Q&A with Alira Coffman of Wren Writing
Take a moment to meet Alira Coffman, engineer and owner of Wren Writing, as well as a current participant in our first incubator program!
Q: Share a bit about your business and who your target customers are!
A: Designed by authors, Wren Writing offers a unified platform simplifying the pre-publication process by integrating all necessary tools into a comprehensive solution thus reducing cost and time associated with managing multiple softwares. It combines essential writing tools, supports maintainable writing practices through data-driven insights, and fosters a community-oriented, gamified approach to completing a novel.
Authors use a multitude of services to achieve ‘ready for publication’ works. The lack of comprehensive systems leads to additional mental strain, unnecessary spending, and time wasted. Whether self-publishing or traditional publishing, authors find the tools, community, and resources they need within the Wren Writing platform.
Q: What do you hope to learn from the incubator program?
A: I hope to learn more about the behind the scenes that go into making a business, such as legal steps, financial steps, etc.
Q: What is your motivation and inspiration for pursuing your business idea?
A: We are for authors, by authors. I am an author. And I found that tracking my writing sprints by hand was time consuming and hard to manage. I wanted something automated. Well, my day job for the past 10 years has been software engineering. So, I merged my two loves: Authoring and engineering.
Q: Share a little bit about yourself, your background, and your hobbies and interests!
A: I was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. I moved to Rochester about four years ago. I've enjoyed the change, (except for -30 degrees). I've worked as an engineer in a variety of industries and in large companies to start ups. I'm excited to embark on my own.
A Life Changing Practice with Anthony Williams of Radiant Sōl Yoga Studio
Collider is dedicated to sharing the stories of entrepreneurs and small business owners in Rochester! We recently chatted with Anthony Williams, who is passionate about sharing the practice of yoga with others and opened Radiant Sōl Yoga Studio in Rochester in 2018
Photo contributed by Anthony Williams.
For Anthony Williams of Radiant Sōl Yoga Studio, owning a business and teaching yoga classes has less to do with entrepreneurship and making a living, and much more to do with sharing the practice that saved his life.
Anthony was born and raised in Germany and moved to Arizona at the age of 16, where he struggled for many years with alcoholism and substance abuse. In an effort to change his life and escape his problems, Anthony eventually moved to Rochester, where he initially considered becoming a police officer.
“No matter where you go, there you are,” Anthony said. “I was running from myself and I ended up here doing the same things I was doing in Arizona. At the time, I still hadn’t figured out that what had to change was internal, not connected to my surroundings.”
Anthony looked into classes at Rochester Community and Technical College related to his desire to pursue a career in law enforcement. At the same time, while at his local gym, Anthony noticed a yoga class on the class schedule. Out of curiosity, he attended.
“I went into the class and got on the mat. At the end of that class, I was completely disoriented. I forgot my locker number and where I had parked my car. I was experiencing a moment of intense clarity where I realized that yoga was what my life was missing. I didn’t immediately know I wanted to become a teacher, but I knew there was something there that I felt deeply called to investigate.”
That class at Anthony’s local gym started what has now been seventeen years of practicing and learning about yoga.
“A couple of months into my physical practice with yoga, I literally began trading my alcoholism for yoga-holoism,” Anthony explained with a laugh. “At the time I was welding for work, attending school for law enforcement, and going to a health and wellness center in the twin cities as much as I could for yoga classes.”
Not long after, his yoga teacher asked him if he had any interest in teaching yoga himself.
“My immediate response was, ‘Oh, that’s ridiculous,’” Anthony said. “But she planted a seed of curiosity and I started considering the possibility.”
Anthony went on to change his career path by acquiring his yoga teacher certification and teaching at Breathe Yoga Studios, where he would continue teaching for the next eight years. He also continued his education through additional yoga teacher training and education on wellness, breathing practices, and mindfulness practices.
Although Anthony has pursued education in yoga, for him, it isn’t about scholastics and credentials.
“This is about so much more than being able to say you completed 200 or 10,000 hours of training; a piece of paper doesn’t mean much to me. In my personal journey, I’ve pursued a deep practice of internal awareness. I’m trying to both learn and teach a lifestyle and practice that will help both myself and others become more aware of what is hindering us and learning how to get unstuck in our lives through yoga.”
When Breathe Yoga Studios closed, Anthony had a decision to make.
“At that moment I was faced with a choice. Whether to go find a new studio to work for, spread myself thin teaching at several different places, or build my own business. I never had the desire or intention of being an entrepreneur or starting a business. But, in my mind, it was the door to freedom and the ability to teach what I wanted and run a studio that conveyed my beliefs about the practice.”
Anthony and his wife began exploring the idea further, looking at spaces, and determining whether the jump was financially feasible. In 2018, they moved forward and opened Radiant Sōl Yoga Studio, where they now have two additional teachers and predominantly offer vinyasa, hot, and yin yoga classes.
Photo contributed by Anthony Williams.
“Hot yoga is one of my favorite practices because of the way that it pushes your mind to handle challenging situations. On one hand, during the practice, you can say ‘It's so hot. My heart is beating so fast, I can't breathe,’ or you can sit in it, take a deep breath and move through it. This practice can teach us a lot about managing discomfort in our daily lives. You can take a deep breath, or freak out. You have a choice. We don't always get to choose our circumstances, but we do have the opportunity to choose how we respond to difficult moments,” Anthony explained.
Anthony is grateful that other than challenges faced during the pandemic, that things have gone smoothly for the studio since opening.
“It has been a huge affirmation that we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing.”
Photo contributed by Anthony Williams.
Anthony continues to work a part time job outside of the studio on the weekends, but looks forward to a time when he can teach full time. He also hopes that the future holds opportunities to expand the studio into a larger space or to join a wellness center to serve more people.
As a word of advice to others considering business ownership Anthony said, “Trust yourself. There will be a lot of opinions and advice coming your way telling you to do things one way or another. Advice can be valuable, but be careful to continue listening to yourself and your intentions for what you’re creating.”
Outside of teaching and his work, Anthony finds joy in nature, swimming, playing music, poetry, skateboarding, deepening his spiritual practice, mala creation, and spending time in stillness and meditation.”
He concluded, “In my heart, yoga is less about a yoga mat and more about your state of consciousness and what we can discover about ourselves through the practice. It is such a brilliant gift to help people see through a more commercialized version of yoga, and instead find the joy in turning inward. It’s an honor to see things beautifully unfolding.”
Thank you for taking the time to read Anthony’s story! If you find value in this content, please consider donating to help Collider continue amplifying the voices of Rochester entrepreneurs. You can also learn more about Radiant Sōl Yoga Studio by clicking the link below.
Article by Corrie Strommen, Director of Communications at Collider.
A Pandemic Inspired Passion Project with Adam Lange of Clever Eagle Records
Collider is passionate about sharing the stories of entrepreneurs and small business owners in Rochester! We recently chatted with Adam Lange, who was inspired to fulfill his lifelong dream of starting a record label through challenges faced by the music industry during the pandemic.
Photo contributed by Adam Lange.
Adam Lange, owner and operator of a passion project record label and distribution company, Clever Eagle Records, had a longtime dream of working in the music industry. However, it was not until the pandemic, and the accompanying shipping problems that arose, that the opportunity to turn that dream into a reality presented itself.
“I’ve been really into music since I was a kid with my compact disc collection. I went to a lot of concerts throughout high school and college and always in the back of my mind thought it would be really cool to work for or start a record label. But life happens and ideas like that don’t often work out. So this is something I’ve wanted to do for over twenty years.” Adam explained.
Born and raised in Wisconsin, Adam acquired a degree in geography from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. After college, he relocated to Kentucky for a job in computer mapping. Eventually, he moved again, this time to Rochester where he met his wife. He began working for small businesses, predominantly assisting with e-commerce, and now works from home full-time for a company based in the Chicago area.
“When I moved to Rochester, I quickly learned that there was not much work to be had for a geography major, so I learned the ropes of small business project management, particularly relating to e-commerce, a skillset that later transferred really well to starting the record label.”
During the pandemic, international shipping became complicated and greatly delayed; several carriers stopped shipping internationally altogether. At that time, Adam came across an Instagram post from a record label based in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, seeking assistance in getting record orders to the United States. Adam decided to reach out and start a dialogue with the company.
“Eventually we were able to figure out a way for their company to send me bulk orders of records which I was then able to transfer into individual order fulfillment within the U.S. utilizing the postal service. It was a lot easier for them to navigate one big order getting through customs and whatnot, rather than getting a ton of individual orders through. Once the records were here, I could easily ship them nationwide.”
Adam continued, “It ended up working out well for both of us, to the extent that the record label now has a dedicated U.S. e-commerce site, and I have continued managing their U.S. and Canada order fulfillment.”
Throughout the process of organizing and shipping sales on behalf of another company, Adam was learning the ropes of the business and making valuable contacts. He realized that his longtime dream of having his own record label was not outside the realm of possibility.
Photo by Corrie Strommen.
“I started out working with other small indie record labels that were doing a lot of cool releases with other labels to help alleviate costs for everyone. These days I do a lot of vinyl releases with international record labels for international bands. I collaborate with, for example, a French label and a Hong Kong label to pool costs of production, split up the product, and overall make it cheaper and easier for everyone involved.” Adam explained.
Adam launched Clever Eagle Records in the summer of 2020, and just as the pandemic was one of the greatest reasons for getting started, it also provided the most challenges, particularly through shipping.
“During COVID, shipping conditions were changing all the time, sometimes daily. Navigating that while trying to fulfill orders in a timely manner was definitely a challenge.”
Other challenges have persisted past the pandemic, such as making sure orders arrive undamaged through shipping, finding solutions for long production turnaround times, and navigating language barriers between international clients.
“Through the process of starting Clever Eagle, I somehow became connected to the Japanese music scene, and now a big part of my business is importing a lot of Japanese vinyl, cassettes, and CDs. A lot of music from that region is highly sought after, but for some reason really hard to get in the U.S. because a lot of labels and record stores just don’t carry them. It can be really expensive for a consumer to purchase the item online and then also pay a crazy amount for international shipping.”
Adam continued, “I have the opportunity to buy the product at wholesale cost and then sell it here at a fair, reasonable price. It’s really evolved into something cool. I’ve been able to minimize that barrier to entry for people getting the music they love and I’ve had the opportunity to work with Japanese bands and record labels to do special releases.”
Photo by Corrie Strommen.
In addition to selling pre existing records, Adam also works with artists who are looking to have their music made into CDs, vinyl records, or tapes.
“As a small, independent record label, artists can come directly to me to work with them to have products made and sold, even very small orders. This is beneficial to both parties, since we can work together to split costs in a way that makes sense for everyone. We’ve been able to work with artists to put out thirty different releases over the last two and a half years.”
Clever Eagle’s record offerings can, for the most part, be found on their website, and they predominantly distribute genres such as screamo, emo, post-hardcore, and shoegaze. They have recently begun collaborating with two local record stores, Treedome and Hidden World Vinyl Records, to carry some of their stock. Adam has also made an effort to connect with a local audience through being a sponsor of and vendor at The Rochester Thaw, a local music festival.
Photo by Corrie Strommen.
“Though it just wouldn’t work right now, having a physical record store sometime in the future would be great, but I do want to keep moving forward with making more local connections and increasing awareness of the business in Rochester in the meantime.”
As a word of advice to aspiring business owners, Adam said, “Try to make as many connections as you can. You can learn a lot from others. I didn’t have a background in selling records or working with artists when I jumped into this business. I’m really lucky that it’s a very collaborative community of people, many of whom do it as a passion project as well. But we’re all able to learn from each other and help each other accomplish more than we could have as individuals.”
Outside of work, Adam enjoys time with his wife and young son as well as attending concerts as often as he can.
“Clever Eagle Records truly is a passion project for me. It exists to help spread the music I love around the world. All the proceeds stay within the label to help fund new releases and keep our prices accessible for music lovers and creators.”
