New business abuzz in Baldwin

Occupying a spot in Baldwin’s wounded downtown, a new craft and thrift store, Glory Beezzz, which opened on Dec. 4, is relying on community donations and involvement to make business brisk.

The shop sells second-hand items donated by people in the community as well as arts and crafts made by local artisans. It will also host art classes for area children and families. And beyond the boundaries of traditional commerce, the little shop hopes to serve as a unifying influence in a downtown blighted by fire.

“Our Mission is to help local families work from home by showcasing their unique handcrafted art, jewelry and giftware,” Glory Beezzz’s mission statement reads. “We offer fun workshops for kids and adults such as painting, sewing, knitting, etc. … taught by many of our talented local artisans.”

The store was founded by Deidre Stammers, a 15-year Baldwin resident and a former frustrated work-at-home mom. Stammers’s goal, in essence, is to provide craft-oriented people in town an opportunity she never had. “I worked for Disney for a while, but once I had my kids, I left that job and stayed at home,” she said. “It seemed like every conversation I had with my husband was about one thing: money. How can we earn more money? How can we bring in more money? I tried all kinds of home-based businesses: Web design, custom-made gift baskets, unique party favors. Nothing worked.”

Stammers tried selling her wares at craft fairs, but found them a dead end. “Craft fairs were a major disappointment for me, as they are for a lot of people,” she recalled. “You have to pay for a table, you have to sit there all day Saturday and Sunday, and in the end you’re competing with so many other vendors … well, it just doesn’t work. I wasn’t alone in feeling this way, either. Everyone has this experience. A craft fair is a three-time thing. Most people try it three times, they realize it doesn’t work, then they quit.”

Frustrated and in need of inspiration, Stammers made a list of the qualities she considered her personal advantages. “I thought, OK, I have three things going for me: I’m hard-working, I’m creative and I’m a people person. God, tell me what to do.”