Business of the Month - September 2004: Your Michigan Connection

From the smallest towns to the largest cities, the state of Michigan is well represented by its products at Your Michigan Connection. Geri Turnbull, owner and manager of Your Michigan Connection since 1998, only carries items that relate to the state of Michigan. This tiny shop is packed full with the largest assortment of Michigan memorabilia in the area.

Baskets, in the shape of the Michigan hand, are the perfect starting point for a gift basket. It’s a great idea for friends or relatives living outside of Michigan. Fill your basket with top quality products and be sure to include something for everyone in the family. Each and every jar of jelly or preserves, salsa, sauces, marinades, vinaigrettes, dried cherries, and chocolates are made in Michigan. Include Hanover Michigan Mints from St. John, Michigan Blueberry Preserves by Brownwood Farms in Williamsburg, or Hot Cherry Salsa from Cherry Republic in Glen Arbor. Add a cutting board, oven mitts, or cookie cutters in Michigan’s famous profile. Candles, books, notepads, and Sander’s famous Hot Fudge from Detroit complete your basket. Let’s not forget the University of Michigan and Michigan State fans. Sweatshirts, mugs, plush teddy bears, mousepads, etc. can be found at Your Michigan Connection. Gift baskets can be selected from individually designed and pre-packaged assortments or you may select your own products to incorporate into a gift basket. Choose from Geri’s wide selection of baskets or boxes or you may bring in your favorite container to fill. Delivery is available within a five-mile radius or your gifts can be shipped to any destination worldwide. Visit Your Michigan Connection’s website for more gift basket ideas.

Your Michigan Connection carries select books about Michigan like The Legend of Sleeping Bear Dunes, numerous books on Michigan lighthouses, and cookbooks. Jonathan Rand writes the very popular Michigan Chillers Series geared toward the beginning to intermediate reader. Titles like Dinosaurs Destroy Detroit, Aliens Attack Alpena, and Kreepy Klowns of Kalamazoo are sure winners for your 6-12 year olds.

Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state. Remember your visit to Michigan’s lighthouses with a wooden replica by Hometowne Collectibles. Each miniature lighthouse can be displayed on window ledges, door casings, or chair rails and is approximately 4-8" wide by 6-8" high. Maps marking Michigan lighthouse and shipwreck locations, which are suitable for framing, as well as books, mugs, and notepads reflecting the lighthouse theme are all available.
 

Your Michigan Connection is also your Northville connection. Carolyn Dunphy, popular local artist and owner of Northville’s Painter’s Place, is given credit for the Northville mugs, each one bearing Northville’s name and a view of Main Street. Your Michigan Connection is the only shop in town authorized to sell the beautifully crafted Northville throws. Available in blue, burgundy, or hunter green, the throws highlight some of Northville’s more recognizable landmarks such as the clock that welcomes visitors to the downtown area, Mill Race Village, and the historic water wheel and duck pond on the grounds of the original Ford Valve Plant. Northville sweatshirts are also available.

So while meandering through Northville’s quaint shopping district, stop for an ice cream at Rebecca’s. Next door is the tiniest shop in Northville. . . Your Michigan Connection.  Stop in to see Geri and take home a little piece of Michigan.