A Marriage of Two Businesses Unveiled in Winona Lake
Posted
Jordan Fouts-
WINONA LAKE – The birthplace of MudLOVE Pottery lost something after the flagship store moved to downtown Warsaw, owner Luke Wright said Thursday. When the bracelet store started in a garage in 2009, he said, “All I had was basically a box of clay, a wheel and some stamps.” But after the company moved its focus to the Buffalo Street location, “This spot lost some of its magic.” So to breathe new life into the original store – and to give his wife, Whitney, space outside their home to sell her own jewelry, Bel Kai Designs – the couple combined the two into Belove at 804 G Park Ave., Winona Lake. The shop sells metal and resin pendants and earrings that can be combined with MudLOVE designs, plus clay goods like cups, bowls and dishes. Whitney Wright started her online jewelry business eight years ago, acting on a longtime desire to craft jewelry and run her own business. And like MudLOVE’s donation of 20 percent of each sale to providing clean water in Africa, a fifth of all Bel Kai sales will go to an organization that focuses on women and children. They’re starting with Destiny Rescue, a local organization dedicated to fighting child sex slavery. “No matter what products you buy, you’re helping in different ways,” Luke Wright said. The couple cut the ribbon on the combined store Thursday and will hold a grand opening celebration Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., which will feature deals and giveaway drawings.
