Move Over, Build-A-Bear: The Friendship Factory is Moving In

From a news release:

Family-owned Crorey Creations, doing business at Choose Friendship Company,  is opening The Friendship Factory this weekend in the Mall at Partridge Creek, just in time for Small Business Saturday. The three-in-one destination store will feature retail opportunities, a craft studio and VIP birthday parties.

The business started simply, with a grandfather learning to make friendship bracelets with his granddaughters. Struggling with the tangled threads, he thought, “There has to be a better way.”

Indeed there was.

And as any great inventor would, David Crorey found it.

Crorey Creations launched the My Friendship Bracelet Maker at the New York City Toy Fair in 2010, and within a year, the company had national distribution deals with big-name retailers like Michaels Stores, Hobby Lobby, Costco and other specialty retailers.

The business has gained national exposure as well, with features on E! News, the Today Show and The View.

This holiday season marks four years in business and over a million products sold globally. With an ever-expanding line of craft kits, Crorey Creations now has over 15 stock keeping units and some of its biggest news yet.

The family’s goal has always been to develop a national retail chain devoted to shopping, creativity and birthday parties, similar to the Build-A-Bear concept, and the dream has become a reality with the opening of the three-in-one craft destination for kids, tweens and teens in the Mall at Partridge Creek.

Drawing on Detroit’s talented interior designers and merchandisers, the Crorey family is getting help from professionals right in their back yard, Jena Smart, the company’s business manager, said.

Crorey Creation’s philosophy to keep it simple inspired the three steps of the three-stop shop.

Step 1: The Friendship Factory includes a retail section guests first see when they enter the store. Guests can pick from award-winning craft kits from the Crorey Creations line, some of which are pre-wrapped for the holidays.

Step 2: Staying true to the brand, this destination includes a craft studio where kids and teens can pick out their favorite friendship bracelet or craft patterns and learn how to create them right on the spot with The Friendship Factory’s craft experts. Similar to the Pinterest craze, crafters will have endless projects and ideas to create.

Step 3: The Friendship Factory has a VIP Lounge for birthday parties, friendship seminars and mother daughter events. Getting the VIP treatment a birthday girl can come in and plan her party from top to bottom with everything she wants.

“Down to the colors, games, crafts, and activities, it is all about her,” Smart said. “Additionally, the shop will include glitter tattoos, photo booth and candy shop.”

Smart said the timing for The Friendship Factory’s opening couldn’t be better with Black Friday and Small Business Saturday right around the corner.

A soft opening  for friends and family is planned Saturday and Sunday, but the official grand opening will take place on Black Friday, Nov. 29.

Read more about Crorey Creations on Patch: Clinton Township Toymaker’s Latest Product Named a 2013 Top Toy on ‘The View’