Indiana Owned: Leading Local Living

Our Mission

To create healthier, stronger communities and more jobs in Indiana through the support of Indiana-owned businesses.

INDIANA OWNED WAS STARTED ON A SIMPLE PREMISE:

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND LOCAL NONPROFITS FASTER AND EASIER.

Once upon a time, in the spring of 2012, co-founders Lance and Mel (then engaged, now married) were walking around Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis while deciding on where to go for dinner. After finally settling on a restaurant, Mel asked: “Is it local?” That simple question became a much bigger conversation.

How do you know if a business is local? What does local really mean, anyway? Why are communities with local businesses more attractive? Where does the money go when you spend a dollar locally? How much money stays in your community when you spend your money at an independent business?

In the search to answer these questions, Lance and Mel discovered more than just the economic impact of spending your money locally. They also found a lot of people just like them–happy to support local businesses but didn’t always find it easy or convenient. They also discovered a lot of local business owners were proud of their Hoosier roots and wanted people to know they were local. Using their experience in promotions and business development (amongst other talents), Lance and Mel decided to simplify the search for local and launched the first website IndianaOriginals.com May 15, 2014.

What started out as a simple business directory is now a community of consumers and business owners working together to create healthier, stronger communities and more jobs in Indiana by encouraging and facilitating greater patronage of independent, Indiana-based businesses. Did you know that if Hoosiers spent 5% more on goods and services from Indiana, we would have $1.8 billion more for our state? That is just $35 per household per week. (Indiana State Department of Agriculture) The money that stays in Indiana goes to our schools, infrastructure, health and wellness resources, first responders, and more. Where you spend your money matters.

Indiana has so much to offer. Lance and Mel are Hoosiers through and through and love sharing what is great about this state. Indiana Owned, an Indiana Originals company, is a family owned and operated. Please, explore the website. Discover a new businesses or businesses that have been around for generations. Are you starting a business? We love helping you get off on the right foot, too.

If you want to support local, Indiana-owned businesses, you have come to the right place. Thank you for letting us help you #supportlocal.

P.S. Looking for Indiana made products? Check out our sister business Indiana Gifts!

Mel McMahon StoneCo-Founder

Mel McMahon Stone is an entrepreneur, podcast host, radio and television personality, and local business activist. She co-founded Indiana Originals (now known as IndianaOwned.com), a promotions and branding company for Indiana-owned businesses in 2014. In 2020, she co-founded Indiana Gifts, an online gift shop featuring products made by Indiana companies. She is a graduate of Indiana University and Keller Graduate School of Management and holds several certificates. In addition to her duties running her companies, she is the Executive Producer of the WIBC Radiothon for The Salvation Army, a WISH Influencer for Make-A-Wish, and a licensed foster parent. She is a past board member of the Indiana Chapter of the TEARS Foundation, her high school alumnae association, and Hoodox, a documentary streaming service featuring Indiana filmmakers. She acts as a consultant to several nonprofits and local small businesses and is a proud member of the 2013 IBJ Forty under 40 class and the National Association of Women Business Owners. She is the 2021 Emerging Entrepreneur Award recipient from the National Association of Women Business Owners and a 2022 nominee for Indy’s Best and Brightest presented by Junior Achievement of Central Indiana. She recently returned to the Better Business Bureau Board of Directors and has joined the Executive Committee as Vice Chairman.

Funfacts:

Irvington, Indianapolis

Talking, Gardening, Road Trips

Steak and Bagels

Lance StoneCo-Founder

Lance Stone is an entrepreneur, project manager, and business analyst. His Master’s degree is in business administration with a concentration in accounting, and he is PMP certified. He works full-time as a project management consultant for a large Indiana-based company, and can't wait to run Indiana Owned with Mel full-time (or stay home with the kids while Mel works). Lance checks in with Mel multiple times a day to make sure Indiana Owned tasks are completed and she pays the bills.

Funfacts:

Warren County (on a farm)

Cooking, Woodworking, Painting

Steak and Pizza

Megan MartinCreative Manager

Megan Martin is passionate about supporting local businesses and connecting shoppers with Indiana makers. She’s an accidental entrepreneur, starting her jewelry business to stay home with her children. Seeing the need for shopping events featuring only handmade items like her own led to becoming the organizer behind the Hoosier Artisan Boutique Holiday Gift Fair - which is how she met Mel. Megan is most excited about helping Indiana businesses connect and engage with a community eager to buy local.

Funfacts:

Indianapolis (near Speedway)

Reading, Photography, Baking

Sushi and anything with chocolate

Grace SimmonsIndiana Owned, Specialist

Grace Simmons is a professional problem solver. Though her career path has been anything but straight, Grace loves working hard to organize, plan, and streamline whatever processes come her way. There are very few things as satisfying as solving a problem that will ultimately make life easier. Grace is a fellow small business owner that left her corporate job during the pandemic and leaned on her entrepreneurial skills by working as a virtual assistant alongside making jewelry. You may have heard of her jewelry company, Mabel Grace Crafts, an Indiana Original since 2019. Grace currently lives in Tipton.

Funfacts:

Indianapolis

Creating Jewelry & Playing with Animals

Peanut Butter