Project Warmth was started in 2011 when owner and operator, Stephanie Ross, decided to put her niche for sewing and helping those in need together into one project. The premise of Project Warmth is that for every pet bed that is sewn and sold, one is donated to a local animal shelter. The pet beds that are sold and the ones that are donated are exact in fabrics and size so their is no difference in quality. The proceeds of all other sales of other handmade animal products also go towards the donation of pet beds. to this date over 300 pet beds have been sewn and donated to animals in need. You can find them on Etsy or starting this Saturday, visit their brand new pop us shop located at 133 E. Third Street, a pop-up shop, made possible by the Activated Spaces program.
Located on the first floor of Oriel Studios, the shop will host its grand opening from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday, June 3, with a ribbon cutting at 10:30 a.m. Throughout the day, patrons have the chance to win various pet related raffle prizes. Said owner Stephanie Ross, “I’m excited to be a part of downtown Dayton where my supporters and customers know they can always find me, and aren’t waiting for me to just come set up at a show.”
The new shop is a part of the twelfth phase of the Pop-Up Project. This program builds on the success of the first eleven phases of the Pop-Up Project, launched in November 2011. The Pop-Up Project provides potential business owners the opportunity for shorter leases at below-market rates as a way for them to jump-start their businesses and contribute to the vibrancy of downtown Dayton. Since it was started, the project has launched 25 shops (17 of which stayed open past their initial pop-up phase), filled more than 21,000 square feet of previously vacant space and created 42 jobs.
The Pop-Up Project is driven by volunteers from the young professional organizations UpDayton and Generation Dayton with support from the Downtown Dayton Partnership, the City of Dayton, the City of Dayton Neighborhood Mini-Grant program and community volunteers. Visit www.activatedspaces.org or e-mail cadieux@downtowndayton.org for more information about Activated Spaces.
