Indiana

PlaygroundEquipment.com

Location: Greenfield, Indiana
Website: https://www.playgroundequipment.com/
110 employees

PlaygroundEquipment.com CEO Nic Breedlove knows playscapes, but landscapes were a different story. “I had just graduated with a horticulture degree, and thought I'd join my family’s nursery business,” Nic says of his career path. “But I just don’t have a green thumb.” Instead, Nic and his father, Victor, launched NVB Playgrounds in 2006. PlaygroundEquipment.com is their commercial branch: They supply schools, parks, and cities across the U.S. with play structures, as well as with design services. “Those are the places where community begins,” Nic notes. Today, they serve around 6,000 customers a year (and hundreds of thousands of happy kids) through an expansive network of distributors. Their revenue grew 18 percent last year alone.

Playground has been using Google Ads since 2018, and Nic estimates that they drive around 40 percent of the company’s revenue. “By integrating Performance Max ads with Google Shopping ads, our cost-per-acquisition has gone down dramatically,” he says. Google Workspace with Gemini helps them manage files, track inventory, and analyze data for financial reporting or from meetings. The team usually produces four case studies a month with Gemini’s assistance; it then helps them repurpose those into around 80 videos and 160 social posts. “It’s deeply satisfying to use a tool that helps you validate your own work as needed and also helps you get it done much more efficiently,” Nic says. The 3D design team uses Gemini to brainstorm materials, spot missing design elements, and build a custom rendering tool. Meanwhile, whether assessing distributor processes or new equipment designs, leadership uses Gemini to uncover blind spots or risks before proceeding. This allows for fail-safe exploration, much like a playground. “Kids gain confidence by taking risks and playing on the equipment,” Nic says. “We give them a space to do that.”

American Dream Nut Butter

Location: Greenfield, Indiana
Website: https://www.americandreamnutbutter.com/
50 employees

After surviving a rare form of cancer, Lea Hurley struggled to find snacks her body could tolerate. She began hand-mixing her own healthy nut butters at home, sprinkling in candy for her sweet tooth. She shared a few jars with friends and colleagues–and it was a hit. In 2018, Lea founded American Dream Nut Butter as a family-run operation to “bring joy back to eating while helping others fuel their bodies with clean, delicious, high-protein options.” Peanut, almond, and cashew butters come in mouth-watering flavors like New York Cheesecake and Maple Swirl Delight. The e-commerce business grew 2,000 percent in their first year with steady growth since, and now has 50 employees, over one million customers so far, and a 40,000-square-foot facility. “We make everything but the actual jar here, from the butters to the labels to baked goods,” Lea says.

Lea uses Google Ads, including Performance Max campaigns, to help people find her products. “The Ads that perform best are the behind-the-scenes ones–people love to see it getting made, people tasting it and sharing their testimony. That’s huge for us,” she notes. They glean customer insights from Google Analytics, helping them finetune their marketing. Promo notes in packages drive up to 30,000 customers a month to their YouTube channel, which offers advice–like how to mix separated oil back in–along with fun production content. The team uses Google Workspace to collaborate and stay organized, and Gemini to write and refine emails, social posts, ad copy, and video scripts. “AI is a game changer for helping us optimize our marketing,” says Lea. American Dream donates 100 percent of proceeds from their One Tough Cookie blend to a different cancer charity each month, and Lea is creating a foundation to support more good causes. “We built our company with Google tools,” she says. “It’s become so much more than I ever imagined.”

Brown County Bikes

Location: Nashville, Indiana
Website: https://www.browncountybikes.com/
30% of annual revenue attributable to Google Ads

For professional mountain bike instructors Kate Nolan and Danielle Wolter Nolan, opening Brown County Bikes in 2020 was a natural extension of their love for mountain biking and their region’s beautiful trails. “We’ve always wanted to have our own storefront,” Danielle says. “If we can help more people get outside and build confidence through outdoor experiences, we’re fulfilling our dreams.” The LGBTQ+-owned full-service bike shop sells the latest bike gear and offers rentals, repairs, coaching, and group rides. To drive more traffic to the website, Danielle and Kate have invested 80 percent of their marketing budget in Google Ads campaigns since February 2023, a strategy that’s seen returns. “I would say we’ve had a 35% increase in website views because of Google Ads,” says Kate.

