The Magic of Making Someone Feel Special: A Hug, a Ribbon Barrette & a Full-Circle Moment
This past weekend was nothing short of magical at The Friendship Factory. Across our franchise network, we celebrated birthdays, hosted special events, brought creativity into our communities through Friendship Factory On-The-Go, and made countless connections with kids and families. But when I think about what made this weekend so special, it wasn't the number of parties we hosted or the activities we created. It was the way we made people feel. And, even more surprisingly, the way they made us feel in return.
At the heart of The Friendship Factory is a simple promise: We want every child and every family who experiences our brand, whether in our stores or On-The-Go, to feel special. And here's the beautiful thing I've learned along the way. When you make someone else feel special, you end up feeling special yourself.
One of My Dad's Rules to Live By
Growing up, my dad had a rule he shared with us often:
"Do something nice for someone every day."
But he always added something that stuck with me.
"You're not doing it for them. You're doing it for yourself. Because when you do something nice for someone else, you're going to feel so good." He was right.
It's a philosophy I've carried with me throughout my life, and it's at the heart of our customer service promise at The Friendship Factory. We want our guests to leave feeling happier than when they arrived. And when we accomplish that, the joy comes right back to us. This weekend gave me the most wonderful reminder of exactly what my dad meant.
A Ribbon Barrette and a Trip Down Memory Lane
On Sunday, I walked into our Rochester Hills store as our first birthday party was getting underway. To my absolute delight, the birthday girl had chosen Ribbon Barrettes as one of her party activities! Now, ribbon barrettes may not be our most popular activity, but they hold an incredibly special place in my heart. Here's why.
Many of the creative activities we offer at The Friendship Factory, including Friendship Bracelets, Snapshot Bracelets, Image Bracelets, and Image Magnets, are made using products invented and patented by my dad. But the Ribbon Barrette Maker is my invention. And I have a patent on it! The story behind it goes all the way back to sixth grade. My First Business Started in Sixth Grade, when I was a sixth grader at Saint Lawrence, ribbon barrettes were all the rage! I learned how to make them myself, and as soon as I started wearing my creations to school, my classmates started placing orders. Before I knew it, I had a little ribbon barrette business! I was making so many barrettes that my dad decided it was time for my first real business lesson.
He took me to our local craft store and taught me about supply and demand. At the time, I was buying ribbon by the yard. Dad explained that if I purchased an entire bolt of ribbon, my cost per barrette would go down and my profits would increase. But there was a catch! I had to be sure there was enough demand for the colors I chose, or I'd be stuck with a whole lot of ribbon I couldn't use. My first lesson in inventory management and profitability, right there in the craft store!
Just thinking about those days lights me up inside. I loved creating something beautiful. I loved learning about business from my dad. And I especially loved sharing my creations with my friends. Years later, I read something that stopped me in my tracks:
"Pay attention to what lit you up as a child."
Aha! Suddenly, so much about my life made sense.
From a Sixth-Grade Business to QVC
Years later, when my dad began inventing craft kits, I had an idea. What if we created a product that made it easier for kids to make the same beautiful ribbon barrettes I loved creating when I was young? When I made barrettes as a child, I had to hold all those ribbons in place with my fingers. It was tricky! So I invented the Ribbon Barrette Maker, a tool that holds the ribbons in place and makes creating colorful, woven barrettes easy and fun. The product went on to be featured on QVC multiple times. And we sold out during our very first appearance! Talk about a full-circle moment. Today, with retro trends making such a comeback, it's especially fun to see ribbon barrettes finding a new generation of fans.
But nothing could have prepared me for what happened on Sunday.
The Little Girl Who Came Back for a Hug
After seeing the ribbon barrette activity at the birthday party, I walked toward the front of our store and noticed our Sparkle Squad packing up a Ribbon Barrette Maker for a customer. As I got closer, I overheard a mom say her daughter loved making ribbon barrettes so much at the party that she wanted her own maker. And she had a plan. She wanted to make ribbon barrettes as gifts for her teammates!
My heart!
Here was this sweet girl, inspired by something I had created, who wanted to use it to make other people happy. I knew I had to meet her. I told her mom to hold on for a minute while I ran to the back of the store to gather some extra supplies for her daughter's ribbon barrette-making adventures. I introduced myself to this adorable young girl and shared a little bit about my invention and how much it meant to me that she loved it. I wanted her to feel special. After they left the store, she looked inside her bag and discovered the extra supplies I had tucked inside. A few minutes later, our next birthday party was beginning to arrive. That's when I saw her walking back through the door.
I stopped what I was doing.
She looked at me and asked:
"Can I have a hug?"
Oh. My. Goodness.
Of course you can have a hug!
She was so grateful for the extra supplies that she wanted to come back inside just to thank me with a hug. In that moment, I was reminded why we do what we do.
The Real Magic of The Friendship Factory
I was trying to make this little girl feel special.
But guess what?
She made ME feel special.
And that's the magic.
It happens every single day in our stores and at our On The Go events. Our Sparkle Squad members have the incredible opportunity to create moments that children and families will remember long after the party ends or the craft is finished. Sometimes it's a personalized welcome. Sometimes it's helping a child create something she didn't think she could make. Sometimes it's an unexpected little surprise. And sometimes, it's a hug. The magic isn't just in what we make. It's in how we make people feel. And the beautiful thing is, that magic always seems to find its way back to us.
Thank You for Helping Us Spread the Sparkle! To the sweet girl who came back for a hug, thank you. You made my entire weekend. And to every family who chooses The Friendship Factory for birthday parties, camps, creative activities, shopping, and special celebrations, thank you for supporting our small business and our growing family of franchise owners. Because of you, we get to do what we love. Because of you, we get to create, connect, celebrate, and make memories. And because of you, we get to Spread the Sparkle! ✨
With love and sparkle,
Julie Crorey
Founder & Chief Friendship Officer
The Friendship Factory
P.S. Here's a little challenge inspired by my dad: Do something nice for someone today. I promise, you'll be glad you did!
