SHOW OF HANDS: Female Entrepreneur Edition Set for Wednesday

“On my own I will just create, and if it works, it works, and if it doesn’t, I’ll create something else. I don’t have any limitations on what I think I could do or be.” — Oprah Winfrey

Thanks to the Women’s Giving Circle’s contribution of $3,000, the prize money to be awarded at Wednesday’s crowd-funding event will exceed $8,000 — the highest amount to date in the Wheeling Heritage Show of Hands.

“The Women’s Giving Circle approached me last year about partnering on a female entrepreneur-specific Show of Hands. I’m thankful that they took note of this great program, and their contribution shows just how much their members care about our community and its residents,” said Alex Weld, director of operations of Wheeling Heritage.

When Wheeling Heritage put the call out to female entrepreneurs, 15 responded. Four businesses will present their cases at the Show of Hands, set for Wednesday, Jan. 22, at the Wheeling Artisan Center, 1400 Main St.

“The WGC has been working to empower women and girls in the region for 10 years now, and they have often discussed how to help female entrepreneurs. Show of Hands is the perfect opportunity for the group to do just that,” said Susie Nelson, executive director of the Community Foundation, which funds the WGC. Nelson is also a member of the WGC.

“With the mission of empowering women and girls in the region, the WGC members believe that nothing could be more empowering than starting your own business and seeing it succeed,” Nelson added.

“We’re lucky to have an organization like the Women’s Giving Circle,” Weld said.

“In a way, what they do is similar to the Show of Hands process: Their members contribute to the organization, and then the group decides where that funding should be directed. By pooling their money, they realize they can make a more impactful investment. That’s just what we do at Show of Hands, since the $5 contribution attendees make goes right back to the winner, and the attendees decide on the event’s winner.

“The Women’s Giving Circle has taken the event to a new level, and it ultimately will change the life of a female entrepreneur in Wheeling,” Weld added.

Who will it be? One of these four businesses will take home the record winnings:

• Corey Kidd — Bakery 49, Cake and Sip and Cake on Demand

• Sarah Williams/Melinda Scott — GypsyLace Cafe

• Terry Jill Bonar — Making Magic

• Nancy Haynes — Re’Decorate Consignment

“We hope that this grant will support a female-owned business as well as inspire other women to take a risk and start a business of their own,” Nelson said.

Orrick is the event corporate sponsor, and Friends of Show of Hands include: Dave and Beth Weaver, Wheeling Volkswagen and Subaru; Dr. and Mrs. Dan and Debbie Joseph — Joseph Orthodontics; Brian Joseph — Touchstone Research Laboratory; Fuzz and Barb LaRue; H. Lawrence Jones; Kennen & Kennen Realtors; Warwood Armature; Rabbi Joshua and Rebecca Lief; Bob Hitchman; and a private donor. Additional support has been provided by Sue Blevins; WTRF (media sponsor); and Glessner Group (advertising sponsor).

Doors open at 6 p.m. with music provided by Ananga Martin. Guests will have the chance to network, socialize and enjoy an hors d’oeuvres buffet.

The four-minute presentations begin at 6:30 p.m. The audience can ask up to four questions of each presenter. Then, the voting begins. Attendees who pay $5 at the door will be entitled to one vote.

During tallying time, audience members who have paid an additional $5 at the door can make a one-minute community announcement.

Also, the winner at the last show of hands, SMART Centre Market, will apprise the audience of their business improvements. (READ MORE: Couple Makes Strong Case for Dinosaur Project, Wins by a Head at Show of Hands and ‘Prehistory Meets History’ in Wheeling’s Centre Market)

MEET THE ENTREPRENEURS:

Corey Kidd — Bakery 49, Cake and Sip and Cake on Demand

Explain the concept of your business? What do you do? Who do you serve?

Right now, I specialize in making custom cakes, cupcakes, cookies (any sweet treat really) for special occasions … or any occasion! Every order is different, and I have only made the same cake twice (per request). I get the chance to talk to each new customer, and they give me a vision/idea/inspiration, and we come up with something special together. I have made everything from shower cakes/goodies and gender reveal cakes to birthday, anniversary and “just because we love cake” cakes!

