Getting Crafty in Ashville at Made on Main

A Serendipitous Start

Jackson’s venture with her own crafting store was a long time coming. She worked at a bank for 29 years, and exercised to combat the stress of the job. After undergoing surgery on both of her legs, she turned to her favorite pastime: crafting.

“I’ve crafted since I was really little,” Jackson recalled. “People used to say, ‘You should sell that stuff.’ This was a way that I could do something else that I love and keep some balance.”

In 2016, Jackson began hosting monthly paper crafting and home décor classes out of her home and created a strong following on Facebook. She also held bi-annual Card Bashes which drew in 20, then 40 participants.

These events also garnered the attention of Jackson’s mom, who lives just down the street. She began to look at properties so Jackson could have more room to host events. She found the town’s former pharmacy/general store which had been vacant for years – it even happened to be less than a quarter of a mile from Jackson’s home. Plus, the former owners lived right across the street. It was a perfect match.

Made on Main opened its doors the following year. Officially, Jackson runs the store by herself, but her parents will stop in from time to time and help any way they can. “My dad retired on December 31. He got a day off and then came to work with me. My parents sit together here all day and they’ll help me cut paper and greet customers,” Jackson said. “My mom will sit in the store and talk to people when they come in. If I’m on a call or getting something, she would be there to greet you.”

Crop Til You Drop

Events remain a cornerstone of Made on Main. Jackson’s Card Bashes continue to this day, growing mainly by word of mouth. “Now we cap it right around 300,” Jackson said. “We had 320 at the last event.”

Another feather in Jackson’s cap is the annual Ohio Paper Crafting Shop Hop which is celebrating its sixth anniversary this year. Jackson coordinates with nine to 10 craft retailers around the state. Customers can purchase a passport and travel to each store where they can win prizes and enjoy discounts. “It brings people from everywhere,” Jackson said. “We’ve had every surrounding state visit us as well as people from Texas, Florida and Tennessee.”

Made on Main hosts a range of classes in its backroom on a variety of mediums; the topics pertain to either Jackson’s interests or requests from customers. Participants can learn about a new skill or refresh their knowledge. “I may teach a quilting class. I may teach a painting class or a crochet class. It changes every month,” Jackson mused.

The frequency of these classes depends on Jackson’s schedule – apart from painting sessions, she is the instructor. Past sessions have taken place during weekdays, on evenings and weekends.

About 800 feet from the main store is Made on Main (M.O.M.’s) Retreat House. Jackson hosts pajama party crops and rents the space out for retreats.

M.O.M.’s Retreat House can be divided into two separate areas, accommodating 10 to 12 people, or fully accessible for a party of 22 people. The house is outfitted with home comforts including a craft area on the main floor, TV, Wi-Fi, a functional kitchen, linens and towels and more. Each bed, which Jackson affectionately calls “train cars,” is tucked in a cubby with curtains, a fan and light inside for added privacy. The retreat house can accommodate any two-night stay, though most guests make reservations for Thursday through Sunday. There are a few who’ve stayed a full week. “We host everybody,” Jackson stated. “Any type of crafty person is welcome.”

Everyone’s Family Here

Made on Main is a multi-level marvel. Jackson made the most of the 20th century building’s 9,000 square feet. The first floor contains the main sales floor, a classroom that comfortably fits 40 people and a party room that houses crops and class overflow. The second floor houses seasonal items. “The third floor is actually the home of the original owners in 1900, so it has beautiful hardwood floors and 12-foot ceilings,” Jackson said. “It’s a neat space.”

The store’s inventory has products to satisfy any type of crafter. Jackson makes a point to stock items that not only she finds interesting, but also those that appeal to her customers’ interests. Paper crafting materials including stamps, dies and stencils constitute a large share of Made on Main’s offerings – a majority of Jackson’s customers are card makers. However, the store also has products for sewing, quilting, crochet, cross stitch and painting.

“I have people who will make a mini album with me today and then want to crochet tomorrow,” Jackson stated. She has seen a trend of crafters branching out to try new artistic pursuits while staying grounded in the medium they’re comfortable with. She wants to support her patrons, no matter their artistic endeavors.

A particular challenge is to figure out which products are trending and to order the right quantities to support customers’ interest. Tariffs continue to complicate this matter, as products are delayed at customs and orders are delivered piecemeal due to their unique characterizations. As a result, Jackson has become more strategic about where she’s ordering from. “I may not have the newest release until a month or two after it’s been out,” she explained. “But that’s okay because it’s not stuff that’s available locally or in big box stores, and people understand that.”

Very little of Made on Main’s business comes from Ashville. Instead, customers have flocked in from Columbus (which is only 20 miles away), across Ohio and neighboring states. Still, the atmosphere inside is warm and personable. “It’s like ‘Cheers,’” Jackson said. “When you walk in, everybody knows everybody’s name.”

Jackson is proud to have Made on Main grow year over year. One year, the store saw 84 percent growth. While she employs email marketing and utilizes social media to promote her business, word of mouth is a major help.

“I hope everybody that walks in the door feels like family,” Jackson commented. “People call my parents Mom and Dad. We truly care about everybody that walks through the door. I worked in the corporate world for 29 years, and although I liked that job, it was very stressful. So, it just feels really good to be able to provide a place where people can come together, hang out, be creative and do what they love.”