Thank you for taking the time to read Adam’s story! If you find value in this content, please consider donating to help Collider continue amplifying the voices of Rochester entrepreneurs. You can also find out more about Clever Eagle Records by clicking the link below!
Article by Corrie Strommen, Director of Communications at Collider.
A Look at Art, Entrepreneurship, and Mental Health with Brenna Brom
Collider is passionate about sharing the stories of entrepreneurs and small business owners in Rochester! We recently chatted with Brenna Brom of It’s a Whimsical Life about her experience as a local artist and entrepreneur!
Photo contributed by Brenna Brom.
Although local artist, Brenna Brom, did not initially pursue art as a career, she explained that art has acted as a grounding exercise and healthy coping skill throughout her life.
“In some ways, my life has been really chaotic and crazy mentally and physically. Art has been a great way for me to tap into that craziness and turn it into something whimsical and beautiful. It helps to tie things in my life together.”
Brenna attended college at Winona State University and took classes pertaining to psychology and therapeutic recreation. “Which I don’t use at all now,” Brenna explained with a laugh.
Though she had enjoyed arts and crafts throughout her childhood and teenage years, Brenna did not start dabbling more seriously in painting and natural stone jewelry until she was in college.
“I started just for the heck of it as a way to keep my brain happy,” Brenna said. “Eventually it naturally evolved and people I knew started asking me to make things for them. So I would take on commissions and be a vendor at art markets from time to time.”
Photo by Brenna Brom.
Brenna went on to work in psychology settings, predominantly psychiatry wards in the Twin Cities, Winona, and Rochester. Although Brenna was motivated to assist others with mental health problems, she soon found these settings to be “a bit too intense.”
Brenna and her husband moved from Winona to Rochester in 2018. Not long after, Brenna decided to step away from her work in psychology.
“At a certain point, working in psychology settings was not good for my own mental health, even though I had a strong desire to help others with theirs,” Brenna explained. “I decided to make a change and slowly began pursuing art more seriously as well as working toward group fitness and personal training certifications. My art has been one of the best things for my mental health and sharing my art, along with my story, has been the best way for me to help others.”
Photo by Corrie Strommen.
Brenna attributes much of her growth as an artist and love for Rochester to finding her place within the network of artists in the community.
“I’ve really grown to love the art and music community here. Initially it was a challenge, asking around at various galleries or other art based businesses about how to meet and work with other artists, but once you tap into that community it is a very open and welcoming environment. We work hard to help each other out and connect one another to a lot of opportunities,” Brenna explained.
These days, Brenna splits her time between being an artist, teaching classes as a fitness instructor at the Rochester Athletic Club, and working at local gallery and art shop, Threshold Arts. Now also the mother to a young child, Brenna admitted that it can be a challenge to find the time and focus to create and manage the business side of being an art entrepreneur.
Photo by Corrie Strommen.
“I think if most artists are honest about it, we’d really rather not deal with the business side at all,” Brenna said. “In my perfect world, I would just create. But there is the whole other aspect of photographing my work, selling it, managing social media, taxes, and applying for business codes, among other things. There’s a lot more to it than painting.”
She continued, “I find that it helps me to leave my home studio and head to a coffee shop a couple of times a week to spend intentional time working on my website, taxes, and inventory. That way I’m in a happy space that helps me feel more motivated and focused on tasks I don’t enjoy as much.”
Alongside the inevitable challenges with the inner workings of an art based business, Brenna also faces more personal challenges.
“Some of my greatest challenges have always been my mental and physical health. It’s been an ongoing battle. Creating art has brought me a lot of joy and has served as a positive coping skill in my mental health. But I also struggle with several physical health issues that cause chronic pain. Sometimes it can be a hurdle pushing through and creating when I’m experiencing a lot of discomfort.”
As her business name, It’s a Whimsical Life, would indicate, Brenna’s acrylic paintings lean strongly into bright colors, shapes and nature based themes like animals, flowers, plants and trees to create whimsical scenes, starting with base layers of color and finished with black details. Her work can be found in person at Threshold Arts, on her website and social media, as well as at local art markets.
Outside of her art and other work, Brenna loves spending time outdoors, hiking, camping, biking, and cross country skiing. She’s passionate about fitness and staying active and loves sharing that passion with her family and friends. She also enjoys traveling and cooking at home.
As a word of advice to aspiring artists, Brenna advised seeking out your local art community and being patient.
“Try not to get discouraged if things move slowly. It can take a long time to find your niche, whether that be in your art, your community, or your customer base. But if you love something and keep working at it, things will eventually come together.”
Thank you for taking the time to read Brenna’s story! If you find value in this content, please consider donating to help Collider continue amplifying the voices of Rochester entrepreneurs. You can also find out more about It’s a Whimsical Life by clicking the link below!
Article by Corrie Strommen, Director of Communications at Collider.
Helping People Feel Satisfied, Confident, and Comfortable in Their Own Skin with Siri Julsrud
Collider is passionate about sharing the stories of entrepreneurs and small business owners in Rochester! We recently chatted with Siri Julsrud, who runs her own waxing studio and brow care business.
Photo contributed by Siri Julsrud.
“I was always really passionate about beauty and skincare, even as a little girl. But I never really considered it a career option.” Siri Julsrud, now owner of SiBeauty LLC, explained.
Growing up, Siri loved makeup and skincare and later, in college, she taught herself how to wax her eyebrows and began doing it for her friends and roommates.
“When I went to college in Winona in 2010, I remember it just being the default. That’s just what you did. You graduated high school and went to college so you could have a career. My dad at the time had pushed me to go into beauty school because he knew it was the kind of thing I loved to do. But instead I went into marketing.”
However, a year into her studies, it became clear to Siri that the program was not working for her.
“I decided to move to the Twin Cities, experience a new place, and figure out what I wanted to do,” Siri explained.
She lived there for the next five years, during which time she acquired her esthetician license from the Aveda Institute and worked as a bartender. In 2017, she moved to Rochester and began working for the European Wax Center.
“Living in the Twin Cities was very fun, but also very expensive. When my mom moved here it seemed like a good time to transition and be closer to family.”
Although Siri only intended to stay in Rochester for a year, she’s made a life for herself here and in 2021, made the decision to start her own waxing business.
“I think working for a large franchise business really motivated me to branch out and create my own brand and business. I knew that I was doing good work and creating good relationships with clients, but not really reaping the benefits of doing so. Ultimately, thinking back, I’ve always had a desire to work for myself and eventually decided to make that change.”
In July of that year, Siri opened her salon suite out of Studio 65, a space that leases salon suites to independent beauty professionals.
“My clients have been so supportive and I feel very blessed by that. I’ve grown a lot just by word of mouth and it’s been really encouraging seeing support from the community. I think a lot of people here really prefer to support small businesses and individuals which is so important.”
Photo contributed by Siri Julsrud.
Although Siri is happy with the success of her business so far, she explained that one of the greatest challenges is just getting over the initial fear of failure and taking the leap.
“Going in, I knew a lot about the beauty industry but very little about business. To an extent I had to jump in blindly, not sure if clients would follow me or if I would be able to make rent.”
Another challenge has been keeping up with the ever changing world of social media and staying relevant.
“So many people find out about businesses through social media, so there definitely is a lot of pressure to stay on top of what people are looking for, what’s popular, and creating an aesthetically pleasing feed.”
Siri finds her relationships with her clients to be the most rewarding and fun part of her work.
“Some of my clients have been with me since day one and it’s so fun building up that rapport to a point that working with my clients feels more like catching up with friends.”
She continued, “It’s also wonderful to see that smile on someone’s face coming out of an appointment. Knowing that my work helps people feel satisfied, confident, and comfortable in their own skin is amazing.”
Outside of work, Siri loves trying out new restaurants, going to concerts, walks outdoors, and traveling.
For those considering business ownership, Siri said, “Fear holds us back in a lot of things in life and if you don't attempt to do something, you're never going to succeed. Do your research, but know that you’re going to have to learn a lot along the way, and that’s okay. Ask other people in the field you want to get into for advice. Work hard. Nothing worthwhile comes easy.”
Thank you for taking the time to read Siri’s story! If you find value in this content, please consider donating to help Collider continue amplifying the voices of Rochester entrepreneurs. You can also find out more about SiBeauty LLC by clicking the link below!
Article by Corrie Strommen, Director of Communications at Collider.
Enhancing People’s Lives Through Spacial Transformations with Kristie Moore of Soul Purpose Home
Collider is passionate about sharing the stories of entrepreneurs and small business owners in Rochester! We recently chatted with Kristie Moore, longtime Rochester small business owner, who seeks to transform her clients’ lives in meaningful ways through designing and arranging beautiful, functional spaces.
Photo contributed by Kristie Moore.
“It’s been an exhilarating journey and beautifully challenging,” Kristie Moore said, reflecting on her years of business ownership.
Kristie’s first business venture began in 1996 when she and her family moved from Minneapolis to Rochester to start Refashion, a clothing consignment business, in partnership with her sister, Cindy Hughes. Not long after opening their first location, the sisters expanded into a second location, also downtown, which included an addition to the business, Refurnish. Through Refurnish, they featured consigned furniture and decor. A year later, they expanded once again to include a home styling service called Rearrange, offering one day makeovers using people’s existing furniture and decor to transform and reimagine their spaces, a service which would later be featured on HGTV!
“All three businesses were growing quickly, it was an exciting time!” Kristie said. “ I've always had such a heart for downtown Rochester. It's the hub and core of the city and it was important to me to be a part of that urban atmosphere and experience.”
Eight years into co-owning and managing the triage of businesses, Kristie decided to take a step back after the birth of her third child, having a strong desire to be at home full time with her family. At that time, Kristie began taking on occasional freelance re-design jobs.
In 2016, Kristie was drawn to re-enter the business ownership role, but in a different and reimagined avenue. She opened Soul Purpose, a boutique filled with the work of global artisans, in downtown Rochester, sharing space with Refashion, which had downsized and consolidated to a single storefront at that time.
“While working through the idea for Soul Purpose, I felt called to create something that didn’t just sell things, but functioned as a marketplace that supported a unique and less known segment of the population, specifically global artisans, many of whom were survivors of human trafficking, poverty, addiction and abuse.”
She continued, “The storefront became a delightful combination of textiles, wall art, jewelry, food products, soaps and body care products. It also featured amazing local artisans that refinished furniture, painted furniture, wall art, and handmade clothing. I absolutely loved creating market space for these artisans and for my own furniture creations. Soul Purpose was a bright light in downtown Rochester for locals and visitors.”
Sadly, in 2018, with rising costs and challenges of being a brick and mortar business, Kristie made the difficult decision to close her downtown storefront. Kristie’s sister relocated and later sold Refashion, which has continued to thrive under the ownership of Alisha Arguello and her husband. Kristie, however, following a disappointing search for a space to transition into, decided to close Soul Purpose as a boutique indefinitely.
“I really grieved when Soul Purpose had to transition into something new,” Kristie explained. “At that point, I had to decide how to continue doing meaningful work using my God-given gifts and experience, while also focusing on the larger goal of creating meaningful connections with people through my business beyond the transaction of selling a product or service. That's really where the name Soul Purpose came from, the desire to create and do something with impact beyond turning a profit.”
After a period of soul searching, Kristie began her next venture, Soul Purpose Home, leaning on design education from her college years, experience gained through Rearrange, continued self education, and acquired certification to create her staging and design business.
Photo contributed by Kristie Moore.
“There always seems to be a silver lining from challenges we face, and for me Soul Purpose Home was that silver lining,” Kristie said. “I wanted to expand the ways that I could help people love their spaces and I had the tools to do so through my years of experience and a diverse, creative background as a boutique owner, furniture artist, retail stylist, and redesigner.”
Kristie underwent business coaching, became a certified stager, and began working with local real estate agents and homeowners to get her reimagined business off the ground. It has since expanded to include redesign work for model apartments, short term rentals and some commercial spaces.