What main selling points will you be presenting to the audience at the Show of Hands? In other words, why should they vote for you?

I would appreciate the vote because I would like to do something unique that we don’t currently have in Wheeling. Everyone always talks about wanting more experiences, and my vision to grow my business is two-fold.

One: I would like to start hosting “Cake & Sips.” I get asked weekly if I would teach someone how to do something! Paint & Sips are so popular because you learn a little technique (without the prep work), and you get to socialize and leave with something super fun that you made all on your own. That can easily translate into cake decorating!

Two: I want to start a service I am tentatively calling “Cake on Demand.” Almost daily I have someone say to me that they would love to be the one to make their child’s birthday cake or even an anniversary cake, but they either don’t have the tools or the knowledge to do it.

That is where I come in. I have always been a person that loves and appreciates handmade goods/gestures. It might be the teacher in me, but I want to share what I know and what I do with anyone who is interested. I will offer a service where, together, we can design, bake and decorate a cake for your special someone, and I can be available to help as little or as much as you want. Know how to bake but want to learn how to cover a cake with fondant? At your service! Want to make an anniversary cake for your significant other but don’t know the difference between a spatula and a whisk? At your service! Want me to come and teach your second-grader and 20 of her friends how to decorate cupcakes at a birthday party? At your service!

Why Wheeling? Why here for your business? How will your business enhance the city of Wheeling?

Why Wheeling? WHY NOT?! I have lived in Wheeling for almost 40 years. I believe in this city. I have so many fond memories of what it used to be like, and chances like this (Show of Hands) and other community projects are breathing life into Wheeling again.

I am a mom. I have a family with two small children. We are in a school district that we love. I live right next door to my childhood home where my parents still reside in what I like to think of as the best neighborhood around. That’s Dimmeydale, in case you were wondering! I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. Handmade is being appreciated again. Time is being valued. Small businesses are popping up everywhere. Watching this city come together to support one another is amazing. I want to be a part of that!

Are you from Wheeling? Can you tell me a bit about your educational/professional background?

Like I mentioned before, I am a teacher by trade. I received a degree in early childhood education from Ohio University after graduating from Wheeling Park High School. I substituted in the county my first year out and then took the most amazing position as a trained ABA therapist at the Augusta Levy Learning Center. There, I worked one-on-one with children on the autism spectrum until I had my daughter, Carter.

We decided the stay-at-home mom route would work for us, but it wasn’t long before I got antsy and looked around for something to do that would work with a baby. I enrolled in WV Birth to Three as a developmental specialist when my daughter was just a few months old. It was an awesome job, and I had the chance to meet and work with some amazing families. This worked for us until I became pregnant with our son, Carson. I decided that I wanted to go back to school eventually for a degree in early intervention and decided to enjoy my kiddos while they were super tiny.

We had just finished building a house in Sherrard when I told my husband that Wheeling was where we needed to be. So we sold our brand-new house and purchased a home in Dimmeydale right next to my parents’ house at 49 Pleasant Drive. Hence the Bakery 49! Over the next few years, I would do a lot of different jobs. I enjoy sewing and exhibited at Oglebayfest a few times. I enjoy furniture refinishing, so I dabbled in rehabbing pieces for friends. Basically, if it was crafty, I did it. Along with making cakes, of course. It wasn’t until the beginning of 2018 when I was sitting on my kitchen floor looking on the internet for places in Pittsburgh/Columbus that I could go to for further instruction on cake decorating when my phone did that crazy thing where it takes what you’ve been searching for and generates ads for that very thing on EVERY social media platform you use.

There it was … an ad for a professional cake decorating course. I knew it was just what I wanted, but there was a problem. It was in New York City and lasted for 13 weeks! My husband and I shared a good laugh that evening, but the idea stuck and became part of our everyday conversations. Before I knew it, we were taking a trip to tour the school. That August, I was enrolled and on my way to spend what would turn into 16 weeks (I obtained a job at the school and an externship) in NYC. I was introduced to an AMAZING woman (who happened to be from Mozart) who graciously opened her studio apartment to me and took great care of me. I finished my course at the Institute of Culinary Education in November. I had the opportunity to be taught by people that I had only read about before. It was amazing.

