During a pandemic wouldn’t be the typical time, when a new business venture would roll out. However, with plans already in the works to launch at the beginning of April, it was decided to move forward despite major obstacles—ie, the Coronavirus.
The new business is called the Rural Route Mercantile and for the moment it’s only online. The goal is to raise enough capital via the online website called RuralRouteOnline.com or RuralRouteMercantile.com, in order to develop a small town/agri-tourism based themed business to be located in Paulding County, Ohio one day.
“We plan to create a destination by selling Small Town America and Farming as a brand! Not only that, but we’ll also showcase local items made by individuals who have often felt dismissed by the typical workforce. We thought about postponing our launch because of shipping times, etc. but after further review, we decided, now was exactly the time we needed to launch and it has everything to do with giving individuals hope during this pandemic crisis,” stated owner Erika Willitzer.
From the very beginning of the formation of this business, a partnership has been intertwined with the PC Workshop in Paulding, Ohio. The Workshop, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit serving people with disabilities to embrace their limitless potential through job and self-development. The clients and staff have created their own clothing line called Limitless Designs by PC, which will be housed and featured on the online mercantile. The designs are created and inspired by the clients of the PC Workshop. The hope is that this new line can be the start of something new for those individuals yearning for a creative outlet, or even marketing and office positions.
Prior to COVID 19, the PC Workshop’s main focus has been manufacturing and cleaning. Plans have been in the works for a while to diversify, but with this pandemic, it became clear we needed to launch our new line sooner rather than later due to the hiatus in funding. The message of this line is needed now more than ever,” said Megan Sierra, PC Workshop Executive Director.
Sierra went on to say that Willitzer and her hope this new opportunity will one day result in a brick and mortar location, where individuals from the PC Workshop will be able to work and truly be integrated into the community.
For the entire month of May and June, 50% of the profits will be donated to the Paulding County Crisis Fund, managed by the Paulding County Area Foundation to help those most impacted by the Coronavirus. The rest of the profit will go toward the eventual purchase/creation of the physical location for the Mercantile. All purchases for the PC Workshop’s clothing line will go directly to the Workshop to support their clients.
Our hope is that we will see a transformation of Paulding County by embracing what has been in front of us, all along—our Rural Roots! Our initiative aims to embrace our rural heritage and market what makes us who we are. And who we are is….“Small Town-Rural…America. That’s despite an already under-developed county, and a nasty plague. Our goal is to literally take the Rural Route and help others find hope along the way!” stated owner Erika Willitzer.
The website is www.RuralRouteOnline.com. Please note, shipping times may be delayed and your purchases all go toward an amazing cause…the revitalization of Paulding county and the people living within it.