“It is incredible work to help people get unstuck in their physical spaces, and lead them to solutions that maximize property appeal, reduce stress, and create spaces that people love and want to linger in,” Kristie said.
Photo contributed by Kristie Moore.
“I love solving problems. Even though I have a very creative mind, I see things more in a building block kind of way. So when I walk into a space I can rearrange it in my mind and see elements that many people cannot see.”
She continued, “Our spaces have a tremendous impact on us. And right now we live in a time where people are often overwhelmed by their stuff. with busy lives and lots of distractions. We live in a world that makes it easy to become discontent and question how we live, what we do, and how we think our spaces should look. It’s my goal to help people connect with themselves, celebrate their style, and create a space that truly works for them in their own unique way.”
Photo contributed by Kristie Moore.
As a word of advice to aspiring business owners Kristie said, “I think everyone going into business ownership should know that it is an amazing journey, and that it can also be super hard. At times you will likely be wearing every hat imaginable and that it can be incredibly lonely. So seek out mentors and stay connected to other dynamic peers in your profession and community. Through my years as a woman-owned, small business owner, it has always been meaningful and worth the struggle.”
She continued, “Keep adapting, keep learning. I am constantly trying to improve what I know, understand who I serve, and how I can serve them better. I've had business coaching, attended conferences, worked on webinars, done design trainings, completed certifications, and learned sophisticated design software. I'm always doing that on the fringe, because I want to provide the best value that I can to my clients. I think it's really important to stay relevant to keep adding value to yourself and your business.”
Outside of her work though Soul Purpose, Kristie seeks a simple, homespun life with her husband, their five children, and pets. She treasures time spent outdoors hiking, kayaking, biking, and rollerblading.
“I really like simple living and having a lifestyle that doesn’t need to be propped up. I’m just trying to be present in the midst of the craziness and daring to be different.”
Kristie is delighted and humbled by her work with people and their spaces and said, “It’s so personal and humbling to have someone bring me into their space. I feel honored to have the opportunity to create spaces that are visually pleasing, but are also highly functional and intentional in ways that will positively affect my clients’ lives. It is so rewarding to come in, really listen, find solutions and achieve transformations that enhance people’s lives.”
Thank you for taking the time to read Kristie’s story! If you find value in this content, please consider donating to help Collider continue amplifying the voices of Rochester entrepreneurs. You can also find out more about Soul Purpose Home by clicking the link below!
Article by Corrie Strommen, Director of Communications at Collider.
Creating Meaningful Community Connections through Recovery with Jeremy Westrum of Window Wonderz and Rootz of Inspiration
Collider is passionate about sharing the stories of entrepreneurs and small business owners in Rochester! We recently chatted with Jeremy Westrum, who owns two local business and is passionate about working with and employing individuals with varying abilities.
Photo contributed by Jeremy Westrum
Jeremy Westrum, owner of two local businesses, Rootz of Inspiration and Window Wonderz, was raised nearby in Stewartville, Minnesota. He “always wanted to leave,” so, upon graduating from high school, he relocated to the Twin Cities to pursue a degree in biochemistry at the University of Minnesota with the end goal of working in pharmaceutical medical device sales.
Throughout college and the years that followed, Jeremy acquired his degree and began working in sales as he had planned. He also struggled with a mental health disorder and grappled with substance abuse issues which eventually culminated in an ischemic stroke in 2016.
Following his stroke, Jeremy faced a long road to recovery and moved back to the Rochester area in 2017 to be closer to family. As he moved forward with his recovery and sobriety, Jeremy found that working with plants and art helped greatly in his journey. He also attributes medication, eastern medicine, mindfulness, and taking the time to learn about himself and his emotions to his success in maintaining his sobriety for the past six years.
“When I moved to the twin cities, I couldn’t keep any house plants alive. But while I was recovering from my stroke I got really involved in propagating plants. I remember being given a couple of jade leaves, which at the time I had no idea how to maintain, but somehow I kept them alive and just kept learning from there. During that year while I couldn’t work, I really focused on plants as well as photography.”
Photo by Corrie Strommen
In 2017, Jeremy started his first business, Window Wonderz, through which he created and sold acrylic boxes, planters, risers, and displays.
“Our acrylic products are made from the highest quality materials to ensure that they are durable and long-lasting. One of the benefits of acrylic is its clarity. Acrylic, or plexiglass, is known for its crystal-clear appearance, which makes it perfect for displays and signage. It is also lightweight and easy to work with, making it a great choice for both professionals and DIY enthusiasts.”
Through his developing love of plants and propagating, Jeremy was inspired to start another business. His initial idea involved hosting “plant parties” for groups to gather together and learn more about growing and maintaining plants. He launched into a two year plan, finding and renovating a space before opening in April of 2020.
Photo by Corrie Strommen
Opening during the pandemic turned the idea for Rootz of Inspiration on its head, as it became impossible to host events. However, Jeremy pivoted and began selling things online, predominately through Etsy. As the ecommerce business grew, Jeremy sold a wide variety of houseplants, plant accessories, and his acrylic items. He also began partnerships with local artists and now has fifty different consignors represented in his storefront.
“We believe in supporting our local artist community and providing them with a platform to showcase and sell their work. Our selection includes a wide range of mediums, including painting, sculpture, and photography. We have a diverse group of artists, including young talents just starting out, veteran artists with years of experience, and artists with varying levels of disabilities, who all bring their unique perspectives and styles to our collection.”
Photo by Corrie Strommen
As the business has grown, Jeremy has also expanded to offer a wide variety of minerals, crystals, stones, rocks, slabs, tumble stones, Lake Superior agates, jewelry, and handmade wire wrapped crystals. He also carries incense, smudging items, and candles.
Photo by Corrie Strommen
“We’ve really become a one-stop shop for all things handmade, natural, and inspiring.”
While Jeremy finds enjoyment in his work, what he finds most rewarding are the relationships he has built, specifically with his staff. Due to his own struggles in the past, Jeremy is passionate about providing employment opportunities to individuals in recovery from chemical dependency, people with varying abilities, and those who may be struggling with their mental health.
“Following my stroke, a lot of opportunities I used to have for employment just weren’t there anymore, and I had so much work to do around my mental health, learning how to talk again, and regaining my energy. I can really connect with certain people within our community through my experiences. It's been very fulfilling connecting with the community on different levels than I could have otherwise. We’ve had some great individuals come here and work with our team. And even though they are here as staff and to complete a job, we learn so much more than just how to work.” Jeremy explained.
He continued, “Having a business and paying my bills is great, but I’m really motivated and rewarded by the growth I can see in the individuals that work here.”
While much of his time is taken up by his work, in his free time Jeremy enjoys time outdoors, snowboarding, wakeboarding, golfing, and playing frisbee golf. He also enjoys yoga, art and photography, and engaging with the community through volunteering.
“These businesses and connections wouldn’t have been possible without me going through some really difficult times in my life. I’m glad that my recovery has ultimately created something good for the community.”
Thank you for taking the time to read Jeremy’s story! If you find value in this content, please consider donating to help Collider continue amplifying the voices of Rochester entrepreneurs. You can also find out more about Window Wonderz and Rootz of Inspiration by clicking the link below!
Article by Corrie Strommen, Director of Community at Collider.
Artful Preservation with Valerie Becker of Rochester Framing and Fine Art Printing
Collider is passionate about sharing the stories of entrepreneurs and small business owners in Rochester! We recently chatted with Valerie Becker who, along with her husband, owns and operates three framing and fine art printing businesses throughout southeast Minnesota.
Photo by Corrie Strommen.
Valerie Becker has been a lifelong entrepreneur, though she didn’t pursue framing and fine art printing until later in life. She began her career by starting a word processing company, utilizing the skills she had learned while working in an office. She later began doing bookkeeping for small businesses. Both of these pursuits allowed her to remain a stay at home mom after her children were born.
“I worked as a liaison between the CPAs and the small businesses, helping them stay on track with their bookkeeping.” Valerie explained.
During those years, Valerie and her husband, John, lived in the Twin Cities before eventually relocating to Red Wing, Minnesota.
In 2002, Valerie was ready for a change, “I loved the work I had done in the past, but got tired of sitting behind a desk all the time. I asked myself what it was I wanted to do next and decided to take a week long crash course in custom framing. I knew after that class which direction I wanted to go in and started taking more classes.”
Valerie went on to acquire her framing certification through the Professional Picture Framers Association and opened her first of what would grow to three locations of the framing and fine art printing business. Valerie began the business in Red Wing, where she and John continue to reside, opened a secondary location in downtown Rochester in 2014, and most recently has expanded to open a shop in Northfield, Minnesota in 2018.
Photo by Corrie Strommen.
“Perhaps fifteen years before I got into framing, I was at a garage sale and bought this box of frames. At the time I didn’t do anything with them, but there was something about that box of frames that intrigued me. Eventually I started doing custom framing for my own projects at home, and had a lot of fun with it. At one point I brought some art to one particular custom framer who would allow me to actually come in and put it together myself. I've always been kind of crafty, but I started realizing that this was a step above that, and I realized I really liked working with wood, with mat, and with color.”
Valerie explained that the greatest challenges in opening the business initially was cashflow while getting started, as well as finding their customer base.
“As a small business owner, you tend to not pay yourself. You have to pay your employees first, then there’s rent, insurance, and the cost of materials to cover as well. A lot of people ask why custom framing is so expensive, but they don’t understand the costs that go into running the business itself, along with creating a high quality product. But we stuck to the idea that we wanted to create something that was sustainable for us and for our employees and persisted through a few lean years before things started to take off for us.”
They have loved having a location in Rochester and Valerie explained that, “It's been a joy to be here and get customers from all over the world. I really appreciate the international feel of it. I love working with all of the professionals that are in Rochester. We also feel that we’ve really been embraced by the community.”
Photo by Corrie Strommen.
Throughout the years, Valerie has continued taking classes to expand her knowledge of framing and is now the only master framer in the state of Minnesota. Alongside her framing expertise, John offers a wide knowledge of photography printing as well as creating high quality print copies of artwork.
At any of their three locations you can have artwork, photographs, and objects professionally framed with unique designs, conservation glass, and acid free mat material. You can also have artworks and photographs recreated in print form.
Photo by Corrie Strommen.
“We always try to really think of what's best for the art and that holds true for the design.” Valerie explained.
As a word of guidance to those aspiring to business ownership, Valerie advises paying close attention to your bookkeeping, whether you are doing it yourself or hiring someone to do it for you, and to always make customer service a high priority.
Outside of work, Valerie enjoys time spent with John, their children, and seven grandchildren. She is also a lover of nature, time spent outdoors, sewing, and needlework.
Valerie finds much satisfaction in her work and said, “I just love getting to know my customers and giving them something that they're going to love for a long time.”
Thank you for taking the time to read Valerie’s story! If you find value in this content, please consider donating to help Collider continue amplifying the voices of Rochester entrepreneurs. You can also find out more about Rochester Framing and Fine Art Printing by clicking the link below!
Article by Corrie Strommen, Director of Community at Collider.
Interpreting Sentiments Through Floral with Heather Wright of Tulips & Truffles
Collider is passionate about sharing the stories of local entrepreneurs and small business owners! We recently chatted with Heather Wright, who runs Tulips & Truffles, which recently changed locations and had a grand reopening!
Photo contributed by Heather Wright.
Local florist and co-owner of Tulips and Truffles, Heather Wright, is a longtime artist with a strong floral background. However, Heather did not become a business owner until later in life.
Born and raised in northern Minnesota, Heather acquired a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth with an emphasis in studio art. Now involved in the Rochester art scene, Heather spent many years working in the arts, creating her own work and curating shows, as well as being on the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council and the president of the Range Fiber Arts Guild for a time.
Heather began working in the floral industry not long after graduating college and worked at two different floral shops before she married and started a family. Twenty years later, in 2014, Heather was ready for a life change and decided to move to southeast Minnesota where she had some friends and connections.