Where is (or will be) your business?

Upon returning home [from classes in New York], my husband constructed a commercial kitchen in the former garage space of our home. After some time testing recipes and designs out on friends and family, I am ready to be open to the public!

If you win, how do you plan to use the winning funds?

If I win, I would use the money to buy equipment and supplies needed to compile student kits. Then I can begin to offer classes to people without the need to share equipment. I would buy extra mixers, piping tips, fondant rollers, turntables and other decorating supplies.

There is another bonus to all of this. Aside from Cake and Sips and Cake on Demand, I will be able to offer something else truly amazing. After graduation, I had the opportunity to travel back to NYC to take part in a workshop where a woman (with a space and tools dedicated to the craft) hosted one of my absolute favorite cake artists in a three-day workshop. I was able to learn about two of her signature designs and came home with several new techniques.

WHY CAN’T WE DO THIS HERE? The answer is, we can! With these resources and the contacts I made while in NYC, I will be equipped to host well-known professional cake artists in Wheeling for OUR professionals (and novices) to further their craft! It’s a win-win for everyone. There are so many cake decorators out there that I know would love to take the leap I have. I hope that by doing all of this and offering all of these amazing things that it encourages them to do so! And even if they don’t, at least their works of art will be that much better!

Has this been a longtime dream? Why?

I can’t say that I wanted to be a cake artist growing up. I actually wanted to be a veterinarian until I realized that it wasn’t just about playing with the animals. Once I learned that, I was out! Teaching came natural to me. My mom was always telling me how I liked to boss everyone around, so it just seemed natural for me to go into that field. After taking an unconventional route after college, I knew that I didn’t want to be tied down to a classroom each day.

Since I was little, I baked and decorated with my mom. Even if it was a Jiffy cornbread mix, I loved to do it. She used to make “cupcakes” for my birthday every year, when she wasn’t making me some ridiculous stand-up Wilton cake. When I look at them now, they aren’t anything super fancy. Just a white cake mix with a squirt of chocolate mix in the middle or vice versa, but we loved them. My one friend Sarah loved them so much that, as we grew older, she constantly begged me to make them for her. This was a tradition until she began having her own children, and I started making treats for them. It wasn’t until her son turned 9, and she asked me if I could make a cake in the shape of a Pittsburgh Pirate’s jersey. That required the use of fondant, which was something that I had never used before. We nailed it, so I thought maybe cake-making could be a fun hobby.

Fast-forward a few years to me regularly making her three children’s birthday cakes. Actually, I now make a ton of friend’s children’s birthday cakes! I knew that baking would be a part of my life, but I never imagined that it would become such a large part of it.

Feel free to share any personal information you’d like — family, hobbies, etc.

I enjoy being active. I love spending time with my kids. My 9-year-old daughter loves to decorate cakes. Most of the time she can be found right beside me taking my scraps of cake and fondant and making super amazing creations with them. I have even gotten my husband involved. He handmade and decorated my birthday cake last year! Family is super important to me, and I hope that I am a good example for my kiddos.

GYPSYLACE CAFE — Melinda Scott and Sarah Williams

Explain the concept of your business? What do you do? Who do you serve?

GypsyLace Cafe is not your typical food truck — we are a mobile cafe serving breakfast and lunch, specializing in organic and fair trade coffee and tea, as well as allergy-sensitive and vegetarian/vegan-friendly baked goods and entrees. We have also partnered with Under The Elder Tree Apothecary in Centre Market to brew a selection of their exclusive medicinal teas that are available for purchase in their shop.

Our goal is to serve food so delicious that everyone can enjoy it whether you have dietary restrictions or not. Our target market is Wheeling’s vibrant community of business people and commuters (whose dietary restrictions may have left them feeling underserved) through both our daily operations and a strong presence at festivals and other events. We hope our patrons will not only fall in love with our products and service, but that they will take a moment out of their busy day to sit down, relax and savor their treat while enjoying our fun atmosphere.

What main selling points will you be presenting to the audience at the Show of Hands? In other words, why should they vote for you?

