Doodlebug snug in new location celebrating ten years in business
Hannah Thyen and Melanie Sermersheim both agree it was a spur of the moment decision to open The Doodlebug in Huntingburg in 2002.
“It was just like one of those bad days and I was like, ‘hey, let’s do this,’” Melanie said.
“We are very spontaneous kinda people,” Hannah relates. “It was just one of those ideas and we did it.”
The two teachers and friends had been contemplating opening a scrapbooking store before that fateful day. There wasn’t anything like it in the area and the pair would get together on weekends and head to Evansville to feed their scrapbooking habit.
After that fateful day, the two pooled their money and opened their business in an 800 square foot apartment at the back of a business on the corner of Fourth and Main Street in Huntingburg at the end of the school year. A year later they moved into the rest of the building and operated there for about two more years before moving to the Jasper Manor Shopping Center in 2005.
In October they finished another move into a new location at the 3rd Avenue Commons, 671 Third Ave. The two say it’s great because the new location has more floor and wall space for products and classes, and on top of that they are leasing the space from a local company, Progressive Investment Co. of Ferdinand.
Ten years after opening their store, Hannah says she looks back at starting the business and wonders what she was thinking at the time. “One year out of college, no business experience,” she said, “but I love people and like sales and like scrapbooking. You know what they say, do what you love.”
Melanie agrees, “I never thought tens years into the future. I am thrilled that it is but I didn’t see the business that far in the future.”
It is business as usual though as the Doodlebug continues to grow and change. The products have evolved as well as the types of services Melanie and Hannah offer. They started in scrapbooking and have expanded to rubber stamping, card making, offer beaded jewelry repairs and now photo printing and even custom-make scrapbooks for customers.
“I probably stress more about those than I do when I work on my own,” Hannah explained. “I have moms that cry when they pick them up because sometime moms forget what happened with their children and then there is this story that we created that reminds them. They cry and then I cry.”
They offer all types of classes and have many loyal customers. One of the most popular classes continues to be on card making. They have a card class scheduled for December 10. The cards can be made with personalized touches for about the same cost of a manufactured card from a box store.
“The card making is more personalized and emotional for people,” Melanie said.
The Doodlebug is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. The phone number is 482-4949 and the store’s website is www.thedoodlebuginc.com.