“When I moved to the Rochester area, floral design was my most marketable skill, so I pursued a job in that.”
Heather went on to work for Hy Vee Floral for a year, followed by another shop in Hastings, Minnesota. Not long after, Heather was offered the opportunity to open a floral shop of her own in Pine Island.
“I kept my options open and followed opportunities as they came my way,” Heather explained.
Heather ran the shop in Pine Island for three years, at which point she had decided to move the business to a new location. Initially, she considered moving to the nearby town of Eyota, due to the promising conversations she had with the economic development office there. However, following some challenges and the arrival of the pandemic, Heather took a different opportunity presented to her by the owner of Scrub Your Butt Soap Company, who had proposed sharing their space in downtown Rochester. Deciding this was the best course of action, Heather switched gears and decided to move the business to Rochester in 2020, where she operated until recently.
Photo by Corrie Strommen.
When the owner of Scrub Your Butt Soap Company decided to retire, Heather was on the lookout for a new location and a business partner.
“I was very fortunate to have made several connections in Rochester, one of which was Jes Peterson. She had introduced me to Cindy from Scrub Your Butt and sparked that collaboration. She also helped connect me to my current business partner, John Devlin, as well as encouraging us to take over this space after she bought it. It really has been a serendipitous relationship.”
Jes Peterson, who purchased the longtime local consignment store, Kismet, in 2022, was excited for the chance to collaborate with other local businesses to make some changes to the block near downtown where Kismet is located. Tulips & Truffles relocated there and had their grand re-opening celebration on Friday, January 27th of this year.
Photo by Corrie Strommen.
Heather, an artist and designer by nature, has found that the most challenging parts of business ownership center around paperwork, as she finds her personal strengths to be more focused on the production side of the business.
Tulips & Truffles is a full service florist business that takes online orders, delivers locally, sends orders out to other parts of the country and world, and designs floral arrangements for events. In their storefront, they provide pre-arranged bouquets, bath products, home goods, gifts, and a selection of truffles. Crown Incentives also operates out of the space to provide a laser engraving service for trophies and personalized gifts.
Heather prides herself on their selection of delicious truffles, as well as bean to bar chocolate from Squash Blossom Farm.
“We’re excited about the variety of truffle makers that we’ve found, so we’ll be rotating through several different companies and flavors. It’s a fun little passport into the truffle world.”
Photo by Corrie Strommen.
As a piece of advice to aspiring business owners, Heather strongly advises getting an accountant to manage the finances for the business, taking advantage of assistance available to small businesses, as well as being conscious of networking and making local connections.
For those considering starting a floral business in particular, Heather said, “It isn’t just a cute way to pass the time, which I think can be a common misconception about the floral industry. There are a lot of things you need to learn beyond just being creative with a floral medium. You need to familiarize yourself with horticulture, sales, and connecting with customers.”
For Heather, the most rewarding part of her work is hearing the stories of customers and individuals she has come in contact with through Tulips & Truffles.
“I could absolutely write a book on all of the incredibly poignant stories that I hear from clients and recipients. I think that's unique to Rochester and it being a community the whole world comes to visit for healthcare. There are so many different cultures and diversity present through the people here and endless stories to be had. I could just go on for hours with stories I’ve heard.”
Photo by Corrie Strommen. (Arrangement by Jay Wassner, designer at Tulips & Truffles.)
She concluded, “Floral is a really emotional product. I like to say that I am an interpreter, and people who can't be with their loved one or they don't know what to say ask me to interpret their sentiments to others through flowers. It’s a beautiful and heavy thing at times. I’m here to communicate on behalf of others, and floral is my avenue for that.”
Thank you for taking the time to read Heather’s story! If you find value in this content, please consider donating to help Collider continue amplifying the voices of Rochester entrepreneurs. You can also find out more about Tulips & Truffles by clicking the link below!
Article by Corrie Strommen, Director of Community at Collider.
Carrying on the Family Legacy with Jessica Pearson and Lydia Patton of Flowers by Jerry
Collider is passionate about sharing the stories of local entrepreneurs and small business owners! We had the recent pleasure of hearing from Jessica and Lydia, who have jumped in to continue leading their family business of over fifty years, Flowers by Jerry.
Jessica and Lydia’s grandfather, Jerry Patton, along with his wife, Marlene, first opened Flowers by Jerry in May of 1967 in a small shop in downtown Rochester. Ten years later, they expanded into a larger space on 3rd Avenue, where they operated a large sales floor and floral design studio for the next 36 years.
“We both have so many fond memories of growing up running around that space. From a young age our parents and grandparents had us helping out, washing buckets and doing other small tasks. As we got older, we would help out on the sales floor and with wedding designs.”
Photo contributed by Jessica & Lydia.
Their father and mother, Kevin and Karry, joined in on the operations of Flowers by Jerry in 1984, after completing college, Kevin with a business degree and Karry with a degree in art and fashion merchandising. Jerry and Marlene welcomed their son and daughter-in-law into the business with open arms, and the four of them ran the business together for the following decade. In 1995, when Jerry and Marlene were ready to retire, Kevin and Karry took over ownership of the business.
Shortly after, Kevin was provided the opportunity to purchase an additional space and business, Whiting’s Flowers and Greenhouse, located near Silver Lake. Though he was cautioned against the purchase by his father, due to added challenges, work, and knowledge needed to run a greenhouse operation alongside a floral business, Kevin decided to take a chance and purchased the business in 1997.
“Our dad saw an opportunity and he knew that he could handle both, and that he could grow both businesses. Just like his parents, he’s always been an extremely motivated individual who doesn’t shy away from challenges and hard work.”
Photo contributed by Jessica & Lydia.
Lydia continued with a laugh, “I swear they’re all like Energizer bunnies with all of that motivation and energy.”
Kevin and Karry continued running both businesses until 2014, when the 3rd Avenue location was sold and they decided to consolidate into the Silver Lake location to create a hub for Flowers by Jerry. The building underwent a massive renovation as they revived the space to have a fresh and modern feel, while keeping their storefront, greenhouse, floral design center, and storage for delivery vehicles.
“So often when businesses close a location and consolidate, they are downsizing out of necessity. We were in a really lucky position and our business didn't downsize at all. It was wonderful to be able to have all of our staff and operations under one roof and was a really unifying move for the business.”
Though Jessica and Lydia grew up working for the family business, they had very different mindsets when it came to thinking about their futures.
“I remember very distinctly as a kid always knowing that I was going to own and be a part of the flower shop someday. It was such a big part of my life from such a young age and I feel like I just always knew it's what I wanted to do,” Jessica explained.
Jessica worked at the shop, along with her high school sweetheart and later husband, Dylan Pearson, through her teenage years. Upon graduating from high school, Jessica began pursuing a degree in business management and Dylan went into the military.
They married and Jessica completed her degree in 2006. The two of them left Minnesota to live in Colorado Springs while Dylan completed his military service, but moved back to Rochester in 2008. They quickly re-immersed themselves in the family business and now, in 2023, are in the process of taking over ownership of Flowers by Jerry.
“Over the last several years, Dylan and I have had the opportunity to slowly learn the ropes of what it takes to manage each area of the business. Taking the time to learn, both from my parents and grandparents, has been huge in preparing for a smooth and healthy transition,” Jessica explained.
Photo contributed by Jessica & Lydia.
Lydia, on the other hand, had very different plans for her life after graduating high school.
“I was convinced I was moving across the country and had no intentions of being involved in the family business. I moved to Colorado after high school and went to the University of Denver. I completed my degree in marketing and entrepreneurship there and went on to get a job at a digital marketing consulting firm, where I eventually transitioned into a sales role,” Lydia said.
Lydia soon realized that her position in sales was not for her. Miserable and burnt out, Lydia started considering other job options.
“I wanted to take my time looking for a job that I would really enjoy, and thought that I may need some temporary work in the meantime.”
Lydia reached out to Jessica and the rest of her family, pitching the idea of her working remotely for the family business, assisting them with their marketing, website, and social media. Though they were initially hesitant about the idea of her working for them remotely, they agreed and Lydia was back onboard and working at Flowers by Jerry in June of 2019.
"I truly love the creativity of working in the floral and retail industries and this is exactly where I am meant to be. It's been three and a half years now, and I still live in Denver. But I travel back and forth every couple of weeks. Typically I fly back to Minnesota when we have large weddings, events, or holidays. During that time is when I get a handle on taking content for social media as well,” Lydia explained.
She continued, “Within the business, our family has always stressed that we all need to be available to help with every area of the business and we need to understand each part of it. If there’s a ton of work to be done for a wedding, we all pitch in and stay late to make sure everything gets done. If it’s Valentine’s Day and the phones are ringing off the hook, we’re there to help staff take calls and orders. It really is a team effort.”
The sisters cherish the opportunity to work so closely together with each other and with the rest of their family.
Photo contributed by Jessica & Lydia.
“It’s such a beautiful collaboration. We both have different strengths and it’s wonderful watching each other shine in the business in totally different ways.”
Flowers by Jerry offers a wide array of services and products for the Rochester community. They sell both fresh and faux floral bouquets, home goods, women's clothing, and gifts through their storefront, as well as a variety of houseplants and self-grown seasonal annuals in their attached greenhouses. Through their 55 years in business, floral design has always remained at their core, and Flowers by Jerry has been named ‘Rochester's Best Florist’ for many years. Their team specializes in designing made-to-order bouquets for delivery or pick up from their shop, as well as large floral designs for celebrations, funerals, and weddings.
Photo contributed by Jessica & Lydia.
Their advice for aspiring business owners is focused around a love for what you do and a dedication modeling hard work and humility to your staff.
“Before jumping into business ownership you need to make sure you love what you do. You can’t just work from 9am to 5pm and clock out at the end of the day. You have to accept that it will demand a lot of your time and very likely spread into your home and family life as well. We grew up with the business being discussed over dinner with our parents and grandparents as they brainstormed ideas and solved problems together. They were really good at including us in those conversations which I think really helped lead us into a love for the business at an early age.”
Lydia went on to say, “Another important piece of running a successful business is hiring people who really align with your values, and leading them by example. Your business is only as strong as your weakest link, and it's so important to have a strong team. Our parents and our grandparents told us and taught us by example, that you never ask somebody to do something that you have not only done yourself, but that you wouldn't do yourself.”
She continued, “ I think that as a business owner you have to have quite a lot of humility. There's the saying that ‘pride comes before the fall’ and I think that fall comes even faster when you're in business.”
Outside of work, Jessica spends much of her time with her young family, which has grown to include two children. She and Lydia both enjoy taking time to get creative, try new restaurants, and spend time at the family cabin in northern Minnesota. Lydia additionally enjoys seasonal activities such as boating, skiing, and snowmobiling, as well as spending time with her husband.
Photo contributed by Jessica & Lydia.
“We feel so blessed that we get to be a part of the legacy and carry on the work of our parents and grandparents, who are the most honest, hardworking, and generous people. Being so close as a family and working together is one of the wildest experiences, and it comes with challenges that you wouldn't face if you weren't working together. There will always be disagreements and difficulties, but we’ve always managed to talk things through and find solutions.”
“The most rewarding thing for me is working with family,” Jessica said. “It really isn’t about the flowers for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love what we do. But we could run any business together as a family and I think I would be just as happy. As long as we were doing it together, I'd be happy as a clam!”
“Let’s just stick with the flowers,” Lydia added with a laugh. “I find it really creatively fulfilling in a very personal way through the floral design and merchandising, but it’s also working with family because I can't imagine the flower shop without all of our family members holding it up.”
Photo contributed by Jessica & Lydia.
Thank you for taking the time to read Jessica and Lydia’s story! If you find value in this content, please consider donating to help Collider continue amplifying the voices of Rochester entrepreneurs. You can also find out more about Flowers by Jerry by clicking the link below!
Article by Corrie Strommen, Director of Community at Collider.