As a pair of working mothers trying to make our kids and families proud, we pour everything into making GypsyLace Cafe a success. We’ve relentlessly battled through late nights of cooking and baking tests and tried hundreds of recipes in our quest to find the very best options for the people of Wheeling. Allergens and other dietary restrictions hit close to home for us, so we take the responsibility of serving this unique community seriously. We hope that attendees will vote for us because we are Wheeling’s first mobile cafe, and we are striving to serve an underserved market. We are also committed to seeing Wheeling thrive by partnering with the city for events like Winter on the Plaza and the Market Plaza skating rink on Small Business Saturday this past November.

Why Wheeling? Why here for your business? How will your business enhance the city of Wheeling?

It’s an exciting time in Wheeling’s history right now. All of the growth and regeneration in downtown is inspiring to us. That, coupled with the support given to startups through city-based programs like Co.Starters and Show of Hands, helped make the decision to be Wheeling-based an easy one. Sarah Williams, half the dynamic duo of GyspyLace Cafe, is also driven to follow in the footsteps of her family’s Wheeling business roots: Doc Wilson owned and operated the Pike Pharmacy in Woodsdale and George Wilson was the proprietor of Wilson Valley Ranch and The Electric Flag.

Our unique take on the mobile eatery promises to be an intriguing addition to the downtown experience. The devotion to our families and our Wheeling roots will keep us pushing forward for the city and its people.

Are you from Wheeling? Can you tell me a bit about your educational/professional background?

Sarah is from Wheeling, and Melinda is from Jerusalem, Ohio, but now lives in St. Clairsville. With more than 20 years combined experience in management roles across the retail and medical fields, we bring an understanding of business, marketing and, most of all, people. Plenty of obstacles have popped up in getting GypsyLace Cafe off the ground, and our diligence and resourcefulness have allowed us to work around and solve these problems. We take pride in what we’ve overcome to get here and also cannot thank our families enough for the support they’ve given us while we’ve been focused on making our dreams become a reality.

Where is (or will be) your business?

Blessed with the capability of setting up anywhere and everywhere in The Friendly City, we plan to be primarily located in the Market Street Plaza throughout the week, and will travel around the city for various festivals, art shows and charity events throughout the year. We also plan to provide catering services in the near future.

If you win, how do you plan to use the winning funds?

Starting a business is no small feat of financial fortitude. If we should be fortunate enough to win, the funds will immediately relieve some of the burden of purchasing the remaining equipment necessary to bring this unique experience to the residents of Wheeling. Our grand opening is scheduled for April 2-4 of this year, and there will be more details to come soon on our Facebook page.

Has this been a longtime dream? Why?

Years ago as co-workers at Pier 1 Imports, we shared the same entrepreneurial spirit and dreamed of someday starting a business together. It was actually after attending the Show of Hands last January that we became inspired to stop making excuses and just go for it. Being the insatiable foodies that we are, it only made sense to combine our mutual love of caffeine and pastries to form a business. We are also lovers of restoration and all things vintage, and that’s what led us to purchase a 1985 school bus for our business operations.

Feel free to share any personal information you’d like — family, hobbies, etc.

As we just mentioned, we are lovers of all things vintage. We both enjoy spending time antiquing and thrifting looking for our next piece of furniture to flip or just enjoy in all of its rusty glory. We both enjoy attending art shows, live music, traveling and seeking out new restaurants to experience.

Sarah has one vivacious daughter, Julia, who just turned 3 years old. Melinda has one son, Henry, who is a year and a half old. She is also a fur mama to Walter (the dog) and Hazel (the cat), both rescues. Along with her husband, Aaron, they round out the Scott household and ensure that there is never a dull moment. Sarah and Melinda both treasure family time and love entertaining every chance they get.

MAKING MAGIC — Terry Jill Bonar

Explain the concept of your business? What do you do? Who do you serve?

The concept of Making Magic became a reality when I was forced to decide what to do after the closing of OVMC and the end of my 35-year nursing career. I have always had an artistic talent and a knack for organizing special events. The concept of my business is to provide unique and affordable services in floral design, gifting and event planning. I specialize in creating a magical experience during the planning of all types of events and creating enchanting floral designs for any purpose.

