Produced by the College Hill Alliance
GIVE the GIFT of Take your local shopping experience one step deeper into the heart of the community – buy Macon Made. The College Hill Alliance launched the economic awareness campaign this past summer and has been at work taking not only an inventory of products produced locally, but the names, faces and stories behind the Macon Makers who create and manufacture them. With the gift-giving season upon us, now is no better time to support local business, and in turn, give it right back to your local economy. According to an economic impact calculator on IndependentWeStand.org, if families shift just $10 from a national chain to a local business, $7,021,925 will be directly returned to Macon. Check out the 2014 Macon Made Holiday Guide for a sampling of where you can make that kind of monumental shift in spending – not to mention give (or receive!) some serious local pride. What’s even more warm and fuzzy? The passion and pride invested into their community that these featured Macon Makers express. You can’t Scrooge that.
Compiled by Melina Hettiaratchi Edited by Jessica Walden
Be Macon Made
We’re all makers by nature. But with the launch of the Macon Made brand, the opening of Spark Macon, a new maker space in the heart of Downtown, and a full-blown, regional maker festival slated for this spring in Tattnall Square Park, now is no better time to proclaim your product as proudly Macon Made. Visit our active Tumblr page to read profiles about our local Macon Makers: collegehillalliance.tumblr.com. You can also join the Macon Made movement. Contact the College Hill Alliance at info@collegehillmacon.com / 478.621.4420. Visit CollegeHillMacon.com.
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MAKE IT MACON MADE
Produced by the College Hill Alliance
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1 MRS. GRIFFINS BBQ SAUCE Where to Purchase: Ocmulgee Traders, Kroger, Publix, Sam’s, Walmart, Piggly Wiggly, Food Depot
“My wish is for the people of Macon to come together and continue the work it takes for community to exist and realize the Macon Maker seal as to what it is: a seal of community, a seal of quality, and a seal of prestige.” JEREMY KNOWLES MACON BEER CO.
MACON BEER COMPANY Macon Beer Company merchandise available through maconbeercompany.com Growlers available at Growler Spot (3841 Northside Dr.) and Just Tap’d – formerly Lazy Dog (488 First Street).
3 DOCTOR H GUITARS
Where to Purchase: Doctorhguitars.com
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SOUTHERN LIT to Purchase: ATTELIER Where etsy.com/shop/southernlitatelier / 478.719.7435
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BIRON HERBAL to Purchase: TEA Where Ocmulgee Traders, Yvonne’s Natural Market and Bironteas.com.
“It’s really encouraging to have so much support and know people want to see the Macon community thrive.”
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Mrs. Griffin’s BBQ Sauce
What gift products do you make? If you're looking for wow factor, I can create a signature scent in hand-selected containers. And the Sniff Notes line is a big hit with the bibliophiles! One of my candle containers is a glass from one of Macon’s fine former hotels, the Dinkler.
Macon Maker: Roland Neel
What's special about being a Macon Maker? Being made in the south, BBQ is such a big part of life here, and we are proud that local business people are exporting their products as Macon-Made! What’s your wish in the New Year for Macon Makers? To make Macon a prosperous place and to hope the local community will buy locally made products!
