickly expanded to three locations with the addition of eighteen employees. In the years 2020 and 2024, “Made in Omaha” was awarded the Tourism Award for Best Retail Store.
Teri Hall, the founder of “Made in Omaha”, started her quest to preserve Omaha’s unique identity by co-founding Midwest Fest in 2016. Instilled in her heart was the driving passion to provide local makers the marketplace to share and sell uniquely created consumer goods. Through the establishment of a collaborative team and the execution of the necessary hard work required, the festival has been a huge accomplishment and a victory for the local economy, providing support and featuring small business. Midwest Fest continues an ambitious growth trajectory, now additionally uniting the Omaha community to share a marketplace with regional artisans, further boosting the local economy. From a one-day festival featuring 80 vendors with 2000 attendees to the establishment of a two-day event featuring over 150 artisans originating from seven different states, this annual festival has blossomed with over 10,000 attendees. By establishing the first “Made in Omaha” storefront in 2018, Teri’s innovative forward thinking created opportunity for aspiring small business to have a continuous platform to showcase consumer products, in addition to the annual event. After opening in 2018, artisans quickly flocked to the innovative platform created to showcase local talent in a manner that was efficient and effective. Additional locations in the city became necessary and were established in 2020 and 2021. Products are showcased from multiple industries, with the intention that it be derived from the creative local culture that speaks to what is inherently Omaha.
Since the establishment of the annual festival in 2016, “Made in Omaha” has been dedicated to promoting the makers and doers that make Nebraska a special place to love and visit. Beginning as an 800 square foot shop with 40 artists, the three locations feature hundreds of artists and creatives throughout Omaha. From homemade pantry items and home goods, to apparel and jewelry, inspiration continues to derive from a passion to showcase the unique beauty and culture of Nebraska. As a small, female owned business, priority is to support all of the Nebraska community, creating a means for inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility for all creative business owners interested in pursuing ideas and entrepreneurship. Through sharing artisan creations, we celebrate all that is unique about humanity and celebrate cultural appreciation. Through a network of supporting business, we establish collaborative connections, build trusting relationships, and strengthen local community.
The overall rapid growth of the festival and the three established storefronts that support local artisan and maker product sales in the span of eight years is impressive. To grow a marketplace festival from an attendance of 2,000 to 10,000 is proof positive of the overall impact on the local community. The festival has not only provided a vibrant local scene to showcase small business, the experience elevates Omaha as a cultural hub with an interest in community unity and cultural understanding of the unique perspectives and traditions that originated in the Midwest. The community has responded with enthusiasm on social media. The Midwest Fest and “Made in Omaha” maintain a social media presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and pine interest to reach consumers, entrepreneurs, and participants.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, one of “Made in Omaha’s” vendors had the opportunity to be interviewed on Good Morning America. Because the storefront was the first place her product was featured, “Made in Omaha” was the setting for such a prestigious interview. By supporting local vendors and creating synergy for successful pursuits, there is no limit to what might transpire from this.
Choosing to innovate by providing a platform for local artisans to showcase products at a Brick-and-Mortar establishment that produces local cultural awareness, has provided the impetus for this profitable business to grow and expand. The ability to open multiple retail sites in a few years is unique in a contracting economy that makes it more difficult to sustain retail with accompanying commercial locations. The establishment of these storefronts has contributed to the growth and expansion of the festival, resulting in “Made in Omaha” becoming the leading sponsor of a large annual event. This creates a win-win for both the annual festival and the growing local business.
“Made In Omaha’s” mission to support aspiring entrepreneurs and local artisans through a profitable business address several of the sustainable development goals that results in business for good. This includes: Goal 5: Achieving gender equality and empowering all woman and girls (Empowering women to create and own small business with ongoing networking and support ), Goal 8: Promoting a sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all (Promoting the local economy to sustain small business for a diverse population ) Goal 10: Reducing inequalities (Supporting small business and innovative entrepreneurship with DEI initiatives ) , and 12: Ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns. (Supporting the purchase and consumption of products locally).
Special thank you to Teri Hall, founder for taking the time to discuss her business.
“Made in Omaha”
http://www.madeinomaha.com
Teri Hall-Founder
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Teri Hall, Founder