I believe each client deserves the attention to detail to make their wishes come true. Making Magic will become a destination for gifting needs and will eventually include crafting classes and wine tastings! The space will be relaxed and inviting, fostering a sense of wonderment right here in Wheeling.

I will be serving the community of the Upper Ohio Valley, Wheeling and surrounding areas with delivery services of florals and gifts, as well as, cash and carry items in the shop.

What main selling points will you be presenting to the audience at the Show of Hands? In other words, why should they vote for you?

A vote for me would be a vote for Wheeling. Bringing a fresh option for floral design and event planning is needed in our community. There are very few affordable planners in the valley. There has been a need for a florist in the northern part of the city for quite some time. Being located on Warwood Avenue would provide easy access for those who may be traveling by bus. The main thoroughfare is lacking fun and interesting options for shopping.

I would love to give back to my community by providing support to Wheeling through partnerships with the Women’s Circle of Giving, YWCA and Youth Services. My desire is to create a more beautiful and hospitable place for all of us to live. To expedite the opening of Making Magic, truthfully, I need the funds. So far, all of the renovation projects have been self-funded. Opening the store will help create more revenue to keep things moving. So, until I am open, I am seeking the help from my community through this amazing opportunity!

Why Wheeling? Why here for your business? How will your business enhance the city of Wheeling?

Wheeling is my heart and soul. I have lived within one block of where my parents brought me home from the hospital at birth. I am never leaving. I am dedicated to the continued flourishing of our community.

Wheeling needs magical spaces, places to visit and spend time with friends. The city will benefit by having a special nook to come and enjoy. It will be a destination worthy of bringing out-of-towners to shop and browse.

As a lifelong Wheeling resident, I have fond memories of shopping downtown, riding the bus and eating at all of the fine dining options that were once a Wheeling staple. Over time, we saw a lot of that magic disappear.

I am so incredibly happy to see Wheeling coming alive again! With the resurrection of Centre Market and other parts of Wheeling, we are seeing that same excitement that we once did. I want that to spread even farther north into my home of Warwood. Warwood is a special kind of community, where neighbors feel like family. I want to be involved with breathing life back into our neighborhood. I want to enhance the options for gift-giving in Wheeling. Making Magic will be a place where you can swing by to pick up a last-minute gift for your child’s teacher or a destination where you can learn how to make a wreath to hang on your front door. I want people to enjoy the beauty and celebration of life in the Ohio Valley.

Are you from Wheeling? Can you tell me a bit about your educational/professional background?

I am a lifelong resident of Wheeling (Warwood to be exact).

I studied to be a nurse at the OVGH School of Nursing, graduating in 1985. I am proud to say I am one of the “last of the Mohicans.” I was a registered nurse at OVMC for 35 years working mainly in the operating room. I took a short break from health care after the death of my father in 1999. During that time I worked for a floral shop in Elm Grove and as an event planner at Oglebay Resort and Conference Center. I returned to the hospital in 2001 to support my family and remained employed until the closure in October. I took the loss of my hospital with great devastation.

However, I also took a long look at what I would do next. I have always imagined what it might be like to put my hobby of floral design, crafting and event planning into a way of life. Closing the door on my nursing career was difficult, but at 55 years old, I am ready to live my dream and open this new door!

Where is (or will be) your business?

1913 Warwood Ave.

If you win, how do you plan to use the winning funds?

Funding for our project will be used to help complete projects that are already underway in the space we have leased on Warwood Avenue. The ceiling is in disrepair and in desperate need of a facelift, as well as the mismatched drywall.

We will be installing a new ceiling with updated lighting to enhance the experience for our clients. The workspace will be updated to include an enclosed space with a sliding barn door, additional built-in counter space and storage with the installation of our walk-in floral cooler. A new commercial sink will be added to the space as well.

We are also looking to improve our online presence by developing our website design and purchasing an online point-of-sale system for client convenience.

Has this been a longtime dream? Why?

My dream to start this business began years ago when I was asked by a dear friend to help her plan and decorate for her wedding. From there, I used any opportunity to plan parties for anyone and everyone.

