This post was originally published on Michigan Chronicle
By Popular Demand The Collective, LLC, is a whole collaborative vibe, and the retail-based company is inviting other small businesses looking to get a slice of shelf space to join them at their new location in Detroit.
Owned by husband and wife, Devin McKenzie and Daisha McKenzie, the couple started By Popular Demand The Collective because they recognized a void in the marketplace.
The retail store will place small businesses into an elevated and premier space for unique businesses in the Michigan marketplace under one roof in a collaborative setting. They currently have 18 merchants on board.
Operating since the 2020 holiday season, the business faced setbacks that delayed its brick and mortar opening until recently. The official grand opening was Sunday, March 13.
“Starting our business during this pandemic was definitely a risk,” the owners said. “It was challenging at first just helping people feel confident to come out of the house to shop. We were able to overcome that by providing scheduled appointments for shoppers to ensure their safety. We believed fully in our mission and had complete faith in what we set out to accomplish. … Having faith in our mission has turned out to be the best decision we could have made.”
Together, the McKenzies have a combined 35 years of experience in sales, customer service, business ownership, management and marketing, information technology, and more. Their experiences have landed them jobs across the Midwest, and they have held positions at Ford Motor Company, Puffer Reds, Sneaker Villa, White House Black Market, Detroit Is The New Black, Verizon Wireless, and The Auto Club Group, according to their biography.