Another 30 percent of customers discover Brown County Bikes through their Google Business Profile, which went live when the store opened. “When people search, we want them to be able to see our location, hours, and photos of the building,” Danielle says. In February 2024, the store’s Business Profile was viewed over 1,000 times, with 200 users clicking through to the site. Glowing reviews on the profile also generate business: “A lot of people who come in say, ‘Hey, I read those Google reviews,’” Kate says. “That makes us realize how important it is to have a strong Business Profile.” Brown County Bikes’ revenue has grown about 20 percent annually over the last three years. “It's definitely worth the investment to put time and energy into building your Google presence,” Danielle says. Adds Kate, “As small business owners, we put our heart and soul into everything we do, so getting the word out is huge for us.” And their success has allowed them to give back to their town, which is very close to their hearts. “Everyone's been very welcoming, and we really love the home we have here.”

The Clock Shoppe

Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Website: https://theclockshoppe.net/
Began using Google products in 2017

For years, Laurel Uhlig Hansen worked as a nurse and a teacher; her husband, Jim, was a master goldsmith. In 2013, it was time for a change. The pair bought The Clock Shoppe in their hometown of Fort Wayne–one of the few dedicated clock repair shops in the state–with Jim bringing his love of fixing things to clock repair. Laurel joined in 2017 to run the business. “What I love most is helping our customers retain and restore their clocks, which often have great sentimental value,” says Laurel. The shop draws customers from near and far through word of mouth and through their Google Business Profile. That’s where they showcase positive reviews, and provide contact information and directions. “Our Business Profile allows me to communicate regularly through posts and updates, and field inquiries. The fact that our listing came at no cost was huge,” she says. And Gmail makes reaching customers easy. “Gmail has been so useful, because it’s very easy for me to type back a response as opposed to spending time on the phone,” Laurel notes.

A self-described “tech newbie,” Laurel was initially wary of digital tools. But Google lowers the barrier for entry and has reinforced Laurel’s belief in lifelong learning. “I’ve benefited from a number of interesting webinars through Grow with Google,” she says. “Every time I learn more of the ‘techy’ tools, I feel better about learning more yet.” Today Jim, Laurel, and their “watchdog,” Mooch, are there to lend a helping hand to their community. They have plans to partner with organizations to reach refugees, veterans, and members of underserved communities who could apply their talents to clock repair. “There will always be a time where people will rely on clocks that do not need a battery,” says Laurel. “In a world that often seems transactional, I love being able to offer the kind and respectful service that I like to receive.”

Smoking Goose

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Website: https://www.smokinggoose.com/
43 employees

High school sweethearts Chris and Mollie Eley are committed to tradition. In 2011, Smoking Goose was hatched in Indianapolis out of their gourmet grocery, Goose The Market, to showcase Chris’s expertise in traditional butchery and charcuterie. What began as a local wholesale supplier of cured and smoked meats, salumi, and sausages now offers unique delicacies like blackberry duck salame or pig and fig terrine in all 50 states. Goose’s Narration Director Corrie Cook says traditional techniques and humanely raised animals set them apart: “Seam butchering by hand, curing without compound nitrates, smoking over real wood, and letting time and salt work their magic mean a lot to our customers.” The team uses Google Ads and Google Maps to spread the word about their products. “We make a public map with our wholesale restaurant and market partners on it, so people can zoom in and find what’s closest,” Corrie says.

Smoking Goose eventually invested in a website for public sales, and Public Smokehouse–their new retail shop–joined the Goose flock in 2019. This offset a pandemic-related slump in wholesale orders, and positioned them nicely for the meteoric rise in charcuterie board popularity. Retail sales jumped 85-90 percent from 2019 to 2020, as customers discovered their 40+ meat varieties, and over 500 pairing items like cheese, pickles, and jam. Goose informs folks about specials, hours, and hiring with their Business Profile on Google; Corrie calls it “the go-to spot for all tidbits of information.” Amid the surge in orders and queries, Gmail aliases–separate email addresses that forward to a central account–keep the team organized so they can focus on what matters most: offering quality, artisanal charcuterie. “It takes more training, time, and patience,” Corrie says, “but customers value the flavor that’s only possible because we respect tradition and don’t cut corners.”

PATTERN

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Website: http://www.patternindy.com/
8 employees

In 2010, commercial photographer Polina Osherov met with a group of local fashion designers, lamenting that Indianapolis didn’t have more of a fashion scene. It wasn’t for lack of creative talent. With Polina leading the charge, the group decided to ignite the region’s fashion industry themselves, launching a nonprofit aptly named PATTERN. Since their founding, PATTERN has evolved into a media company, creative agency, print magazine, talent incubator, and an economic development engine. “We have grown to embrace the creative economy overall, not just fashion, [including] all the digital and nontraditional art expressions—things that don't belong necessarily in an art museum or an orchestra,” she says. From the start, Google Ad Grants helped Polina spread the word, promoting the organization’s events, educational programs, and internships/fellowships, as well as advertising magazine subscriptions. Now, PATTERN has 35 employees, volunteers, and interns, and 2,050 members across the Midwest.

