Lebanon shop owner Mel McMahon recounts role in Emmy-winning documentary and outlines expansion plans for Indiana Gifts

Mel McMahon, owner of Indiana Gifts and founder of Indiana Owned, described her role in the Emmy-winning documentary "Art and Soul, A Portrait of Nancy Noel" and outlined plans to expand her downtown Lebanon shop during the City of Lebanon podcast "Love and Lebanon." The documentary screened at film festivals including the Heartland Film Festival in October 2023 and was later honored with a regional Emmy; McMahon said, "I got to hold that 9 pound Emmy trophy, and it was incredible."

McMahon told host Joe LePage, the City of Lebanon communications and community development director, that she appears in the film as herself and that sharing a personal story of grief helped shape her involvement. She said her contribution to the documentary preserved the legacy of her daughter; "this documentary...my daughter's legacy will live forever in this documentary," she said on the podcast. The film, McMahon said, continues to tour the film circuit and is not yet publicly released.

The conversation moved from the documentary to McMahon's local businesses. McMahon said IndianaOwned began in 2014 as an online directory to help shoppers find Indiana-made businesses and evolved into a support network for makers and small-business owners. She described Indiana Gifts, at 101 East Main Street in Lebanon, as having grown from a pandemic-era pop-up into a brick-and-mortar store she opened in March 2023. "We have over 100 small businesses represented in this little 300 square foot shop," McMahon said, and she added the store carries more than 700 products. McMahon and a business partner, David Glenn, said they initially pooled maker products on a single website to keep sellers active during pandemic closures.

McMahon described Indiana Gifts as a source of corporate orders and local economic activity: she said the shop ships hundreds of single items to special events and that purchases support family incomes across Indiana. "When you buy from me, I'm able to buy from them," McMahon said, explaining why she emphasizes the backstory of makers and the store's human connection. She cited examples of popular products by name on the podcast, including a local pecan product and state-themed apparel lines made with partner Crossroads Imprints.

McMahon also described current constraints and needs. She said the existing retail space is about 300 square feet and that customers sometimes wait outside for entry; she said that limits events and inventory. Looking ahead, McMahon said her "dream" for a next-step facility includes a larger marketplace, classroom and event space, a commercial kitchen for food makers, refrigerated display space for local dairy products, and space to pack high-volume corporate orders. She said those features would allow her to hire more employees and host classes such as pitch training and product development workshops.

Host Joe LePage asked McMahon about the personal side of running multiple businesses and working in radio; McMahon said she balances long hours and family life and described her approach as mission-driven rather than profit-first. "I put mission over money," she said, adding that the store's community role is part of its purpose.

The interview closed with McMahon encouraging listeners to follow the documentary's official Facebook page for screening updates and to visit IndianaOwned online or Indiana Gifts on Main Street to see products and maker stories in person.

McMahon's remarks on the podcast combined details about the film's festival run and award, her personal involvement and storytelling in the film, and concrete operational and expansion goals for her businesses in Lebanon.