When considering where to open a business, John Crothers, of Vandalia, settled on a downtown Niles location. The number of downtown festivals and community environment were part of the draw.

Crothers has not regretted the decision.

This Saturday, Crothers and his girlfriend Vicky Woods will celebrate Resurrections Unique Home Furnishings’ one-year anniversary in downtown with a “First Birthday Party.”

The party will take place from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at the store, 227 E. Main St. in Niles.

Crothers encouraged the public to attend.

“Help us celebrate being part of the community,” Crothers said, “and see all the great art that is here from different local artists.”

In birthday celebration fashion, there will be cupcakes from Excalibur Bakery and various gifts for people to win in a drawing, including items from local artists, whose work is featured at the store.

Perhaps what has helped to make the shop successful is the variety and unique quality of items featured. The store features handcrafted local artwork from at least two dozen Michiana artists.

Customers will not likely find the same items from week to week. Items currently range from handcrafted tables and chairs to painted cards, signs, jewelry and a rotating variety of artwork — all created by Michiana artists.

As an artist himself, Crothers knows how tricky it can be to make money from the craft. Before owning Resurrections, Crothers peddled his photography at various events.

Initially, when Crothers and Woods planned to open a business they were going to just sell his photography and her handcrafted furniture, but then, Crothers thought back to the difficulties he faced selling his own artwork.

“Your stuff does not sell in your closet at home,” Crothers said. “We decided to open it up to local artists as well.”

Crothers earns a flat commission of 25 percent, only when the items are sold.

With downtown Niles offering an array of festivals throughout the year and business booming along the Main Street corridor, Crothers said he was drawn to setting up shop in the Niles area.

“I liked the things that were going on here,” Crothers said.

Crothers earned a graphic design degree from Southwestern Michigan College in 2012. 

Now, customers who browse through the store can see the graphic design application on any number of personalized and handmade signs that Crothers creates.

Crothers’ photography depicts local scenery, where the Michiana area has long served as an inspirational muse.

“I will just drive around trying to get lost and looking for interesting scenes,” Crothers said. “There is a lot to photograph around here. You don’t realize there is beauty around here, just like anywhere else.”

Some of his pieces depict the forces of Mother Nature in Michigan, such as lightning streaking across a stormy sky or waves raging on the shore of Lake Michigan during the 2012 Hurricane Sandy that was felt as far as Michiana. 

Throughout this past year, Crothers credits the business for helping him to grow as an artist. Having to constantly put new products on the shelves, Crothers said he is always challenging himself to come up with new ideas for art projects.

One of the biggest challenges Crothers said he faced was just becoming known. To continue to tackle this within the next year, Crothers said he plans to feature more in-store events, such as art shows, the next of which is July 4.

Before opening, Crothers wondered about how they would fill up the store. But since opening the doors, Crothers new problem has become where to put everything.

“It has come a long way in a year,” Crothers said. “I am looking forward to many more years.”