Made in Omaha curates goods from local makers in a one-stop shopping experience. Their mission to support the local economy is more important than ever before. Owners Nick Huff, Teri Healy, and Brandon Beed share the purpose behind their business and how Omaha can back their community of talented makers.
“Made in Omaha provides the benefits of scale to small companies that don’t inherently have those benefits. By working together, we can reach more customers and have a greater impact on both the arts community in Omaha and Omaha as a whole. We aim to be everyone’s “storefront,” both in person and online. We work to connect artists and makers so that we can grow our community through relationships and collaborations.”
Nick Huff. Photo by Emma Morem.
Teri Healy. Photo by Emma Morem.
Brandon Beed. Photo by Emma Morem.
What is the story behind Made in Omaha?
After hosting HutchFEST, a regional maker fair, for the fourth year in a row, we wanted to do something for the local makers here in Omaha. Since October of 2018, Made in Omaha has opened its doors to artists and makers throughout Omaha and the surrounding area, creating a new platform to reach customers.
What do your current partnerships look like within your business?
We partner with over 70 local makers to sell their goods in our retail store, Made in Omaha. Our goal is to cultivate creativity in Omaha by providing a lively marketplace for local makers to sell their goods.
What are some of the main goals for Made in Omaha?
We are opening up more retail stores here in Omaha, some of which are coming really soon! We also want to grow our local maker vendor list to over 100 makers.
What is the best part of your job?
We all love being able to showcase, support, and sell the goods of our local maker friends. Since all vendors are local, we have been able to develop some very strong relationships and friendships.
What advice would you give to a hopeful entrepreneur?
Start small. Make a limited run of something and really figure out who your customer is. Once you have those items down, you will be able to gauge if the idea will work.
Why do you think Omaha has such a vibrant maker scene?
Omaha is such a supportive community. We really do have a unique opportunity to create, connect, and even fail. It's a great starting ground for most businesses to get going.
Why is shopping local important?
We did this amazing study over the 2019 holiday season and found that of every dollar spent at Made in Omaha, 91 cents goes back to the local economy. Most stores in the area range from 30-50 cents going back to the local economy.
If you could advise artists and makers pursuing a career in their craft, what would you tell them?
Contact us! We love helping develop local makers with their branding, packaging, product mix, and provide connections to local accountants and business professionals as well.
Shop Made in Omaha’s carefully curated selection of local makers. Visit them online now!
Supporting local businesses is integral to sustain the Omaha community. Learn more about Made in Omaha’s local mission below.
Keep up with the Omaha creatives making waves in the community! Follow Omaha Fashion Week on Instagram for updates on The Front Row.
