A taste of Akron in a basket: How a local businesswoman found a unique side hustle

Thursday is National Care Package Day and one local Akron business was selected to represent the state of Ohio to honor the day.

Amy Carter, the founder of Blessings from Ohio Gifts, found a unique way to start a side hustle as a stay-at-home mom of two girls.

It all started in 2020 when she was trying to figure out ways to make an income while being home-based. She tried blogging and creating digital products through Etsy, but soon found out that the competition for those markets was high.

"I tried to think of other things and then I thought, well, if I started to put custom T-shirts in a box and Akron-based products it can be like a gift basket," said Carter.

From that idea, Carter started making handmade soaps and added more custom-made items to her baskets. At first, they were called "Akron gift baskets," but then she wanted to grow her target audience and began adding more things such as Buckeye-themed items and other products so they could be "Ohio gift baskets."

"People love this little box of (candy) buckeyes, I make," Carter said.

In addition to gifts, Carter includes local goods in her packages. She attaches their business cards, prints out recipes, and has a postcard called "Things to do in Akron from A-Z." For her Akron-based baskets you can find a fun little blimp swinging around, mimicking the iconic Goodyear blimps.

"I like to include people who are doing good things," said Carter.

Before she started her business, she was a music therapist for 12 years at Laurel Lake in Hudson.

"I loved my job, a lot, but I knew that if we (she and her husband) did have children, I wanted to be home with them. They were real supportive of that," said Carter.

Carter loves Akron and hopes people can find happiness in her packages.

How can you support her business?

To make purchases, you can check out her website blessingsfromohiogifts.com . Prices vary from $19.99 to $60 depending on how many products you want in your basket. Shipping is free in the U.S. Customers can also reach out to Carter for personalized baskets.

Her social media handles are :

• Instagram: @ohio_gifts
• Facebook: Blessing From Ohio Gifts
• TikTok: @ohiogifts

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: A taste of Akron in a basket: How a local businesswoman found a unique side hustle