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Being new to Canton is exciting for
leadership of the Hudsonville,
Michigan-based B2 Outlet Stores,
which invest profits back into local
projects to benefit youth.
“Canton is our first east side of the
state location,” said Director of
Marketing Jonathan Norder of the
store that opened on Canton Center
Road in late April. “We're excited to be
opening there.”
The business, with outlet stores con-
centrated for now in west Michigan,
has been in existence about four years.
It's owned by father and son, Duane
andMatt Smith.
“It is fully an outlet store. It's all
brand-new,” Norder explained of mer-
chandise. “We invest the majority of
our profits back into projects that ben-
efit youth.”
Students are able to do such jobs as
putting out clothes and unloading
trucks, with money raised used for
such things as church mission work or
mentoring.
B2 Outlet Stores is working through
Canton Leisure Services already to
help the B.L.O.C.K. youth center, and is
also in preliminary conversation with
NorthRidge Church and other church-
es.
In addition, B2 Outlet Stores has a
“Shop2Give” program in which an
organization signs up for a Monday-
Thursday time. Each shopper repre-
sented becomes part of a percentage
boosting the group's coffers.
The new Canton store is at 1717 N.
Canton Center Road in the Centre
Village. B2 Outlet Stores' website is
.
“We are a Christian company, but
we don't require organizations we part-
ner with to be Christian-focused,”
Norder explained. A 501(c)3 nonprofit
status is needed to participate.
“Our real mission is empowering
tomorrow's leaders today. It's empow-
ering youth to give them help to reach
whatever goals they have.”
Demographics played a part in
choosing Canton, as did its central
location for the region. “We really iden-
tified Canton for a few different rea-
sons. Great churches, great organiza-
tions in the area,”Norder said.
We invest the majority
of our profits
back into projects
that benefit youth.
”
New store invests in local youth projects