Using Loss as Motivation with Jack Lester of Jack's Bottle Shop
Collider is passionate about sharing the stories of entrepreneurs and small business owners! We recently chatted with Jack Lester, who opened a craft beer bottle shop in 2020, about his experience.
Photo by Corrie Strommen
Jack Lester, owner of local craft beer hub, Jack’s Bottle Shop, developed his love of beer throughout his career in the service industry, which began shortly after graduating high school. Born and raised nearby in Zumbrota, Minnesota, Jack was drawn to Rochester by the restaurant industry, as well as the birth of his son, and began working at the Rochester Golf and Country Club.
“Working in the hospitality industry provided the stability and community that I needed at the time. I was young and I wasn’t sure where my life was heading. It was really special to find work that I was good at, passionate about, and happy doing.”
Jack recalls craft beer’s presence throughout his life, from the beers found in his father’s fridge, Mystery Beer Mondays at Whistle Binkies, and eventually helping with taps at the country club. After jumping onboard with the Forager team when the brewery and pub opened in 2015, the love of beer “really sank its hooks in deep.”
Photo by Corrie Strommen
“Being involved with the Forager beer program and being on staff as a head server introduced me to a whole other world of craft beer and in a lot of ways sparked my love for it and the community surrounding it.” Jack explained.
Jack attributes much of his inspiration for the bottle shop to his time at Forager. Alongside his work as a head server there, he also had the opportunity to work in brand advocacy, foster connections with other breweries, collaborate with chefs, and assist in beer education.
“The leadership at Forager is really great at empowering their staff from within and helping them in ways they want to grow as individuals as well as supporting their ideas.”
In 2019, Jack tragically lost his son, Marcus Tolbert, to illness. In the difficult months that followed, he found the craft beer and hospitality industry to be unwavering in their support, just as they had been throughout Marcus’ illness, through fundraising and financial support as their families navigated medical expenses and the loss of a loved one.
“In the end, I used that loss as motivation.” Jack said. “Coming back to work, I realized that I needed something more to consume my mind and sink my teeth into. I shared my idea for a bottle shop with some trusted individuals and they encouraged me to pursue the idea and really go for it.”
Jack’s Bottle Shop opened in December of 2020. The logo, murals, and fundraising efforts they would later facilitate were all created with the desire to keep Marcus’ spirit alive.
“We wanted to create a platform that we could, use not only to bring awareness to parents that have lost children, but also let them know that they’re not alone and that, no matter how dark the journey, we can continue to blossom, accomplish great things, and give back to our communities.”
Jack is grateful for the support he received from the community while opening the bottle shop. As with many new businesses, many challenges that accompanied opening centered around licensure, buildout of the space, and acquiring a liquor license.
“It can be frustrating to have to jump through hoops and navigate a lot of red tape as a small business that is just trying to create something cool for the community and elevate the product and service that you’re providing.” Jack said.
He continued, “But I was lucky to have people come alongside me who believed in my idea and story and were willing to walk me through some challenging parts of the process.”
Now open a little over two years, Jack’s Bottle Shop has grown to provide a wide variety of craft beers, as well as cider, wine, and spirits.
“I have a firm belief that everyone can be a beer drinker, there are just some people who haven’t been introduced to the right one yet.” Jack said with a laugh.
He continued, “We do a lot of homework and take a lot of pride in what we carry here so that we can provide an awesome selection for people who are passionate about what they’re drinking, whether that be the twelve pack they take fishing or the amazing bottle of wine they’re pairing with a nice dinner.”
“We also care a lot about the relationships we’re making with our customers, learning their palates and digging deeper to provide them with beers, wines, ciders, and spirits that they’ll love.”
Photo by Corrie Strommen
In coming months, Jack is excited to grow, both in size of space and offerings as they expand their wine, spirit, and educational programming to include classroom events, tastings, and home brewing classes.
Jack recently launched a series of “Dry January” tasting events in partnership with several local businesses such as Kowabucha Kombucha, The Fit Loon, Forager Cafe, Colorway Coffee, and Bitter and Pour.
“I think these events provide a great opportunity to support our shop during a slow month for the industry, as well as support and learn about other local businesses.”
Photo by Corrie Strommen
Jack has worked hard to create a thriving shop that adds value to his community and looks forward to continued growth, both in his business and within himself.
“For every person that believed in and supported me in this journey, there were also a lot of people that doubted me. It has been so rewarding building a business and watching it blossom into something I can be truly proud of. I fought hard for myself and this place; no one can take that away from me.”
Outside of his time at the bottle shop, Jack enjoys time spent with friends, family and his wife, Jenny, who is also a successful small business owner and restaurateur. Jack additionally loves live music, traveling, and golfing.
As a word of advice to anyone considering starting a business Jack said, “Dive in and take the risk. I learned very painfully how short life can be. I would encourage everyone to capitalize on their life journey and make as much of it as they can.”
Thank you for taking the time to read Jack’s story! If you find value in this content, please consider donating to help Collider continue amplifying the voices of Rochester entrepreneurs. You can also find out more about Jack’s Bottle Shop and upcoming events by clicking the links below!
Article by Corrie Strommen, Director of Community at Collider.
A Passion for Wellness with Matt Jewison of Kowabucha Kombucha
Collider is passionate about sharing the stories of entrepreneurs and small business owners! We recently chatted with local entrepreneur and co-founder of Kowabucha Kombucha, Matt Jewison.
Image contributed by Matt Jewison.
Matt Jewison, along with Mark Martincek, started their small scale kombucha business, Kowabucha Kombucha, in 2021, though it was not Matt’s first local business venture.
In 2016, Matt moved to Rochester from his family farm in southern Wisconsin, where he worked for several years following his graduation from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in business with an emphasis on marketing. Ready to give up farming and move to a larger city with more opportunities, Matt chose Rochester due to having some family in the area and having visited the city many times in the past.
In 2017, Matt opened his first of two Anytime Fitness locations in Rochester, which he finds to be a good fit for both his gym and kombucha based business pursuits.
“Rochester is full of young professionals who are dedicated to fitness and staying healthy. Opening gyms here made a lot of sense to me given the health care focus. I feel that people here are open to and interested in natural remedies like kombucha too. There’s also a great culture of support here for a lot of local businesses.”
Growing up, Matt suffered from some stomach pain and trouble with his gut, which sparked his initial interest natural, live probiotics, which helped remedy the issue. Around the time he moved to Rochester, he tried kombucha for the first time and not long after started making it for himself at home.
Photo contributed by Matt Jewison.
“My first batch was a major failure; the bottles I put it into exploded from over-carbonation. Thankfully I ended up meeting my friend and now business partner, Mark, who taught me a lot about making kombucha and developing good flavor profiles.”
After some years of practice making kombucha for themselves, Matt and Mark decided to start expanding their kombucha to sell to people that they knew.
“At a certain point we realized that there was no one making kombucha locally, and we already loved making it. It has since then turned into such a fun side business. We’re just two good friends making kombucha and sharing a product that we’re passionate about.”
Eventually they decided to make their side hustle official and pursued a cottage food license. From there they began selling at the farmers market and at some pop-up events around town.
Photo contributed by Matt Jewison.
“At first we weren’t even sure that our product was good enough, or if there was a need and demand for it in Rochester. But the response has been really great and has given us the confidence to keep growing and moving forward.”
With this growth came a need to stop brewing kombucha out of jars stored in their homes. Luckily, Matt owned a building where one of his gyms was located and had some additional space that could be converted into a small brewing area.
“It was a good opportunity to give brewing on a slightly larger scale a try. If it didn’t work out, it wasn’t going to be the end of the world.”
Though Matt was already a business owner at the time, starting a food based business provided some new and unfamiliar challenges, such as applying for licenses and learning how to test their product for pH and alcohol levels. But along with those challenges came some fun ones as well, like developing flavors and experimenting with new ingredients.
Currently, Matt and Mark predominantly sell their kombucha directly to customers through online sales, which they deliver locally, as well as making occasional appearances at farmers market and local events. They hope to expand to sell at some local food stores and shops in the future.
Photo by Ben Zastrow.
To those considering starting their own businesses, Matt said, “Make sure that you’re passionate about the business you want to start. There are a lot of ways to make money in the world, and I think that making a point to work hard at something you love is really important. Starting a business is a lot of work, and often really draining. But putting effort into something you love and are passionate about is a lot more rewarding than just working toward dollar signs.”
Outside of work, Matt enjoys listening to and performing live music, snowboarding, hiking, and spending time with friends, his fiance, and their two dogs.
For Matt, the most rewarding part of brewing kombucha is sharing it with others in the hopes that it has the same positive impact on their health as it did on his.
“I really am passionate about the health benefits of kombucha. For many people it has helped improve gut health, which in turn provides a better immune system, a clearer mind, better sleep, and more energy. It has had that effect on me, and I really hope to be able to provide that to others through our kombucha.”
Thank you for taking the time to read Matt’s story! If you find value in this content, please consider donating to help Collider continue amplifying the voices of Rochester entrepreneurs. You can also find out more about Kowabucha Kombucha by clicking the link below!
Article by Corrie Strommen, Director of Community at Collider.
Helping Women Build Confidence and Community with Shelly Walker of [Switch] Fitness
Collider is passionate about sharing the stories of entrepreneurs and small business owners! We recently chatted with Shelly Walker, who pursued her passion for fitness and empowering women to gain confidence in the gym and in themselves by opening [Switch] Fitness.
Photo contributed by Shelly Walker.
Michelle (Shelly) Walker, a longtime fitness enthusiast who recently opened her own gym, [Switch] Fitness, started her journey with movement and exercise in her teens.
“In high school I struggled with my body image and feeling depressed. My father noticed and recommended that I start going to the YMCA and exercising to see if it would help. I started running on the track every day after school and it made a big difference in my mental health and self image. It really helped me fall in love with being active. At that point, I realized that movement can be a big catalyst for change in many areas of life.”
Shelly was born and raised in Rochester. After graduating from high school, she pursued a degree in general business and worked at Mayo Clinic, coordinating a Tobacco Treatment Specialist Certification program for several years. From there she went on to work as the Director of Operations for Continuing Certification for the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, where she would continue to run a small team for the next fifteen years.
Shelly and her husband met while working at the Rochester Athletic Club in college. Several years later, they started their family, now consisting of one girl and one boy. As she became a mother and experienced the natural hormone and body changes that accompany it, Shelly once again started struggling with her mental health and feeling frustrated with her body image.
“I tried a lot of gimmicks, tricks, and trends to try and improve my perception of my body, weight, and relationship with food. It has taken several years and a lot of inner work to accept that bodies go through constant changes and that my worth is not tied to a number on the scale or jean size. That’s not why I want to strive to live a healthy lifestyle. I have always been motivated to be active and feel good in my body, so I knew I needed to make some changes to feel my best.”
After her second child was born, Shelly decided to try out some group fitness classes at Detour Athletics and quickly fell in love with the atmosphere of accountability and support she found in the community there.
Photo contributed by Shelly Walker.
“I started out as someone just walking in and trying out a class. Later, I started taking some certifications on my own to learn more about fitness and nutrition for my own journey. Eventually, my passion for helping women gain control of their health grew and I started coaching.” Shelly pursued certifications in weightlifting, CrossFit, and nutrition.
Shelly explained that one of her greatest challenges in starting [Switch] Fitness was knowing she needed to step out on her own in order to be true to her vision for the business.
“It was really difficult venturing out on my own. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be supported. But I got to a point where I decided that I needed to let go of that fear and just go for it. Just like with making changes to live a truly healthy lifestyle, it takes a level of bravery to step into a space that is new and uncomfortable. It requires a lot of sacrifice. But you have to believe in yourself, decide that you are worth the effort, and be bold enough to put yourself out there and try.”
Photo contributed by Shelly Walker.
She continued, “I applied the same thinking I learned from my fitness journey to the journey I’m taking as a small business owner, and I’m really happy to say that I have found so much support. I am incredibly grateful.”
