For 11 years, Donna Southard has helped Owensboro customers find gifts for celebrations, to comfort loved ones during difficult times, and to add a personal touch to everyday items. Her business, Crazy Me Gifts & Apparel, has expanded from her living room into a local shop offering apparel, home décor, and personalized gifts.
The business opened its first storefront in 2015 and has continued to grow, adding new product lines and personalization services along the way.
“Looking back over the past 11 years, I’m so humbled by how far we’ve come and just as excited about what’s ahead,” owner Donna Southard said.
Crazy Me offers a variety of gifts, apparel, jewelry, home décor, and accessories, along with personalized products for individuals, businesses, schools, and organizations.
Its customization services include embroidery, laser engraving, and custom apparel. The shop has also partnered with other local businesses, including Doozie Doez and BooGi Bliss, to bring additional products to customers.
Beyond its products and services, the business focuses on helping customers through both celebrations and difficult times.
“One thing that’s especially important to us is being there for our customers through all of life’s moments,” Southard said. “We love helping celebrate the happy times, but we also hope to make the difficult times just a little easier.”
As part of that effort, Crazy Me offers complimentary delivery to local funeral homes for customers purchasing sympathy gifts.
While the business continues to expand its offerings, Southard credits its employees for helping create a welcoming environment.
“We have an amazing team, affectionately known as the Crazy Crew, who genuinely care about our customers and take pride in what we do,” she said.
The shop also places an emphasis on creating an enjoyable shopping experience, whether customers are making a purchase or simply browsing.
“We don’t want to be just another place to shop,” Southard said. “We want people to feel welcome, have fun, and leave with a smile — even if they didn’t purchase a thing.”
Crazy Me is also celebrating the holiday season with a series of Christmas open houses and weekly events leading up to Christmas.
“We absolutely love celebrating them and finding fun ways to give back,” Southard said. “Whether it’s special events, giveaways, surprises, or simply making someone smile, we want shopping at Crazy Me to be an experience.”
Community support has also played an important role in the business’s growth, with many longtime customers becoming friends over the years.
“We’ve built so many wonderful relationships over the years,” Southard said. “Our customers have become friends, we’ve watched families grow, and we’ve had the privilege of being part of so many special moments.”
For Southard, being part of the Owensboro community means more than operating a local business. She remains grateful for the customers who have supported Crazy Me since its beginning.
“Owensboro isn’t just where we do business,” she said. “It’s home, and we’re incredibly proud to be part of this community!”
Crazy Me Gifts & Apparel is located at 235 East 20th Street. For more information, visit CrazyMeGifts.com, call 270-684-5419, or follow the business on Facebook and Instagram for updates on new arrivals, events, and promotions.
The Chamber Member of the Week program is a Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce membership benefit. Founded in 1913, the Chamber has worked to provide valuable benefits and services to member businesses and individuals for more than a century.
Today, with nearly 1,000 members, the Chamber is a guiding force in community and business development initiatives and serves as the center of business advocacy for the Greater Owensboro region.
To learn more about becoming the Chamber Member of the Week or inquire about Chamber membership, contact Kitty Jones, director of membership, at 270-926-1860 or kjones@owensboro.com.
By Morgan Urbanski The Owensboro Times