Well, That Escalated Quickly:
How Our Little Yarn Store Went Viral
I've had a lot of unexpected experiences since opening Tink & The Frog, but becoming the center of an internet political controversy was definitely not on my bingo card.
It started when someone local posted a picture of the political signs in our front window. The implication was that Tink & The Frog didn't want conservative customers' money. Which was news to me. I've never asked customers how they vote before selling them yarn, and I don't intend to start.
I don't typically display political signs at my business. But we're living in a time when I believe standing up against authoritarianism and fascism matters. That's not about Republican versus Democrat. It's about the kind of country and community I want to live in.
And Then the Internet Happened
The original post appeared on Nextdoor. Someone screenshotted it and shared it on Threads, where Nikki picked it up. Then Lynne spotted it and shared it in the hilariously unofficial Ravelry Facebook group.
And things went absolutely bananas.
Suddenly, people all over the country were discovering our little yarn store in Adrian, Michigan. Orders poured in. Our social media following exploded. People shared our story, sent encouraging messages, and bought yarn.
A LOT of yarn.
On September 29, we had our biggest sales day ever. Bigger than Local Yarn Store Day. Bigger than Black Friday weekend. All because someone thought sharing our political signs would discourage people from shopping with us.
Not so much.
Meanwhile, we were frantically filling orders and wondering what on earth was happening. There were a couple of nasty comments and negative reviews, sure. It’s the internet. But overwhelmingly, the response was extraordinary.
The Part You Didn't See
Small business ownership is wonderful, but it's also exhausting, financially unpredictable, and occasionally terrifying. Between rising costs, tariffs, economic uncertainty, healthcare expenses, and concerns about my family's financial security, I'd been feeling discouraged – just that morning.
I've spent nearly six years pouring everything I have into Tink & The Frog. I love what we've built, but sometimes it's difficult to know whether all that work is actually getting you where you want to go.
Then, seemingly overnight, hundreds of people I'd never met decided my yarn store was worth supporting.
The sales were incredible, of course. I have bills to pay! But what meant even more were the messages from people who believe in what we're doing.
I can't describe what that felt like after the weeks I'd been having – it was overwhelming, but wonderful.
From Online to In Person
And the story didn't end when the orders slowed down.
On October 10, Lynne—the woman who had shared our story with the Ravelry group—came to visit! Plus lots of folx from all over. We got to meet, take pictures, and laugh about the completely unexpected adventure she'd helped set in motion.
Other visitors followed, including a woman from Colorado visiting her mother in Toledo. We've even had people who don't knit or crochet stop by because they wanted to see the store they'd heard so much about.
That's been one of my favorite parts of this experience. Behind every online order, comment, and social media share is a real person. And sometimes those people walk through your doors!
More Than Just Yarn
When I opened Tink & The Frog, I wanted to create more than a place to buy yarn.
I wanted a place where people felt they belonged. Where beginners could ask questions without feeling foolish, experienced makers could share their knowledge, and everyone could find joy in creating something.
Today, we build everything around three ideas: Belonging, Guidance, and Experience.
And none of those things require us to agree about politics.
But, being welcoming doesn't mean hiding your values either. It means treating people with kindness and respect, even when you disagree.
I believe our communities need more places where people can come together around shared interests, build relationships, and make something wonderful.
Thank you, everyone!
To everyone who ordered yarn, shared our story, visited the shop, or simply sent a little encouragement our way: thank you.
You reminded me why I do this.
And now, if you'll excuse me, I have some yarn to put away.