Shelly attributes much of her comfortability with becoming an entrepreneur to her parents, who both ran their own businesses while she was growing up.
“I feel very privileged having watched my parents pursue their dreams and do things they truly enjoyed while I was a child. I saw the hard work and passion it takes to succeed and I’m really happy that I was able to jump into starting my own business with that mindset.”
[Switch] Fitness is a female focused gym and Shelly is passionate about creating a community that meets the health and wellness needs of women.
“Being a woman myself and watching my own body go through changes, as well as knowing the struggles I’ve had on my own fitness journey, really inspired me to open a gym that caters to women’s bodies and needs. I want to create a space where women feel comfortable and supported, no matter where they are on their journey.”
Photo contributed by Shelly Walker.
Shelly currently offers three classes a day, having just had their grand opening on October 29th of this year. She hopes to expand to offer more classes, hire coaches and staff, and have open gym hours in the future. She’s also looking forward to the opportunity to grow and change herself along with this new venture.
“I’m excited to see my own personal growth through starting this business as I adapt, figure things out, and continue to develop my own confidence.”
As a word of advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, Shelly said, “ Don’t overthink it. Have a plan, but don’t hold yourself back. You’ll have to be flexible and adaptable, but hard work and belief in yourself go a long way.”
With a small business to manage and two active kids, Shelly doesn’t have much time to spare for her own hobbies, but when she has the time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, staying physically active, watching sports, and spending time outdoors. “I love that my kids are getting into sports and I can finally be that crazy sports mom.” she said with a laugh.
Growing briefly teary-eyed, Shelly said, “ It’s so rewarding watching women grow in confidence the longer they’re here. It can be so hard walking into a gym for the first time, comparing yourself to others, and feeling intimidated. I’m no stranger to the endless stream of negative self talk that women sometimes throw at themselves. But little by little, watching the women here start to build up belief in themselves, and watching their confidence shine through is just amazing.”
Thank you for taking the time to read Shelly’s story! If you find value in this content, please consider donating to help Collider continue amplifying the voices of Rochester entrepreneurs. You can also find out more about [Switch] Fitness by clicking the link below!
Article by Corrie Strommen, Director of Community at Collider.
Capturing Candid Moments with Emma Jeanson Photography
Collider is passionate about sharing the stories of entrepreneurs and small business owners! We recently chatted with local photographer, Emma Jeanson, about her experience!
Photo by Emma Jeanson
Born and raised in Rochester, Emma Jeanson first became interested in photography because of her grandfather, who was an avid photographer himself.
“My grandpa had a little lighting studio in his basement where he predominantly took portraits of people and flowers. He would print and mount all of his own photos. When I was a senior, he taught me about lighting and camera settings and helped me set up a tripod and take my own senior photos.”
After graduating from high school, Emma pursued nursing at Rochester Community and Technical College. While she was there, she took a photography class to fulfill a general education requirement.
“I really have a connection to that program and I would recommend it to anyone. It’s the only formal photography education I ever had, but I learned so much.”
After college, Emma became a nurse at Mayo Clinic. People also started coming to her, asking if she would take photos for them.
“My photography business bloomed very naturally. People I knew started coming to me before I was even very good at taking photos. I thought it was a good opportunity too, since Rochester wasn’t oversaturated with photographers.”
For the next several years, Emma continued working as a nurse as well as taking on photography clients and honing her skills by practicing and watching videos.
“To build my business, I initially did some free photo shoots, just to build up some material to promote my work. From there I was able to start advertising and getting more clients.”
Photo by Emma Jeanson
In 2017, Emma was urged by her husband to take a big step and create a photography business.
“My husband told me, ‘If we’re going to do this, we need to go all in and commit.’ So we worked hard to make a great website, a friend helped me put together a wedding guide, we built up a social media presence and dove right in. Thankfully my husband has a good business brain, because I definitely have an artist's brain.” Emma said with a laugh.
For Emma, some of the greatest challenges to starting her business were making personal improvements to her photography and finding her style.
“Even though the class I took in college taught me a lot, there was still so much to learn and teach myself. There are a lot of camera settings you need to know, as well as learning how to pose people well, and how to capture good candid shots. It also took me some time to develop my personal photography style, which is important because that is what sets me apart from other photographers.”
Photo by Emma Jeanson
For Emma’s photography clients, she works hard to “capture your most candid moments,” whether that be for family photos, senior portraits, newborns, engagements, branding photos, or weddings.
“I love shooting weddings, and I always promise my couples that I will be the easiest part of their day. I’ll be their friend; I’ll be there to laugh and be a part of the wedding party. I get along with everyone and I’m always ready to capture those real moments during their special day.”
Photo by Emma Jeanson
Emma finds the feedback of her clients to be the most rewarding part of her work. “It’s always my main goal to take photos that my clients will love, to understand what they were looking for, and make that happen for them.”
As a word of advice to anyone considering starting a business, Emma said, “Just go for it. Don’t let the fear of failure hold you back. I wasted time and held myself back just because I was afraid. When I finally took the leap, I didn’t fail.”
She also said that it’s a good idea to have a backup plan when starting a business. Emma herself has continued to work in nursing supplementally.
Lastly, she said, “Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it, and don't forget to rest and take care of yourself. You’re only one person and you can only do so much. I’m really lucky to have my husband, friends, and assistant photographers to help me. Running a business isn’t easy; you need to do the work. But you also need to do the work in a way that won’t make you hate it. The whole point is doing something you love.”
Photo by Emma Jeanson
Thank you for taking the time to read Emma’s story! If you find value in this content, please consider donating to help Collider continue amplifying the voices of Rochester entrepreneurs. You can also find out more about Emma’s photography by clicking the link below!
Article by Corrie Strommen, Director of Community at Collider.
Creative Outlet Turned Side Hustle with Erica Ross of Glamouross Goods
Collider is passionate about sharing the stories of entrepreneurs and small business owners! We recently chatted with clay jewelry artist, Erica Ross, about her experience with starting her side hustle, Glamouross Goods.
Photo contributed by Erica Ross.
Erica Ross, librarian by day and polymer clay jewelry artist by night, has always loved crafting in her spare time and recalls her two grandmothers teaching her how to make things as a little girl.
“I remember my abuela teaching me how to cross stitch, which I found tedious at the time. But she helped teach me some of those skills that I now love. My other grandmother, Granny, is an artist and primarily does sculpting and painting. She taught me how to make paper out of cattails and always had watercolors and pastels ready for me to paint with. She really has ingrained into my life the importance of practicing art.” Erica explained.
Erica was born and raised in Stillwater, Minnesota. After graduating high school, she acquired her master’s degree in library and information science, along with an undergraduate degree in psychology. She and her husband lived in the Twin Cities up until the end of 2018, at which point they moved to Rochester, seeking a less expensive city to live and work in. Erica got a job at Mayo Clinic, where she works in the medical library, predominantly focused on public services and making sure people have access to library resources.
In 2014, while living in the cities, Erica had started her first crafting side hustle, That Sassy Stitch, with which she sold cross stitch designs and sweater mittens, and also collaborated with a vintage collective to embroider vintage sheets.
“I did a lot of vendor events in the Twin Cities, which ended up being really difficult just because there was so much competition. On any given day there could be many separate events happening which would impact turnout at all of them. I just never found that I had great success with sales.”
Photo contributed by Erica Ross.
After having her son and moving to Rochester, Erica thought it was time to give up her side hustle.
“After moving I thought, ‘Well, I’m done.’ Because now I was a mom, we didn’t have family nearby anymore, and I felt like it was time to focus on being an adult. A year went by, and it was really clear to me that I was missing something and needed a creative outlet.”
Erica started crafting again, this time playing with polymer clay and making earrings. Not long after, the pandemic started and her husband suggested that perhaps she could start sewing masks.
“Initially I was giving away masks, like one thousand of them. From that, people started following me on Instagram. Eventually another local artist suggested that I start selling my masks at Threshold Arts, because they were starting their storefront downtown. Later, I started selling my earrings there too.”
Photo contributed by Erica Ross.
Slowly, more opportunities to sell her crafts and participate in events came her way. Erica has been a vendor the past two years at The Night Market events.
“When I first got back into crafting after moving to Rochester, I had decided that I wouldn't get back into vending because of my experiences with it in the Twin Cities. But I was convinced to be a vendor at The Night Market. It was my first event in three years and I was absolutely blown away. The community really showed up in a way I hadn’t seen before.”
For Erica, some of the greatest challenges she’s faced while turning her hobby into a business have been “making it legit,” from figuring out sales and use taxes, to settling on a name for her evolving crafts.
“I’ve changed my business name a couple of times now as my projects have changed. It’s been hard making those adjustments in such a way that people can find me and my products. But people are really supportive. There are some customers who used to buy masks from me who now buy my earrings. I’ve also been lucky to connect to other small business owners who have shared their experiences and shed some light on how to work through problems that I’m having.”
Now rebranded under the name Glamouross Goods, Erica predominantly sells polymer earrings out of Threshold Arts in Rochester, Refill Goods in Plainview, Minnesota, and online. She also teaches classes on how to make earrings locally at Art Heads Emporium.
Photo contributed by Erica Ross.
While Erica loves crafting, she also finds much fulfillment in her work as a librarian, and has no plans to grow Glamouross Goods into a full time gig.
“Ultimately this started as something to help me relax after my full time job, and I want it to continue to be that enjoyable thing I look forward to at the end of the day. I would love to continue teaching classes and mentoring people as they experience this art form, as well as continue doing vendor events, growing, and meeting other artists.”
Outside of work and crafting, Erica spends a lot of time with her five year old son. She loves trying new foods and some of her favorite local restaurants are Thai Pop and First Meeting Noodle. She is also an avid podcast listener and cat mom.
She concluded, “Sometimes it’s so funny for me to even consider this a real business or of myself as an entrepreneur. In my mind I’m still just making my little crafts in my bedroom. It’s exciting that other people love the things that I make too.”
Thank you for taking the time to read Erica’s story! If you find value in this content, please consider donating to help Collider continue amplifying the voices of Rochester entrepreneurs. You can also find out more about Glamouross Goods by clicking the link below!
Article by Corrie Strommen, Director of Community at Collider.
Spiced Up Mom: Using Roadblocks to Reach a Wider Audience with Shari Mukherjee
Collider is passionate about sharing the stories of Rochester entrepreneurs and small business owners! We recently chatted with Shari Mukherjee, who is a local food blogger, chef, content creator, and Master Chef participant.
Photo contributed by Shari Mukherjee
Shari Mukherjee, online content creator and writer of a food based blog, Spiced Up Mom, did not get into cooking until after meeting and marrying her husband. In fact, she explained that she was a very poor cook up until that time.
“When my husband and I were first married I was a terrible cook, like really bad,” Shari said with a laugh. “We used to watch the show Worst Cooks in America, and my husband sent in an application for me as a joke. I was mortified when the producers actually called me and refused to audition to be on the show.”
Shari went to college at the University of Minnesota Duluth to study cell biology. Shortly after acquiring her degree, the recession hit and she moved back to Rochester to work at a pharmacy, at which time she met and married her husband.
After getting married, Shari and her husband purchased a home. Shari remembers watching a different cooking show, Master Chef, one of their first nights living there. “That’s the show I want to be on,” she said at the time.
Over the next several years, Shari began experimenting with cooking, soon falling in love with the process of learning and developing recipes. She and her husband also grew their small family to include two sons. Now a stay at home mom, Shari launched her food based blog, Spiced Up Mom.
Photo by Shari Mukherjee
In 2019, Shari realized that Master Chef was hosting casting auditions in Minneapolis. Thinking back to her aspiration to be on the show years past, she decided that she would give it her best shot and audition to be a participant.
“When I saw that Master Chef was casting, I knew I had to go. So I told my husband I was going to audition, we dropped the kids at my sister's house, and he took off work and came up with me. I asked others to audition too, but no one wanted to,” Shari explained.
