Fine Points: Cleveland Yarn Shop Featured on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

If you’re a regular viewer of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, you know the show has produced an occasional series of funny videos highlighting small businesses since early in 2021 under the name #ColbertSmallBizBump. And if you were watching the show the night before Thanksgiving, you saw Fine Points, Inc., a yarn store in Cleveland, Ohio, get the SmallBizBump treatment, complete with appearances by the cast of NCIS: Los Angeles and Drew Carey (who is not actually the mayor of Cleveland).

Above: Fine Points, Inc. is Cleveland, Ohio’s source for yarn, buttons, handmade jewelry, and artisan clothing.

Go to the six minute mark to see Fine Points!

Liz Tekus, the owner of Fine Points, agreed to talk with me last week about her experience in the national spotlight.

How Did This Come About?

In early 2021, Liz was watching The Late Show when she saw the first #ColbertSmallBizBump segment featuring a bookstore in North Carolina. After the segment, Mr. Colbert invited small business owners to submit a video if they wanted to be considered for the series.

Liz collaborated with her son, who is a film editor, to produce a short video about the shop and submitted it to The Late Show. Then nothing. As the months went by, Liz figured she hadn’t been selected. She forgot about it until this past February, when she was contacted by a producer from The Late Show, asking if she was still interested. Of course, she said yes.

What Was the Production Process Like?

Over the next few weeks, the producers purchased knitting needles, crochet hooks, buttons and artisan clothing. They commissioned custom crocheted costume pieces and props. But Liz did not see the script, did not know the story, and did not know that the NCIS: Los Angeles cast was involved. CBS sent a camera crew to Cleveland and directed the filming at the shop via Zoom.

As February drew to a close, Liz was told she would be notified when they had an air date. In the meantime, she was asked not to tell people about the segment. March went by, then April, May, and June. As summer faded into fall, the producer told Liz to be patient. She was told the video was funny, but that was all she knew.

Finally, in early November, Liz received an email informing her of the November 23 air date. CBS sent a camera crew to her home to film her watching the show.

The Aftermath

In the two weeks since the segment aired, Liz reports she has heard from people across the country. Sales at Fine Points, Inc. are double what they were over the same period last year. Liz is enjoying being an “overnight sensation” after 37 years in business. She spends hours each day packing and shipping orders.

Liz had also been pleased to hear from other yarn store owners thanking her for bringing attention to the yarn business. While Liz is happy to take your order online or over the phone, she asked that I remind our readers to seek out and support their local yarn store. And the next time you’re in Cleveland, plan a visit to Fine Points.

Take one of these patterns to your local yarn store and get started on your next project: