Wonder Works Owner Christine Osborne to be Featured on MSNBC

Local toy store owner Christine Osborne will get a week's worth of national exposure starting Sunday when MSNBC features her as "Entrepreneur of the Week."

Osborne founded Wonder Works in 1990 with a partner with just one store in Mount Pleasant. The business has since grown to eight locations throughout the South Carolina Lowcountry.

While other mom-and-pop toy stores withered against big-box competitors, Osborne's shops thrived.

“This is such an outstanding honor” Osborne said. “I want to thank the Charleston community as a whole for embracing Wonder Works’ magical spirit. We love the sense of camaraderie we feel here in the Charleston area, and we know that this is in part because so many people here support buying local.”

Osborne and her stores will be featured throughout the week in segments sponsored by American Express highlighting successful small businesses. The MSNBC crew filmed the spots weeks ago and notified the shop of its selection on Friday.

Wonder Works was selected for its involvement in Lowcountry Local First, which emphasizes local businesses. American Express has championed "Shop Small" with regular "Small Business Saturday" advertising initiatives.

MSNBC will air the first Wonder Works feature at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, as well as at 5:30 a.m. next Saturday on Small Business Saturday, which American Express is promoting as the day to shop at local stores for holiday gifts.

Osborne, who lives in Mount Pleasant, is a champion for local businesses. She often consults for free with other businesses — sometimes with competitors — because she believes so strongly in building small businesses.

“I want to give so many wonderfuntastical thanks to Lowcountry Local First Director Jamee Haley and everyone (there) for putting Charleston on the map," Osborne said. "I hope everyone tunes in to MSNBC to see the story."