For over 26 years I owned and managed Crafty Yankee, a local artisan jewelry and gift store in Lexington Center.  It was my extreme pleasure to be involved with this wonderful community, to mentor emerging artisans, and get to know the many caring customers. I was the second owner of a store that has thrived in Lexington for 42 years and now I’ve now been retired for one year.  Crafty Yankee is happily in the hands of another family, the Robbins-Cliffords.  

The most frequent questions I am asked when encountering old friends and residents are ~ “What was the secret of your store’s success?  How did you survive all the disruptions in town, the changing shopping trends and the pandemic?”   The answer is quite simple!  If you are in business and the people in your local community are supporting you, then you should be supportive back and re-invest in their community.  We listened to customer’s requests and responded to their concerns. We donated to every cause at least one a year. We enjoyed participating in all the town’s events. We contributed to the process of creative ideas. We loved our customers!  Crafty Yankee had this baked into their cake of success and continues to flourish.

While a lot has changed, much stays the same. Our children attend great schools, families support religious institutions and distinctive non-profit organizations, and we all truly intend to shop local!  It is the independently owned stores and service businesses that have been important glue to the fabric of Lexington for decades. 

• How wonderful it is to call or walk into a business and be recognized!  
• How appreciative we are when businesses donate to our special causes and events!
• How fun that our Lexington Retailers Association annually presents “Discovery Day”, a street party of music, dancing, food, and exposure opportunities for local organizations!
• How excited our children are when Halloween is safely celebrated in the town center!
• How delighted we are when the town is decorated with lights for the holiday season!
• How proud we are when we encounter visiting tourists who admire our history, storefronts and lovely neighborhoods and parks!

Much of these are created or supported by Lexington’s local businesses and these
businesses are only as successful as those of us who support them.

Think about what more you can do to support the businesses in Lexington and make them thrive.   Love your Community….the Community is loving you.