Paul Skenes opens season in Indy, but baseball's best pitching prospect won't stay long
NEWS

#BoycottIndiana hits home for Dayton business

Taya Flores
tflores@jconline.com

While businesses across the state voice concern over the impact of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a local shop owner has already lost customers.

Traci Bratton, owner of Walnut Street Traditions and Hoosier Candle Co. in Dayton, sells handmade candles and home decor locally and nationally through her website.

As of Wednesday, a few of her out-of-state customers sent emails detailing their decision to boycott her business in response to the religious freedom law.

One person who received the company's candles as a gift sent Bratton an email Monday.

"My family received two of your wonderful candles for Christmas and have recommended them to friends," the person wrote. "(But) with great regret we are not going to order any candles from you. We cannot support businesses that operate in a state (that) has an environment of hate."

Bratton did not release the person's name or state of residence. She posted the message to her personal Facebook account.

"Immediately, I felt sad," she said. "I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me because I've worked so hard to build this business and build it beyond Indiana. I've even given my candle company a Hoosier tie and a Hoosier name and then this is what happened."

Bratton, who said her business is open to all, received another email Tuesday night and posted it on Facebook Wednesday morning.

The customer wrote, "I can no longer buy your lovely soy candles because of the new ruling by your Governor Pence. I love your candles but will be taking my business to another state. Sorry."

Jo Wade, president and CEO of Visit Lafayette-West Lafayette, said she has not received similar complaints from other local businesses.

If owners experience boycotts, however, they can call the visitors bureau's center for customer-relations resources.

The center wants to create a list of impacted businesses to inform state legislators of the local RFRA impact, she said.

Bratton hopes lawmakers will take the boycott seriously, she said.

"I think they need to re-evaluate all of this and take a look at how it's affecting the Indiana businesses," she said.

Attention local business owners

Have you received any positive or negative feedback from customers regarding the Religious Freedom Restoration Act?

If so, contact Taya Flores, J&C diversity reporter, at tflores@jconline.com or call 765-420-5202.

For more information or to voice a complaint, call the Visit Lafayette-West Lafayette at 765-447-9999.