Biron Herbal Tea
Macon Maker: Andi Biron
What’s special to about being a Macon Maker? I spent my childhood in Macon. I What gift products do you make? moved away to start my family, and Mrs. Griffins BBQ Sauce, the then decided that I really wanted oldest BBQ in the South! We put to return to my roots in order to the South in your Mouth! start our business. I believe that bringing revenue to Macon is important and anything I can do to put back into the local economy is What gift products do you make? a growler (a glass container for Macon Makers: Jeremy Knowles really supporting the future of my What guitar-head wouldn't like a craft beer to go!) of Macon Prog& Cory Smith handcrafted Doctor H guitar under family. Macon’s tight-knit, commuress from one of the local growler nal atmosphere is great for makers. the tree on Christmas morning? shops and bring it to a family What's special about being a I was selling my products at a dinner. And if you're having dinner Macon Maker? market recently, and I had so many out over the holidays look for our Macon Beer Company was heavily friends and family show up to tap handle and ask for Progress! Our founded on community as a core Macon Maker: Ashley Smith support my business. It’s really t-shirts also make a great gift for principle. We strive to be a comencouraging to have that support under the Christmas tree. Shirts are pany for the community in all What's special about being a and know people want to see the printed on demand so as to offer the ways. Being accepted into the Macon Maker? Macon community thrive. most color and size options to our Macon Maker community, being I studied the art of making candles fans. Order early and look for able to put the seal on our prodin Antibes. My mentor founded a What’s your wish in the New Year specials on our website. ucts, and benefiting from the company that pours candles for for Macon Makers? budding private-to-private Her Majesty's boutiques. And, I would like to see more of them. relationships is what makes being a today, he is known to be one of the I’d like to see more small busimaker in Macon special. most renown in the world – only nesses opening in the Downtown Macon Maker: David Hullings four others are considered his area and more shops that will What’s your wish in the New Year equal. Being a Macon Maker allows continue the effort of keeping What's special about being a for Macon Makers? A sense of me the special opportunity to grow things local. I’m excited about the community is vital in any town or Macon Maker? renovations happening Downtown city. Macon has momentum in that Since we moved here 17 years ago, at a pace that prepares me to follow in his footsteps. I see and hope to see more people living I have been constantly aware of the regard. My wish is for the people artisans that almost get it right in the area. It’s exciting to watch musical heritage that exists in of Macon to come together and –making sacrifices in the interest of and see Macon’s hustle and bustle Macon. It is very much alive and it continue the work it takes for grow more and more. It’s really community to exist and realize the inspires me to move forward in my sales volume. I don't want that. I want to run a small shop that vital to the survival of our commuMacon Maker seal as to what it is: guitar building. Producing a high nity. quality instrument that may inspire makes the finest candles possible. a seal of community, a seal of someone else to create even more quality, and a seal of prestige. What’s your wish in the New Year What gift products do you make? Macon music is something I take for Macon Makers? All of our teas really make good very seriously. What gift products do you make? I wish, for Macon Makers, opporgifts. We currently sell four differThe gift of beer is a great gift for tunities for learning. Not everyone ent teas: Inspiration, Love and What’s your wish in the New Year any season but especially for the can travel thousands of miles to Laughter, Worry Free, and Confiholidays. Craft beer is catching on for Macon Makers? learn from a visionary in a very dence. Any of our four flavors For Doctor H Guitars and all the in Central Georgia and is a great specific field. But I certainly think come in tins and make great gift to bring along to Thanksgiving other Macon Makers, I wish the stocking stuffers. coming year to be a time of expan- that the idea of arranging for the and Christmas dinners. Macon sion. There is a renaissance coming Illuminati of the Makers movement Beer Company's Progress brand is to visit us and share is a reasonable in this town, and I'm sure all of light and refreshing and pairs the Makers would love to take part idea to close my eyes and toss a nicely with traditional holiday penny after. meats like turkey and ham. Pick up in it.
Macon Beer Company
Southern Lit Attelier
Doctor H Guitars
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SUZANNE ROGERS HOME GOODS Where to Purchase: SuzanneMRogers.com ItalianGirlinGeorgia.com 478.757.8814
Produced by the College Hill Alliance
CROWN CANDY Where to Purchase: Ocmulgee Traders
“Our community needs to shop local so our money stays where it belongs... Central Georgia. Our Delights – creamy caramel, milk chocolate, and three different variations of nuts; Peppermint Bark – chocolate and peppermint bits; and our Logs – peanut, almond, and pecan – are especially popular during the holidays. JAMIE WEATHERFORD CROWN CANDY CO.
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L.H. ECOLOGY CENTER Where to Purchase: Middle Georgia Art Association (2330 Ingleside Avenue), facebook.com/LHHarrisEcologyCenter, Etsy, or at the LH Harris Ecology Center by appointment: 478-405-9845
MODERN GIANT
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Where to Purchase: www.moderngiant.net www.moderngiant.bigcartel.com
DOG AND HER GIRL BAKERY Where to Purchase: facebook.com/dogandhergirlbakery 478.787.9779 / and local markets like Wesleyan Market and the Christmas in the Corridor event
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L.H. ECOLOGY CENTER
Suzanne Rogers Home Goods
days. I will also sell the next edition of the shirt at Christmas in the Corridor on December 4. I’ve designed and screen-printed art prints that would make great gifts! I also have several t-shirts, band posters and button packs that would work well too. I make little sketchbooks by hand from old test screen prints - Similar to Field Note journals, only the cover is cut from test prints and each sketchbook is unique.