“I realized that it was a big, crazy dream and being pretty practical, I understood that the chances of me getting on the show were really slim. But I made it, out of the 20,000 other applicants, I was somehow one of the twenty chefs selected to participate in the show.”
Shari spent three months filming with Master Chef, working directly with well known chef and TV personality, Gordon Ramsay. After such a crazy experience, Shari was excited for opportunities to come her way upon returning to Rochester.
Photo contributed by Shari Mukherjee
“Before MasterChef I had been working on my blog, teaching myself to cook, and selling macarons locally. I had done one pop-up dining event with others in the community at a local restaurant but that didn't turn into anything regular. When I came back, I had a lot of ideas about doing something bigger.”
Unfortunately, Shari was surprised and disappointed to find roadblock after roadblock in her way after returning home and attempting to start something new and exciting.
“It was strange, I felt like prior to being on the show it was a lot easier to make connections in town and get people to work with me. Afterward, it felt like almost no one would work with me. Honestly, I felt ostracized to an extent. I saw other individuals from the show being embraced by their communities, going on to start restaurants or have crazy local opportunities come their way, and I was getting a bit frustrated by all of the rejection I was facing in my own community.”
Shari also felt that she did not receive the help that she wanted from the Rochester entrepreneurial community. Because she was a stay at home mom, she found it difficult to make it to various networking events to make connections with other entrepreneurs. She also found advice that was given to her to be dismissive and upset her more than it helped her at the time.
"I was told, 'If you don't feel you can do what you would like to start your business here in Rochester then I suggest you take your celebrity and influence online and make your business there.' That made me really angry at the time, considering that I was asking for help to overcome some of these struggles I was facing from a local entrepreneurial group-whose mission is to help people start businesses locally.”
Eventually however, an opportunity did come Shari’s way through a local cooking store and kitchen, Figue. They had discovered her on social media and reached out, asking if she was interested in being involved. Shari went on to host cooking demonstrations there, which she greatly enjoyed.
“I found that I was really good at teaching and really loved doing it. It was really exciting working with them to teach classes and host private dinners.”
Photo by Shari Mukherjee
Sadly, when the pandemic hit, Figue was forced to close and was unable to reopen. Shari was faced with yet another roadblock.
“It just felt that anything good that happened didn’t happen at quite the right time.”
During the pandemic however, some other opportunities came Shari’s way. Mayo Clinic reached out to her, asking if she would be willing to teach virtual cooking classes for their employees
“The opportunity with Mayo Clinic really helped me learn how to create good video content, it also opened up some doors and sparked connections that led to me teaching a lot more virtual cooking classes.”
Shari has gone on to utilize her love of cooking in many ways, from creating large quantities of online cooking content on her blog and social media platforms, hosting private dinners, teaching in person and virtual classes, selling macarons and cookie cakes, as well as developing and selling recipes and online content and photos for large and small brands. She recently had the opportunity to collaborate with Collins Orthodontics on a mini doughnut business they created to raise funds for their “Adopt-A-Shark” program which provides free braces to child cancer survivors. Shari developed seventeen unique sugar flavors for the business, The Donut.
“It’s been a really amazing opportunity. It allowed me to get back into some of my favorite things like food photography, product photography, and recipe development.”
Photo by Shari Mukherjee
Shari, along with her difficulties with finding a place for her skills and ideas in the community, finds being a stay at home mom to be one of the greatest challenges of being an entrepreneur.
“I have to remember that while I have this dream of cooking and letting that provide me with the opportunities that it will, that this is not my children’s dream or my husband’s dream, and I have to be conscious of how the things that I pursue affect them too. That can be really hard when there are things I want to do that don’t necessarily make sense for my family.”
Despite a challenging journey, Shari has found a way to do what she loves in a way that works for her, and intends to keep growing and changing to succeed in a way that makes her happy and shares her love of cooking with a wide audience.
“For me, the most rewarding thing about doing what I do is the creativity and the freedom to create whatever I want. I don’t have to put myself into a box just because I’m good at a certain thing. I’m always growing and setting goals for myself, and I’m the kind of person that sets a goal and makes it happen.”
She continued, “I thought by now I might have been doing more pop-ups or working with local restaurants to create something, but instead I’ve created a great online brand for myself and have been able to reach so many more people than I ever expected to.”
As a word of advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, Shari said, “Keep an open mind and have confidence in yourself. Oftentimes things won’t work out the way that you hope they will. But if you are really passionate about your dream or idea, something will work out in some way. It may be different than you imagined, but it may be better too.”
Thank you for taking the time to read Shari’s story! If you find value in this content, please consider donating to help Collider continue amplifying the voices of Rochester entrepreneurs. You can also find out more about Shari and what she’s working on by clicking the link below!
Article by Corrie Strommen, Director of Community at Collider.
Holistic Healer: Connecting With Her Heritage Through Holistic Medicine with Kristina Gacesa
Collider is passionate about sharing the stories of Rochester entrepreneurs and small business owners! We recently chatted with Kristina Gacesa, who opened Seven Medicine TCM Healing Clinic to provide holistic medical care in Rochester.
Kristina Gacesa was raised in Rochester after her family immigrated from Bosnia as civil war refugees in the 90s. Due to the illness of a sibling, Kristina’s family chose Rochester as their home for its proximity to Mayo Clinic.
After graduating from high school, Kristina began pursuing a medical degree at the University of Minnesota Rochester, though she came to the quick realization that western medicine was not the direction she wanted to take with her education.
“I was pre-med and asked myself, ‘What am I doing?’ In my culture, we tend to treat illness in a more holistic way. If I ever had a fever as a child, my mom would put potatoes and vinegar in my socks to draw the fever out. I had never taken Tylenol or Advil, and I couldn't imagine prescribing a patient oxycontin or morphine. It just wasn’t me.” Kristina explained.
“In a way, growing up near the clinic, I felt a bit forced to go into western medicine. Not that I believe there is anything wrong with western medicine, I just didn’t feel that it was a study I was passionate about pursuing for myself. So I decided to take a step back and took six months off of school to decide what I really wanted to do.”
During her time off, Kristina was inspired by her grandfather, who frequently spent time foraging and gathering herbs and different botanicals as cures for family ailments.
“He would dry out these plants, store them in plastic bags, and write on them ‘this is for a stomach ache’ or ‘this is for cramps.’ He inspired me to pursue medicine that was more natural. So I found a school in the cities where I could pursue herbal medicine.”
Around this time, Kristina suffered a back injury and was urged to have surgery to resolve the issue. She felt wary of having a major surgery on her back in her early twenties and asked her physician if there were any other options. They suggested that acupuncture may help with her pain.
“The school I was looking at offered a degree in herbal medicine and acupuncture. At the time I knew that I wanted to pursue herbal medicine, but was unsure about acupuncture. When I gave it a try for my back injury, I had an epiphany during the appointment.” Kristina said with a laugh. “I suddenly knew that this is what I should be doing.”
Kristina went on to complete a double master’s degree in acupuncture and Chinese medicine at Northwestern Health Sciences University and intends to complete her doctorate in the future.
After graduating, she began job hunting in Rochester with hopes of getting a position at a private practice or local hospital. After being turned down for a position at Mayo Clinic due to a lack of experience, Kristina’s husband urged her to start her own clinic.
“I really did not want to open a clinic initially. In school, I had only taken one business class and had no idea how I would even get started. I wanted a job where I could clock in and clock out and not be responsible for the business side of things. But my husband kept encouraging me and pushing me to start my own clinic. I also noticed the small number of holistic clinics in the area and the opportunity there for me. Eventually I gave in and decided to give it a try.”
Kristina opened her clinic, Seven Medicine TCM Healing Clinic, with the help of her husband in December of 2019.
Photo by Corrie Strommen
“I felt like I was just thrown into the water and I didn’t know what to do. But once I was in the water I learned how to swim.”
Kristina found many business aspects of getting started challenging, from writing a business plan, starting an LLC, grappling with licensure, filing taxes for the business, and learning how to supervise staff.
“There was a lot to learn. But I’m really lucky to have several friends who have also started businesses. We have a little group and we always ask each other questions and figure out things we’re struggling with together.”
For Kristina’s patients, her process begins with a short consultation to evaluate their diagnosis and decide on a treatment plan. Depending on patients’ ailments and desired outcomes, Kristina provides many treatment services such as acupuncture, fire cupping, moxibustion, guasha, herbal medicine, food therapy, and recommended lifestyle modifications.
Photo by Corrie Strommen
Though Kristina was hesitant to start her own clinic, she now finds much joy in her work and in running her business. She has also grown from a home practice to having her own clinic near downtown Rochester.
“It’s so rewarding seeing the outcomes of my patients. Because I see my patients so frequently throughout the treatment process, I really can see the changes as they occur and watch them get better.” Kristina explained.
Photo by Corrie Strommen
Outside of running her clinic, Kristina enjoys spending time with her husband and their two children. She loves the changing of the seasons in Minnesota and the activities that accompany them such as swimming, going to the pumpkin patch, skiing, and ice skating. When she has the time, she enjoys playing piano and is also an avid baker.
To those considering starting a business Kristina said, “Open the business! There are obviously pros and cons, but I truly believe that everyone should try opening their own business. Or at least step back and really look at what makes you happy and what you want to do with your life, which isn’t always going to be the traditional direction and path we are often encouraged to take with our education and lives.”
She concluded, “Seeing how things turned out, I would never go and work for someone else. Here I have freedom and flexibility. I can do everything that I learned in school and I don’t feel limited in any way. I’m my own doctor and supervisor and I love being able to both choose and conduct the treatment plans for my patients. I also get to decorate my own space and bring an artistic aspect into my job. I love merging both the playful and creative side of my brain with the more logical and analytical side. I get the best of both worlds! It really was the best life decision I ever made. It’s not something I ever thought I would do, but I’m so happy that I took the leap.”
Thank you for taking the time to read Kristina’s story! If you find value in this content, please consider donating to help Collider continue amplifying the voices of Rochester entrepreneurs. You can also find out more about Seven Medicine TCM Healing Clinic by clicking the link below!
Article by Corrie Strommen, Director of Community at Collider.
Serving Mothers with Emotional and Informational Support Through Peace and Compassion Birth Services with Psalms Frye
Collider is passionate about sharing the stories of Rochester entrepreneurs and small business owners! We recently chatted with Psalms Frye, who serves mothers and babies as a doula through her business, Peace and Compassion Birth Services.
Photo contributed by Psalms Frye.
Psalms Frye, local doula and owner of Peace and Compassion Birth Services, was born and raised in Chicago. Throughout her twenties, Psalms worked in sales and acquired a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and master’s degrees in both theological studies and business administration.
Psalms moved to Rochester upon meeting and marrying her husband, who grew up in the area. The two of them soon started a family, now consisting of five children, all of whom Psalms teaches from home.
“I’ve spent the last decade just raising my kids,” Psalms said with a laugh.
Psalms' interest in becoming a doula began while pregnant with her fifth child.
“I have five children and obviously have given birth many times which sparked my interest in birthing and the process for a mother’s body. While pregnant for the fifth time, I became privy to the black maternal health crisis in America and I truly felt afraid for myself and my child’s life.” Psalms explained.
“I became aware of stories of black mothers dying during and after childbirth due to improper care. I dug into the issue and found out that black women are two to three times more likely to die during childbirth. I knew that I didn’t want to end up having a surgical birth again, so I stayed home as long as I could.”
A year later, thinking back on her birth experiences, knowing how helpful a doula would have been to her throughout her own pregnancies, and seeing the need for community education around birth services, Psalms decided to pursue doula training and certification through Doulas of North America and began serving mothers in 2020.
Through her business, Peace and Compassion Birth Services, Psalms works with mothers through prenatal, birth, and postpartum stages of their pregnancies.