In March 2020, PATTERN opened StitchWorks, a sewing facility that provides production services to apparel designers. Weeks later, an area hospital asked Polina if her group could make gowns to meet the urgent need for PPE brought on by COVID-19. Her answer? “Hell, yes!” Polina hired 100 sewers to make 5,000 gowns—and counting. PATTERN’s Google Ads and Business Profile on Google helped put StitchWorks on the map. “We’re being found by independent designers who are looking to have things made, everything from leather bags to hoodies to pillowcases,” she says. “About 90 percent of our clients find us by searching on Google.” Though the pandemic closed down PATTERN’s in-person events, their sewing business remains brisk. In 2021, PATTERN plans to launch an industrial sewing certificate program to bring skilled workers into the local jobs pipeline. They’re also opening a virtual events studio. Says Polina, “We’re super excited to get back to doing events with our community.”

Jarhead Hauling and Junk Removal

Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Website: jarheadjunk.com
4 employees

After serving in the Marine Corps for 22 years, Master Sergeant Donald Emert transitioned to the private sector, where he worked in sales and marketing for a number of companies. But when his wife, Vivian, was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, he knew something had to change. “I wanted a better quality of life, and I didn’t want my wife to have to stress about her health condition,” said Donald. Donald and Vivian began looking for business ideas and found one in a place they didn’t expect: a pile of junk outside their house. “We had some junk and trash we had to haul away ourselves and thought maybe other people have the same problem,” Donald said. Once they had the idea, things moved quickly. They came up with a company name, bought their first truck and trailer, and launched a website. “We realized it was imperative to not just have a user-friendly website, but to be visible,” said Vivian, who had previous experience working in digital marketing. “We went to Google, put in our business name, and saw we were on page two. And that’s when the light bulb came on in both our heads — how do we get to page one?”

Jarhead Hauling and Junk Removal began running Google Ads campaigns in May 2018. “Our growth really came about when we started using Google Ads,” said Donald. “It was like a light switch. I went from hardly any phone calls to having to resign from the company I was working for at the time.” According to Vivian, 90% of the company’s business comes from Google Ads. Jarhead Hauling and Junk Removal also uses Google My Business to make it easy for customers to view its business hours and contact information. “Our success can be attributed to Google Ads and staying on top of our business profile on Google to make sure everything on there is relevant.”

With the help of Google Ads, Jarhead Hauling and Junk Removal saw 8X year-over-year revenue growth — and it shows no signs of slowing down. The Emerts recently added another branch in the nearby city of Lafayette and hope to open six more locations to be managed by other veterans. “We’ll pay for the ads and do the logos, and they’ll keep the majority of the profit,” said Donald. “We don’t want to get rich off them. We want to help them.” Today, the Emerts are happy to report that Vivian’s cancer is in remission as she continues to be an integral part of the company’s success. “When my wife and I started this business, our motivating factor was a better quality of life for our family, and it feels really good to say we’ve achieved that,” concluded Donald. “We want to do the same for other veterans.”

Janus Motorcycles

Location: Goshen, Indiana
Website: www.janusmotorcycles.com
15 employees

Richard Worsham and Devin Biek have long shared a passion for quality, lightweight motorcycles. “Our friendship is built on it. We both had been involved in that culture for years, restoring vintage mopeds,” Richard shares. After years of imagining their dream bike, the two decided to build one of their own. "We were just so captivated by the idea of building these little machines,” Devin says. Their first production model was the Halcyon 50, “a motorcycle unlike any other,” he describes. Time-tested style made the Halcyon an eye-catching machine, while its modern and lightweight design provided riders with a thrilling experience that was altogether unique in American bikes. Propelled by the support of their local community, the friends founded Janus Motorcycles in 2011 to share their craftsmanship with fans around the world.

Janus Motorcycles is unlike traditional vehicle manufacturers. They sell their bikes directly to customers online, instead of through a dealer network. “If you had given Henry Ford the opportunity to be online, with the marketing and exposure the Internet provides, I don't think he would’ve chosen to sell through dealerships either,” says Marketing Director Grant Longenbaugh. The company uses AdWords, Google’s advertising program, to market their bikes to motorcycle enthusiasts across the country. “About 50 percent of our online interest is driven by AdWords,” he adds. Google Analytics equips them with the digital insights to fine-tune their marketing and online presence. And through their YouTube channel, interested customers can follow every step of a Janus bike’s journey, from design, to prototyping, to production. “YouTube is the unsung hero of our business,” Grant explains. “It’s a substantial part of how people get to know us, feel a level of comfort with us, and trust us to make their motorcycles.”