Macon Maker: Suzanne Rogers What's special about being a Macon Maker? For me, the distinction in being a Macon Maker lies within the fact that Macon has acknowledged its creative "makers" and encouraged us to pursue those avenues of creativity with vigor, knowing that we are supported wholeheartedly within the community.
DOG & HER GIRL BAKERY
What’s your wish in the New Year for Macon Makers? My wish for Macon Makers in 2015 is for us to continue creating useful and unique products and making them readily available to the people and businesses in the Macon community so that our local economy will prosper. The opportunities that have been offered to us in this last year are so generous; it is my hope that this will inspire more Macon Makers to participate in the "Movement.”
Macon Maker: Margaret O’Neal
What’s special about being a Macon Maker? There are many special things about being a Macon Maker, but the one which is most important to me is being recognized for having a and a variety of chocolates and nut and custom furniture from unique product. Being chosen to logs. Our Delights – creamy reclaimed wood. The products we be a Macon Maker is an honor caramel, milk chocolate, and three make are intended to inspire the different variations of nuts tradition of buying heirloom pieces because it recognizes the hard work I have put into making my baking (almond, pecan and peanut); that generations enjoy in their special. It is also an honor to be Peppermint Bark – chocolate and homes and family dinner tables. peppermint bits; and our Logs, One of a kind pieces are made with chosen as a representative of Macon's varied craftspeople. which come in three nut varieties – the utmost care by local Georgia What gift products do you make? peanut, almond, and pecan – are Artists and 100 percent of the Handmade Southern Sugar Scrub; What’s your wish in the New Year especially popular during the profits are being used to support One-of-a-Kind Handmade Natural for Macon Makers? holidays. animal rescue and spay/neuter Cotton Linens & Home Goods I think 2015 will be a special year programs. for the Macon Makers as we become better known in the community. People will come to know Macon Maker: Jamie Weatherford, Macon Maker: Founders Lisa and Shannon Harris various artists on Macon Maker: Jason Frost the quality of our work and our Plant Manager of Crown Candy site pride in it. This will happen Corporation What's special about being a through our increased exposure in What's special about being a Macon Maker? fairs and greater publicity. What's special about being a Macon Maker? Being involved in something that’s Macon Maker? bigger than yourself. For so long, What gift products do you make? As a Macon-based candy company From a simplicity standpoint, we think it's a necessity to buy and I’ve worked independently with I have unique dog treats, which are that ships our products all over the gluten, corn, and soy-free, so there country, it’s making a high quality provide for your community. Being printing and design. However, a small business is an enriching being part of the Macon Maker is nothing in them to irritate the product that reminds people of a part of being a citizen of the community helps push down that dog's health. This year's treats are simpler time. As a local manufaccommunity; keeping economic, wall and bring us “makers” liver and carrot brownies, sweet turer, it’s providing jobs for people potato and peanut butter treats, who really want them. It's a special health and social benefits closer to together for collaboration, where home is a win-win for Maconites. we’re stronger. ginger cookie treats, and peanut honor when your employees thank butter and bacon treats. They may you for helping them put food on What’s your wish for the New Year What’s your wish in the New Year be ordered as individual bags, or as the table and gifts under the tree. for Macon Makers? for Macon Makers? mixed bags of all four. I have a dog To continue to celebrate local To have the best Maker Festival Christmas stocking full of mixed What’s your wish in the New Year makers and invoke interest for ever this spring in Tattnall Square treats and a chew toy from for Macon Makers? people to follow creative passions Park! TailsSpin. Prosperity. Our community needs that provide for both their families I am very excited about a new to shop local so our money stays What gift products do you make? and community. line of food I am introducing. where it belongs, Central Georgia. I am the official screen-printer of Being highly allergic to gluten What gift products do you make? the official Macon Made t-shirt! myself, I am developing a line of What gift products do you make? We make hand-turned food-safe Ordering is on demand, so you will gluten-free “people” food, which All of it: we make candy! We have bowls, decorative home accessories need to order early for the holitastes as good as traditional food. coconut candies, pecan divinity
CROWN CANDY
L.H. ECOLOGY CENTER
MODERN GIANT
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