Our Story

Hello and welcome to Barney’s Sweet Shop!  My name is Harmony Hensley and I’m the owner of this handmade small batch treat business.  This space was born from a bit of nostalgia along with an immediate need.  I’m a single mom and serial entrepreneur.  Last year I was knee deep in pursuing my dream of opening a wedding and event venue that would create jobs for people with disabilities. After a very abrupt series of unfortunate events beyond my control everything seemingly blew up spectacularly. Literally overnight I became unemployed going right into the 2022 holiday season.  As a single Momma that meant I needed to pivot, and fast to make sure my little family was taken care of. Not one to be defeated, I immediately started brainstorming with my parents, Mike and Shirley, about what I could do next.

The first rule of entrepreneurship is that you truly must be ready to pivot at any moment.  I’m not the first, nor will I be the last, entrepreneur to feel like they’ve had the wind knocked out of them.  The important thing is to gather your wits, brush yourself off, and get back to it. 

The heart of my Harmony Fields business was meant to build toward creating upward economic mobility for people with disabilities by creating meaningful employment opportunities.  So, I found myself asking – what do I have right now that I could monetize and make that dream happen in a different way? 

Well, I have a major sweet tooth.  Doesn’t sound like something to build a business off of but I’m fortunate enough to be a third generation treat maker.  My Grandma was famous for her peanut brittle, and my Mom and Dad are legends back in Indiana for their Christmas Caramel Corn.  One thing I do know, is how to make tasty treats that bring people together.  This would mean I could start with what I have right now and move forward without having to raise capital. 

After commiserating with my Mom, we decided to bust out the old pots and pans and get to work.  My best friend Annie sent me a bit of seed money to get started (how lucky am I?) and Barney’s Sweet Shop was born.  My maternal Grandpa Barney Smith had a MAJOR love for all things sweet.  He would always tell us he was never too full for dessert, and he was known to have a handful of candy in every coat pocket.  Grandma and Mom used to make all kinds of goodies for the holidays from the legendary peanut brittle and caramel corn, to chocolate suckers, fudge, buckeyes, hay stacks….I could go on and on.  As a kid I remember sitting at my Grandma’s long dining room table and it was filled with an incredible haul of every kind of treat a kid could ever dream of.  And the one sitting at the head of the table, with a gleam in his eyes and a grin from ear to ear, was none other than my Grandpa Barney, ready to “test” every last one. A job he took very seriously. 

That love of sweets and gathering fits beautifully into the passion we are pouring into Barney’s Sweet Shop.  We want you to know your purchase supports a small woman owned business where we make everything by hand in small batches to make sure you get to enjoy the same magic we have been so fortunate to experience for generations. 

Welcome to the Barney’s family. We’re building a table with room for everyone so pull up a chair and have some treats…we can’t wait to create delicious moments for you to share with your loved ones for years to come.