Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Johnson
Annie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Take Care, South Bend opened in February 2020. My goal was to provide quality gift baskets and care packages with products sourced from local shops and makers. I started out of my home, built a website, and now I still sell online with a brick and mortar presence at The Portage Collective.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has had plenty of ups and downs! I’m lucky to have incredibly strong support in our community. Both clients and vendor partners love what we do, and that’s been wonderfully consistent along my journey. The main struggle is maintaining the energy to pivot. Out of the gate, I had to change my plans of focusing on college student subscription boxes, because the local colleges closed for COVID-19 and sent all the kids home! I was very busy with no-contact porch drop offs that year. In 2021, web sales were at a record high – folks were home bored and had a cushion of money from changed habits. In 2022, everyone was eager to shop brick and mortar and the web sales sharply declined for all retailers. In 2023, we saw customers start to cut back on non-essential purchases. This year, we continue to see Millennial and GenX clients cut back but also we’re beginning to observe GenZ come into the market as buyers with a different value system. Self care and taking time off is so important to prevent burnout.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Take Care, South Bend?
I’m known for helping clients love on our region’s small businesses. Instead of generic wholesale products, I plumb the city and surrounding region for the best of the Bend and beyond. I’m most proud of introducing clients to makers and shops they didn’t know before! I pride myself on maintaining a white glove level of customer service.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
As GenZ comes into the local economy with their own money, I think the biggest shift we’ll see is about community. GenZ doesn’t want the big box experience. They want meaning. They want to make a difference, and they’re eager for community and brands that reflect their values. I think small businesses are poised to receive a lot of love from GenZ if we can make our shopping an experience that engages their senses and their hearts. It’s not going to be enough to have good products. GenZ wants the story.
Pricing:
- Custom gifts start at $35/order
- Mini boxes start at $10
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.takecaresouthbend.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/takecaresouthbend
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/takecaresouthbend
- Other: https://theportagecollective.com