My children’s birthday parties were over-the-top events with outlandish themes and elaborate decorating. To this day, we still reminisce about just how magical they were. This left my friends and family in total awe. When I had the opportunity to plan the “mother of all events,” my daughter’s wedding, I was beyond excited! I had dreamed of this event since the day she was born.

During a meeting with our caterer, Sarah even asked me, “Why aren’t you doing this professionally?” That actually got me thinking about why I hadn’t pursued this passion as a career in the past. With the closing of the hospital and having special people come into my life since then, I have been blessed with the support I needed to GO FOR IT!

I just find so much joy in creating the perfect florals and events for my clients. They become very close friends and almost family. I listen intently to their dreams and visions. I strive to meet every detail to a “t.” Once they contract me to work for them, I consider each one of them “mine.” I do everything in my power to make magic for them.

Feel free to share any personal information you’d like — family, hobbies, etc.

I like to think of myself as everyone’s personal cheerleader. I get excited when people succeed, when they’re happy and content. I feed off the joy of others. It truly makes me feel good when others feel good too. I believe this is what made me such a great nurse, and what will make me a great shop owner. I love to hear about someone’s vision and then make that vision come to life! I’ve said, “If you have a Pinterest board, I can make those ideas magically turn into a reality!”

So I guess you could say that creating “magic” for others is a hobby of mine. You can find me rummaging around a thrift store or garage sale on any given Saturday morning, putting together a small arrangement for a friend while listening to classic rock Pandora radio, or spending time with my family at home (just a block from the shop). Since I started working on renovations in my storefront, I get frequent visits from my mom and daughter — both of whom enjoy a good craft or two themselves! I can’t thank my family and fiancé enough for all the love and support they have shown me during my transition from being a nurse to becoming a business owner.

Re’Decorate Consignment — Nancy Haynes

Explain the concept of your business? What do you do? Who do you serve?

Re’Decorate Consignment sells furniture and home décor on consignment with a 50/50 split for 90 days. After the 90 days, consignors can opt to pick up their items that didn’t sell or donate/clearance those items. All donations are made locally to organizations and people in need. Re’Decorate Consignment prices affordably while still providing quality furniture and home décor. So our hope with a website is to serve a more diversified clientele and a broader base while keeping the income in the Wheeling area.

The concept of Re’Decorate Consignment is to afford everyone the opportunity to decorate their home in a way that makes them proud. Affordable with luxury, timeless furniture and home décor is our concept. My dad passed away with congestive heart failure at 46 years of age, when I was 19, and A.L.T. are my dad’s initials … “Affordable. Luxury. Timeless.” is my tagline to remind me to keep it simple and always listen to what is important to those around us.

When I originally went through the Co.Starters program, I had intentions of only carrying high-end furniture and home décor. Since then, I opened my first shop in Moundsville and learned quickly that I needed to diversify based on what the customers want, which quickly broadened my idea of luxury. Luxury is something different for everyone, and, if Re’Decorate plans to promote the opportunity to buy affordably, we need to broaden our scope of accepting items. So, what we focus on today at the Centre Market location is quality and clean pieces that are affordable luxury, timeless furniture and home décor that supports sustainability and community.

I had a recent experience that my hairdresser in Wheeling gave out my business card that resulted in three happy families getting a new kitchen table! Community is key and makes my job that much more fun! Plus it’s sustainable to buy used and is trending!

What main selling points will you be presenting to the audience at the Show of Hands? In other words, why should they vote for you?

We need a website and marketing to broaden our base and allow customers to shop for used furniture and home décor when it is convenient for them. Many people shop online because they are shopping late at night, and that is convenient. I have already purchased the domain of RedecorateConsignment.com and have started to connect to Shopify for online sales but can’t afford to get the website completed. Show of Hands winnings will allow us to complete the website and build marketing that will bring customers shopping experiences to Wheeling regardless of where they are shopping from online. It also allows us to have an estate tab to offer all price ranges so that redecorating is affordable to everyone and their version of what luxury looks like in their own homes.

