About a month before the grand opening of Impressive Creations 4 U, 33382 Walker Road in Avon Lake, the shop had about 25 craft vendors taking up shop space. By the store’s grand opening at 10 a.m. on July 1, that number had nearly tripled.
The influx of vendors came as a surprise, according to owner Connie Simpson. Simpson and her team of staffers opened their doors on July 1 to a line of about 50 people waiting in the parking lot, they said.
From there, business snowballed even more, Simpson said.
“It’s been sheer pandemonium,” she said. “We did well over $500 in the first hour. It has been nonstop people. We have 70 vendors in here now… Today has been phenomenal, and we’ve still got another five hours.”
Simpson said that the staff ran a soft opening on June 26 to “work out the bugs.” The line waiting outside for their grand opening was something she never could have expected, she said.
“A lot of people just happened to be walking by, and because we had the windows papered, they were curious,” she said. “It exceeded my expectations, I mean, it really has… I’m sure that later today, we’ll have more (people) out.”
With the expanded number of vendors, Impressive Creations 4 U promises something for everyone, Simpson said. The store aims to be a one-stop shop, she explained, where customers can pick up anything from a party gift to home decor.
“There is definitely something for everyone. Our products make us unique. 90% of our items are handmade. Plus we offer greeting cards and gift wrap.”
Avon Lake community development director Ted Esborn said that the city of Avon Lake’s expansion has relied on its tradition of strong small businesses. According to him, Impressive Creations 4 U should be a great addition to those ranks.
“As blessed as we have been with industry, the heart of Avon Lake’s economy is its small businesses,” Esborn said. “Impressive Creations 4U is a business started and run by people with deep roots in this area, which is something that the business shares with many if not most of the other small businesses in Avon Lake.”
Simpson said that the business already has a wait list for new vendors. Despite the amount of interest in the shop for day one, she urged potential vendors to understand that they may need to wait their turn. The Walker Road storefront is still a relatively small amount of space, she said.
“It’s been nonstop at the registers, and I’ve got a great bunch of girls and guys out here,” Simpson said. “I have a waiting list for people to get in here right now, because I’ve only got so much space.”
Still, Simpson said she would not change her store’s grand opening for the world. It exceeded her wildest expectations, she said, and she hopes to keep that level of passion going throughout the coming months.
Potential vendors looking to contact Simpson to get on the shop’s waitlist can reach her at 440-653-9438.