Greene woman puts emphasis on American-made gifts
Carol Vogel of Jefferson stands in her Made in America Gift Shoppe in Waynesburg.
Carol Vogel plays a Native American wooden flute in her Made in America Gift Shoppe in Waynesburg.
WAYNESBURG – Carol Vogel started an online business two years ago selling Pittsburgh shirts and other American-made items out of her home. Now, she sells anything from salad dressing and spices to candles, books, movies, wooden signs, pictures, jewelry and a Native American wooden flute at her store in downtown Waynesburg
“It got to the point where my basement was really full with merchandise and I needed a bigger space,” she said of her online business called KingBird Dot Biz.
The Jefferson resident opened Made in America Gift Shoppe at 180 E. High St. last July on Rain Day after finding a place to rent, which she calls “divine intervention.” She got her inspiration earlier that year while sitting in Mass one Sunday at St. Ann Church in Waynesburg and talking to fellow parishioner Bob Lang, a construction consultant in Waynesburg.
“I think it was divine intervention because it was right after Mass that we talked about my possibly renting from him,” she said.
Lang, who owns the building, moved his office upstairs so she could use the lower level for the store.
“I had just downsized my business and she needed the space,” Lang said. “Plus, it’s all things that are made in the U.S. and I thought that was just great to have something like that around here.”
The American-made aspect of the shop is an important mission for Vogel because “it means jobs for people in America.”
“I think the quality is so much better too,” she said.
Vogel, 53, is from Pittsburgh. She and her husband, Mark, moved to Greene County six years ago.
“We love it here,” she said. “It’s so quiet and peaceful.”
Business was slow at first because, she suspects, not many people knew her store existed, she said, but during the holidays, things picked up. She said her customer base is mostly women and people who work in the downtown area.
“I’ve heard so much positive feedback on how cute my store is,” she said.
The store has a rustic feel with old doors, windows and ladders as display tables.
Her faith also contributes to part of the store’s atmosphere. She sells many Catholic and Christian book, movies and bibles and keeps a basket by the door with free Bibles in it that people can donate or take.
“If people get enlightened while shopping at my store, that’s great,” she said. “I just trust in God because He’s my center.”
The shop’s hours are by appointment only Monday and Tuesday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays. It’s closed on Sundays.