Last year, about 90 percent of Janus’s marketing budget went to digital. The rest, Grant jokes, “was spent buying donuts and coffee to get people to come in for test drives.” The company now offers three different models and is on track to build 200 bikes this year. They make all of their fabricated parts within 20 miles of their facility and source their specialty parts, such as the engine and brakes, from the best suppliers they can find. “We’re committed to being open and personable, just as our motorcycles are accessible and understandable. That’s especially important since so much of our customer interaction is through virtual channels. If we’re successful, we’ll be able to maintain a meaningful and sincere brand as we continue to grow,” says Richard.

Weathervane Shoppe

Location: Granger, Indiana
Website: www.weathervane.com
Weathervane Shoppe sells 800+ products annually

Borrowing $1,000 to buy their initial supplies, Nicholas Falletta and his wife began selling handcrafted weathervanes in 1986 from the back of a van at arts-and-crafts fairs and flea markets across Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois. Ten years later, they gradually shifted their sales focus from their van to the Internet. “Let's face it. If you're not on the Internet today, business would be lacking greatly in the future,” Nicholas says. Weathervane Shoppe got online very early and “was one of the first to ever sell weathervanes on the Internet.” Today they’ve expanded their business to over 1,400 unique products, including cupolas, roof vents, chimney caps, and finials. They manufacture custom designs in Indiana, work with vendors across the country, and sell to customers all throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Nicholas uses the Internet to share his products with consumers all across the continent. “The Internet has changed the face of retail by eliminating geographical barriers,” he explains. AdWords, Google's advertising program, accounts for about 50 percent of his sales. Google Analytics delivers valuable insights on his customer base—for instance, half of Weathervane Shoppe’s website traffic is from mobile devices. Google Search Console helps with monitoring the website's presence in Google Search results, and Gmail keeps him connected with vendors and customers. Thanks to all of these digital tools, Nicholas says he is able to offer customers “the most exceptional service they can possibly find from anybody.”

As an American entrepreneur, Nicholas has always known which way the wind was blowing for his unique small business. “Weathervane Shoppe was never meant to grow into one of those huge big-box stores with a bunch of employees,” he says. But the company has provided a great deal of customer satisfaction for over three decades and continues to create opportunities for vendors in Indiana and across the U.S. “For a semi-retired 71-year-old to have that kind of impact is amazing,” he adds. Nicholas has proudly sold weathervanes, cupolas, and other roof products to the children of his original customers. “And I expect I will be selling to their grandkids before I'm gone.”

School on Wheels

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Website: www.indyschoolonwheels.org
21 employees

As a school social worker, Sally Bindley witnessed firsthand the impact of poverty and homelessness on children's ability to learn. "A lot of services focused on kids' social needs but weren't focusing on their educational needs," she says. After talking with staff at homeless shelters and advocacy agencies, Sally sprang into action. “I grabbed my mom and my best friend, and she grabbed her mom, and we went to a shelter and said, 'We can start tutoring your kids.' It grew organically from there." Sally founded the nonprofit School on Wheels in 2001 to connect volunteer tutors with children experiencing homelessness in Indianapolis. The organization has since grown to include over 400 volunteers who provide one-on-one tutoring for children grades K–12 in nine shelters and four public schools. They also equip parents to become their children's best educational advocates.

AdWords, Google's advertising program, has helped this nonprofit grow. "AdWords allows us to do a multitude of different things," says Sally, “such as finding volunteers, bringing in donations, and promoting our curriculum.” They also use Google Analytics to see where web visitors are coming from. And their YouTube channel includes tips for tutors on engaging children as well as videos to raise awareness about families experiencing homelessness. “People don't really realize that homelessness is a problem,” Sally explains. “Google tools help us reach more people and show them that this is an issue. The more people know, the more they’ll be part of the solution.”

School on Wheels today hopes to break the cycle of homelessness and “eventually go out of business” as a result of doing so. With numerous success stories of their students going on to college and pursuing rewarding careers, their hope is becoming more and more of a reality. “We’re really making a lasting impact on these children’s lives,” Sally remarks. Google helps Sally further that impact by enabling the organization to reach more volunteers, partners, and donors—and serve more children and families—while remaining a lean operation. “We couldn't do this using the phone and pieces of paper,” she says. “This could only happen through the use of technology.”