Kelli Jo Barnwell of the Jo Brown Senior Center reacts at the playing of a video Rylee Brtek produced about the Jo Brown Senior Activity Center in Anderson. Communication students from the Anderson University College of Arts and Sciences spent the first weeks of the fall semester planning, capturing and editing videos showcasing downtown Anderson businesses and various organizations that serve the public.
This effort represents a follow up to Storefront Stories, an initiative an Anderson University Communication professor started to promote independently-owned businesses at a time they were struggling and needed a boost.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit small businesses particularly hard, and Anderson was no exception. Bobby Rettew, assistant professor of communication and owner of Rettew Creative, decided to offer his services for free to produce a two-minute video to promote local businesses.
The public responded to Storefront Stories in a big way. These video visits got nationwide attention and Rettew was recognized for his efforts. But the story didn’t end with 2020.
Rettew’s next idea was for his digital media students to approach businesses and organizations to continue telling their stories and provide updates on how they’ve been doing since last year.
Looking back at the first round of Storefront Stories, business owners spoke candidly about their struggles of having to close, cut jobs and pivot to different ways of doing business. There were heartbreaking stories, but at the same time there were stories of businesses coming together to help one another out and glimmers of hope. The second round of Storefront Stories shot during the fall of 2021 built on that theme of hope as merchants spoke of how they learned to survive and thrive.
The tagline “let’s prove that Anderson is strong and we mean business” resonates throughout the videos.
“This project provided a unique opportunity where students were able to leverage their technical video production skills along with enhancing their soft skills by interacting with clients and connecting the downtown Anderson business community,” Rettew said. “I was excited to watch the students and the local businesses connect and build relationships. There was lots of applause, laughter, and even a few tears of joy.”
On October 13, Anderson Economic Development invited the students to present their videos during The Brew, a weekly gathering of downtown business owners and organization leaders taking place at The Garage at Whitner, a downtown meeting space. The students presented their videos and talked about how they were done. Following the presentations, Brew attendees toured Chiquola studios, located just down the street, to see the newly-equipped studios where Anderson University students learn video production hands-on.
Communication students from the Anderson University College of Arts and Sciences produced videos showcasing downtown Anderson businesses and various organizations that serve the public as part of the Storefront Stories initiative. Pictured from left are Bobby Rettew, Aaron Bennett, Wayne Cox, Spencer Snow, Rylee Brtek, Grace Matthews, Anna Weeks, Ashley Caputo and Amanda DeLong.
“Thanks so much to Caroline Gaddis and Kimberly Spears from the City of Anderson’s Economic Development Team for hosting the event; also, a huge thanks to Wayne Cox, Dean for the College of Arts and Sciences, providing me the platform to teach and continue as a practicing professional,” Rettew said.
Follow this link to view all of the Storefront Stories.