Holiday bustle comes to campus

Bazaar at Miami Middletown offers ‘something a little different.’

Customers look over the Tupperware items for sale at Mary A. Rust’s booth during the MUM Yum Holiday Bazaar at Miami University Middletown on Saturday, Nov. 21.

Staff photo by Pat Auckerman Customers look over the Tupperware items for sale at Mary A. Rust’s booth during the MUM Yum Holiday Bazaar at Miami University Middletown on Saturday, Nov. 21.

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By Ryan Gauthier, Staff Writer Updated 1:57 AM Sunday, November 22, 2009

MIDDLETOWN — Madeline and Anna Burke, 13 and 11, respectively, are entrepreneurs.

The sisters have been selling their homemade Paw Prints Pet Treats at the MUM Yum Holiday Bazaar for six straight years. Madeline said they got the idea to sell the beef- and peanut butter-flavored treats at the bazaar after making them for dogs around their Lebanon neighborhood.

“It all started because I had really wanted a dog and couldn’t have one because I was allergic at the time,” Madeline said. “We began making these to give to some of our dog friends, then decided to try selling them here when we heard about the MUM Yum Bazaar.”

While Madeline said business had been pretty steady on Saturday, Nov. 21, their overall numbers were down from past years.

“Last year, we made 80 bags and were down to seven at the end of the event,” she said. “This year, we’ve only sold probably 35 of our bags.”

Wanita Hatton, who has helped organize the event for the past eight years, said the event raised nearly $1,200 for the American Cancer Society on Friday sales alone.

“(Friday) was so strong that we didn’t have a lot left to sell (Saturday),” Hatton said. “But I would say business has been pretty good and steady all day.”

The MUM bazaar originally started as a benefit for Louella Thompson’s Dream Center. This year, 43 vendors sold merchandise at the bazaar, with some using as many as two and three tables apiece, Hatton said.

Middletown resident Janice Revelos said she decided to shop at the MUM bazaar after some friends left a brochure in her mailbox. She said she was looking for unusual ornaments and hostess gifts and was impressed with the overall selection.

“It’s fun to get something a little different than you might find in a typical store,” Revelos said. “I think I’ll come back next year.”

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