ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, October 6, 1996 TAG: 9610070104
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: DUBLIN
SOURCE: LORA GORDON SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
While Mary Lee Campbell's neighbors helped her wait on a small crowd of customers, the former schoolteacher turned craftswoman paused to chat with a loyal customer at last month's Pulaski County Flea Market.
Such pauses are frequent at Campbell's booth as longtime customers follow her from show to show to buy handcrafted wreaths and candies. One who stopped by bragged that she owned 12 of Campbell's wreaths.
More than 19 years ago, Campbell started Mary Lee's Originals, making candy and wreaths in her spare time. "I wanted to stay home and be a housewife and mother,'' Campbell said.
Her reputation as a craftswoman spread by word of mouth and now, with her youngest child off to the College of William and Mary, she works her crafts full time.
``It keeps me busy.''
Her wreaths and swags are designed as indoor decorations rather than the traditional wreaths for the front door. They vary from Christmas decorations to year-round designs with a specific color scheme or a floral motif worked in among the ribbons and bows. The wreaths and swags sell from $12 to $50.
With the help of neighbors in the Fair Akers section of Dublin, she also makes candies and fudge. Her most popular fudges are chocolate and peanut butter, which she says are a bit more familiar to folks than the more exotic flavors such as creme de menthe. Stirring the heavy candy by hand, she and her neighbors create five varieties of fudge and two types of hand-dipped chocolates.
Campbell admits that she does not earn what she could make teaching, but she loves what she is doing. ``I enjoy making the wreaths, and when I get tired of making those, I can always switch to making candy,'' she said.
And by making two different products, she has a broader market for her creations. Her wreaths appeal more to women, but candy appeals to nearly everyone.
Festivals and markets account for 90 percent of her business. She travels to events throughout the region, from Boone, N.C., north to the Shenandoah Valley. She usually goes to weekend or two-day events because Campbell and her husband can haul only enough wreaths and swags for one event in their van. ``If it's any more than two days, I have to come back and get more merchandise,'' Campbell said.
Ten percent of her business comes from special orders from customers who have seen her work at craft fairs.
Campbell said she takes great pride in being able to ``give florist-quality products at as cheap a price as I can'' and offering one-of-a-kind wreaths and swags.
``I try never to make any two wreaths alike. I may use similar materials in different wreaths, but I never set out to duplicate any wreath I have already created,'' she said.
In all the years she has been traveling to festivals, one disaster stands out in her mind - the blizzard of 1993. Campbell was getting ready to take part in the biggest event in her career, The Today's Woman Show. After spending most of the day hanging more than 200 wreaths, the news announced that everyone should stay home because of the blizzard.
``It was the biggest show I had ever gotten ready for, and it was canceled. I had to give all the candy away I had with me.''
Today, she can talk about the disaster with a laugh.
Mary Lee's Originals also can be found at smaller gift shops around the area, including Celebration Station in Dublin.
For information on Mary Lee's Originals, call (540)674-6815, or write to Route 4, Box 73A, Dublin 24084.
MARY LEE'S ORIGINALS
Owner: Mary Lee Campbell
Product: Homemade wreaths, swags and candies.
Number of wreaths she makes yearly: 600 - each unique.
Marketing: Sells at craft shows, flea markets and from her home.
Hardest part of being in business for yourself: ``Self-discipline. Forcing yourself to work even when the pressure isn't there - like today.''
Annual profit: ``Not enough,'' Campbell jokes. She said her business provides "the extras" for her family.
Did she have a business plan?: ``No. I started just completely as a hobby, thinking I would go back to teaching."
Best business decision: ``To keep the business at home so I would not have to fight the overhead that other business people face.''
Worst business decision: ``Probably exhibiting at The Today's Woman Show when a blizzard canceled the event. I was going to venture out and be big time. I found out that wasn't for me.''
Biggest expense: ``Floral supplies. I get those through Charlotte's wholesale floral market.''
Advice for someone going into a similar business: ``If it is something you really enjoy, then go for it.''
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: LORA GORDON. More than 19 years ago, Mary Lee Campbellby CNBstarted Mary Lee's Originals, making candy and wreaths in her spare
time. color.