I would also like to get an outdoor sign for Re’Decorate Consignment that will reflect the historic area of Centre Market. Any additional funds above the website, marketing and signage, will be used to hire employees to provide an excellent customer service experience when customers visit our Wheeling shop at Centre Market.

Why Wheeling? Why here for your business? How will your business enhance the city of Wheeling?

Wheeling is doing a great job at advancing and, from my experience, has been great to work with as a small business owner. Re’Decorate Consignment will benefit Wheeling by bringing commerce into our community plus sustainability. Accepting consigned items gives the community options when redecorating.

Sustainability supports the local community in many ways. Sustainability is getting really nice things and not paying full price.

Providing used furniture and home décor for families to be proud of their homes, offers affordable options to families that may not otherwise have the chance to redecorate in a manner that brings them pride. Home pride equates to community pride, and that is also a benefit to Wheeling.

Having an online presence with the website and marketing will bring commerce to the Wheeling area. Promoting sustainability in addition to donating items to local organizations also enhances Wheeling and fills a need by giving residents furniture and home décor at affordable prices.

Accepting consigned furniture and home décor promotes sustainability instead of throwing it away to landfills. Not only do we provide consignment options but hopefully a bridge with donations to local community resources.

Often people do not know the community resources and where they can take used furniture and home décor to promote sustainability. For items that we cannot take, I also network with other small businesses.

Are you from Wheeling? Can you tell me a bit about your educational/professional background?

I graduated from a local high school, got an associate degree from WVNCC and my bachelor’s from WJU. My son goes to high school in Wheeling, and both my husband and I work in the Wheeling area. My husband retired from the Air Force in 2006, and we chose to move back to the Ohio Valley to be close to family and raise our children here. I have a master’s in ECE and am a CLASS Observer for the TIES (trauma-informed elementary schools) program with Crittenton of Wheeling. I am a civic, community-oriented professional and do my best to practice giving back to the community.

Where is your business?

Re’Decorate Consignment is located at 2207 Market St. in the Centre Market district. I recently moved into the location that Accents Boutique was located for the past three years at Centre Market. I am two doors from the clothing consignment shop, REStyle, in Centre Market.

If you win, how do you plan to use the winning funds?

The majority of the winnings would be used to get a website and marketing that will allow us to sell online and keep the commerce in our local community. We need an outdoor sign to match the historic area of Centre Market, and any remaining funds will be used to hire employees so that we can ensure that customers come first by providing excellent customer service.

Has this been a longtime dream? Why?

I live my life a bit different than most since I lost my dad at such a young age. I try to live in the moment and do those “lifetime dream” ideas as I go instead of at the end. I joke that I’m not sure what I want to be when I grow up but chances are that I have already lived half of my life so why wait for tomorrow. I fell upon a great furniture and home décor consignment shop while vacationing at Presque Isle in Erie, Pa., back in 2014 and thought “now that’s a great idea.”

Over the years, I learned about the business and shopped every consignment shop I could find, including auctions and yard sales learning about used furniture and home décor. I’ve been in business a few times over my years and knew that it was a huge commitment, so there was no rush. Then last year, I learned of the Co.Starters program here in Wheeling, and the rest is history. Here I am in Wheeling doing business in one of my all-time favorite places of Centre Market where I have spent many hours with friends eating and shopping.

Feel free to share any personal information you’d like — family, hobbies, etc.

My hobbies include anything involving my child and shopping sales to find that great deal to support my beach vacations. I live in the same house I grew up in and still have the same best friends from elementary school. I have one biological son, with a total of eight children — that includes two stepsons and five children that came to our family through foster care. My husband and I were each other’s first love in high school, and he is retired Air Force and currently works for the Army Corp of Engineers. I believe in giving back to our community and would like to say thank you for the opportunity to be part of the female entrepreneur Show of Hands! It is an honor!

• Having spent nearly 38 years as reporter, bureau chief, lifestyles editor and managing editor at The Times Leader, and design editor at The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register, Phyllis Sigal now serves as Weelunk’s managing editor. She lives in Wheeling with her husband Bruce Wheeler. Along with their two children, son-in-law and two grandchildren, food, wine, travel, theater and music are close to their hearts.