WAUWATOSA — Customer support is key to keeping any business alive, and community support is the key behind Wisconsin Curated Connections.
The business located near Mayfair Mall recently opened their doors after they had been closed for months due to COVID-19.
The small business is a one-of-a-kind shop. Under one roof, people can find unique items from thirty different entrepreneurs from across the state, from books to handcrafted jewelry made by Danielle Carter-Riley, Co-Owner of Wisconsin Curated Creations.
“I use gemstones crystals to design and it’s actually made with lots of love and it is a labor of love,” said Danielle.
The idea is to help businesses work together and uplift one another.
“We are a community-based platform and encourages everyone we should work together instead of individually,” said Bruce Riley, Co-Owner of Wisconsin Curated Creations.
Business owners like Ruben Obregon, Co-Owner of Poppy & Thyme, a company that makes handmade soaps, said they are thankful the doors are back open because profit margins for small businesses are razor-thin.
“A lot of the small business live paycheck to paycheck, we don’t have millions of dollars in the bank to withstand these kinds of things and periods of economic problems,” said Obregon.
Bruce Riley said it’s important now more than ever to support minority-owned and local businesses, especially after taking financial hits.
“Customers coming in saying, I’m glad you reopened the space… that encourages us to keep moving forward and keep striving,” said Bruce.
“It’s important for us to be the voice of one another during these critical times so we are very blessed and excited to be a platform,” said Danielle.
Once a month the owners use their space for community outreach, the owners said they are ready to use their shop again for positive changes throughout the community.
“Whether it’s having some discussions that our community needs to focus on right now within the space we want to be available to do what we need to do in order to thrive," said Danielle.
