Michel Hirsch, Suzanne Johnson, and Cyndi Cagle came together a year ago when selling their wares at the Junior League’s Mistletoe and Moss event. These Lake Charles natives became fast friends and decided to form a unique artisan co-op. Michel owns Sparrow Minded and makes hand-painted wearables and other textiles. Suzanne designs, creates, and sells jewelry through her business, Olive and Indigo. Cyndi, of CC Designs, paints wall art on canvas. She also paints on wine glasses, coasters, and more, including custom and commission pieces. They recently began making a line of hand-blended candles they call “Soul.” They also carry other artisans’ goods on consignment and some small-batch soaps and natural body care lines such as Nudy Booty and Indigo Wild. “We have a few like-minded global brands with the same ethical principles and practices that we lean toward, namely being communityminded and giving back,” Michel says. Shop 706 offers home goods, body care products, and items that are good for the soul. “It all works together and that is what we’re all about. Our goal is to offer something that comes from good intentions and provides people the opportunity to connect with one another, and feel good about what they
December 2016
Thrive Magazine for Better Living
are wearing and where it came from and who it came from and how it came to be.” Lake Charles’ downtown district is thriving, in part due to the determination and dedication of spunky caring entrepreneurs like Michel, Suzanne, and Cyndi. These business partners are passionate not only to build their own business, but indeed to grow all the businesses downtown. They cooperate with other downtown businesses for events and social media promotion. When they sponsor an event, such as their “Where it’s at Wednesdays”, they encourage, incorporate, and tag other downtown businesses on social media. “Community over competition,” says Michel. “We want to provide an experience and a reason for people to come downtown and enjoy themselves. Hashtag live, love, work, play, eat, shop local.” This holiday season, look for their hand-painted ornaments and “Little Black Boxes,” filled with handmade candles, jewelry, bath soaps and oil blends made in-house -- all pre-wrapped and ready to put under the tree. Shop 706 is open Tues. – Fri. 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Find them on Facebook and Instagram at shop706downtownlc.
www.thriveswla.com
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