“My clients initially fill out intake forms, helping me figure out whether the mother and I are a good fit for one another. Next we go through a prenatal consultation, going through positions and their birth plan. If they don’t have a birth plan, I can help them form one based on their needs and desires. I attend births during active labor, helping mothers be as comfortable as possible, keeping them focused, and letting them know that they aren’t alone. After the birth, I usually meet with mothers a week or so later for a postpartum update.”
Psalms believes that the greatest challenge for local doulas is community education around what they do as well as gaining visibility for their services.
“In the delivery room, there can be so much activity and people pressuring you to make medical decisions for yourself and your child. It can be very overwhelming. The role of a doula in that situation is to know the birth you wanted to have prior to entering the delivery room, and advocate on behalf of the mother to stick to that plan, within the bounds of medical safety of course. Going into prenatal appointments and birth, mothers need to be aware that while medical professionals are there to care for them, they are still in charge of their own bodies. They can advocate for their own needs and give informed consent for medications and procedures.”
Psalms finds much joy in her work with mothers and babies.
“I truly love to serve women, mothers, and babies. I was fortunate to have a lot of support during my pregnancies and I want to be there to serve other mothers with emotional and informational support. Doula literally means ‘a woman’s servant’. Doulas have been around since ancient times; I love stepping into that space and leaving a legacy for my daughters.” Psalms said.
“I also hope to help make changes in the climate around the black maternal health crisis. I want all women, regardless of race, color, or beliefs, to be able to walk into birthing centers feeling empowered and safe.”
As a word of advice to aspiring business owners Psalms said, “Do it afraid. There’s a first time for everything. Trust what you've learned. Trust that you are what the world is missing and do it afraid.”
Outside of her work as a doula, Psalms spends much time with her husband and children. They love hiking and exploring national parks together. She also takes time for self care so that she can best care for those around her.
Thank you for taking the time to read Psalm’s story! If you find value in this content, please consider donating to help Collider continue amplifying the voices of Rochester entrepreneurs. You can also find out more about Peace and Compassion Birth Services by clicking the link below!
Article by Corrie Strommen, Director of Community at Collider.
Truly Kismet: Longtime Local Consignment Shop Changes Hands but Keeps its Soul
Collider is passionate about sharing the stories of Rochester entrepreneurs and small business owners! We recently chatted with Jes Peterson and Penny Bracken, who have come together to continue the life of the thriving, nineteen year old consignment business, Kismet.
Photo by Corrie Strommen
Rochester native, Jes Peterson, always knew that she wanted to start her own business and, in the summer of 2022, was able to make her dream a reality when she connected with Penny Bracken to purchase longtime local consignment shop, Kismet.
“Kismet” means fate or destiny, and the two women agree that their meeting and the subsequent sale of the business was just that.
“After owning and running Kismet for nineteen years, I was ready to let go of the business but I didn’t want to just sell the building and watch developers tear it down. I knew that there had to be someone with the passion and drive to keep the place going, I just had to find them.” Penny explained.
Jes had worked in retail for many years, predominantly managing displays and store styling at establishments such as JCPenny, Pier 1, and TJ Maxx. After her husband passed away and she found herself a single mother, she gave up retail for a “big girl job” at Minnwest Bank and later acquired a degree in business management.
“At one point we got a new president at the bank and he asked me what I wanted to be doing in my position. I told him that I wanted to work with the entrepreneurs of the world. That’s how I really got connected to the business community in Rochester.” Jes said.
She continued, “In 2015 I tried to open my own business and was laughed out of five or six different banks while trying to get funding. I lost heart and couldn’t do it. I didn’t have the guts at the time and it seemed like a big risk to take as a single mom without anything to fall back on.”
When asked about her first business idea, Jes said with a grin, “That’s a pretty big secret because it could still happen someday.”
After banking for many years, Jes took on a position at The Post Bulletin for a time and most recently worked as the store manager for the newly opened At Home location in Rochester.
Penny, meanwhile, opened Kismet in 2004. “I got off of a boat at the Panama Canal after sailing for three and a half years with my life partner at the time. I came to Rochester to briefly visit my mother and father before heading back to my home in California. But over the course of the visit I realized that I felt called to stay in Rochester and care for my parents through their final years.”
“After being unemployed and sailing for almost five years, I filled out my resume and started looking for a job at the age of 51, wondering ‘how am I ever going to pull this off?’ I stumbled into a little clothing store called Heidi’s Closet and asked for a job. The owner said she had just hired someone. I offered to work for free and, naturally, she changed her mind.” Penny said, laughing.
Penny was soon running Heidi’s Closet, and a year and a half later, purchased the business and rebranded it as Kismet. Throughout the next several years she purchased additional spaces on the same block, eventually joining them to form a larger, cohesive space.
Photo by Corrie Strommen
“Coming from California, where everyone is doing cool things and opening businesses, I realized that Rochester was, and still is, a city of great opportunity because of how much untapped potential there is here. I knew I could create something new that people had never seen here before.”
Penny was not new to entrepreneurship when she opened Kismet, as she had prior experience in business ownership from multiple ventures throughout her life. She opened her first secondhand store in 1977 in Northern California, later opened a variety store, worked in jewelry manufacturing, and also had a sewing production business for a time.
“When I was ready to sell Kismet, I didn’t put out a single advertisement, I really hoped that the right person would cross my path organically. I ended up hearing from one of my employees that Jes may be interested in a store like this. So the next time she came in, I approached her and said, ‘I hear you’re perhaps interested in a business like this.’”
Photo by Corrie Strommen
Jes interrupted with a laugh, “No, you very bluntly asked if I wanted to buy your business and I very bluntly said yes and we agreed to discuss it.”
From there, the two women started discussing terms of sale and forming letters of intent, in agreement that they wanted to make an arrangement that worked well for both of them.
“I was thrilled that someone could see the vision from my perspective and had the desire to take it over and keep it running.” Penny said.
“The beauty of this business is that it is tried and true, it has a great local reputation.” Jes said. “Living up to Penny’s legacy will be a challenge, but it’s also an exciting opportunity to continue the success of the business.”
To make it her own, Jes is excited to find some new tenants for portions of the space to activate and bring life to the area. She’s also excited to promote and work with other neighboring thrift and consignment stores.
Both women find work in consignment rewarding through the excitement of others coming into the space and finding treasures, along with arranging an eclectic collection of art, clothing, furniture, and home goods.
Photo by Corrie Strommen
While Jes now has her hands full with running a business, Penny plans to spend more time at rest at her vacation home in Mexico, off of the Yucatan Peninsula. She also looks forward to spending more time with her family.
Outside of work, Jes loves supporting local restaurants and business, hanging out in the art community and making coasters.“I also love movies and curling up at home with my cat.”
Both Jes and Penny advise aspiring business owners to brainstorm with like minded people and to not be afraid to ask for advice from those operating similar businesses.
“There’s nothing better than getting feedback and advice from those who have already been down the path you’re starting. Make use of the resources in your community.”
“This space has its own heartbeat and my heart is so full just being here.” Jes said. “I’m on cloud nine while working here. I love stuff, moving stuff, tinkering around with stuff - it feeds my brain and my soul.”
Article by Corrie Strommen, Director of Community at Collider.
Making a Difference in People’s Lives Through Music with Christina Wood of Healing Rhythms Music Therapy
Collider is passionate about sharing the stories of Rochester entrepreneurs and small business owners! We recently chatted with Christina Wood, who started Healing Rhythms Music Therapy LLC in Rochester in 2013.
Photo contributed by Christina Wood.
Christina Wood found her love of music early, when she learned to play the piano at the age of five. Hand in hand came a longtime love of helping others.
When Christina went to college she initially pursued music performance, but she quickly realized that performance was not the right path for her as she wanted to use her talents to help others. She transferred her studies to Wartburg College to pursue dual bachelor’s degrees in music therapy and music education.
“I knew pretty early into my education that I wanted to be in the medical realm of music therapy. My personal life experiences gave me a strong desire to share the power of music with others and use it day to day within therapy.” Christina explained.
After college, Christina completed her medical music therapy internship in the Twin Cities. She then began her career as a sole proprietor, contracted at an agency, and also piloted music therapy programs with various hospitals and facilities throughout the metro. She later pursued a master’s degree in music therapy to further expand her education for a more holistic approach.
Christina was passionate about her work in music therapy and knew that she wanted to grow into her own space and practice, but wasn’t sure that the Twin Cities was the place.
“I’m a small town farm girl from Minnesota and believe that everyone should have access to high quality services, regardless of where they are. I really had a growing dream and desire to bring music therapy to rural Minnesota, but also back to my home community and to Mayo Clinic.” Christina explained.
In 2007, an opportunity arose for Christina to pilot a music therapy program in pediatrics for Mayo Clinic and she found herself frequently commuting to Rochester. She quickly saw that there was a real need for music therapy services in the area and realized that she could do a lot of good in Rochester.
She eventually made the move to Rochester, but continued commuting to the Twin Cities to do some work, unsure that she was willing to give up the life that she had there. She remembers clearly the moment committing to Rochester and starting a community-based business “clicked” for her.
“I was laying in bed one morning and a song came on the radio with the lyrics ‘greater things have yet to come, greater things are still to be done in this city’ and those words kept running through my head over and over. I thought to myself, ‘Okay, I need to believe that this is where I’m supposed to be and this is what I’m supposed to do.’ So I really started setting my roots here.”
Christina began as a solo-preneur in Rochester for several years yet had a strong desire to build a team. She had observed friends and colleagues get burnt out and knew that the work that lay ahead of her was too great to tackle alone. She was also passionate about sharing her knowledge and skills with others who would share her love of music and helping others. “I really wanted to build a team that would lift each other up, coach and mentor others, and accomplish more together.”
Photo contributed by Christina Wood.
Christina rebranded and opened Healing Rhythms Music Therapy in 2013, to fulfill her vision of building a team of therapists to serve people from all stages of life. They have grown to offer a wide variety of services to fulfill client needs, whether that be individual sessions, group music therapy, adaptive music lessons, presentations, community partnerships, or music-based wellness workshops.
Christina explained that, “Here at our clinic, we strive to be flexible and work hard to meet and support people where they are, whether that be working with young kids with developmental disabilities, providing groups in memory care, or supporting individuals at end of life. There are so many scenarios where life may not be going the way people expect and music can provide a lot of comfort and joy in those situations.”
Photo contributed by Christina Wood.
Healing Rhythms Music Therapy, while functioning out of its own clinic space, also partners with many other community organizations such as Mayo Clinic, the local women’s shelter, Adapta, The Ronald McDonald House, and local schools. Outside of Rochester, they have also expanded to serve over twenty surrounding counties with their services.
During the early stages of operation, Christina explained that while she is a very knowledgeable music therapist, she really didn’t know much about starting a business and found decision making and structuring for Healing Rhythms to be a challenge. She also found that there was a great deal of community education that needed to happen in Rochester to help people understand what music therapy is and how it differs from music education and performance.
An ongoing challenge for Christina has been acquiring adequate staffing for their growing reach and offerings. Though she has grown from a staff of one therapist to eleven, she currently has openings for several more staff members at Healing Rhythms. She explained that music therapy is still a niche career path with only 25,000 music therapists in the entirety of the United States. Christina has had to work hard to recruit staff from other cities and states to move to Rochester and join their team.
Unaware of another looming challenge coming her way, Christina took a leap of faith and bought a larger clinic space in February of 2020, along with taking out a substantial commercial loan to completely gut and renovate the building.
Photo by AB Photography.
Two weeks later, when COVID-19 sent business spiraling into closure and uncertainty, Christina found herself facing a shut down and little or no business for an unknown amount of time.
Unsure of how to move forward, she reached out to organizations in the community for options and support and found the resources to move forward and stay afloat. “I’m so thankful for the resources for small businesses in our community and how everyone pulled together during the pandemic.” Christina said.
Even with help from the community, Christina had to pivot their business model since they served so many vulnerable people that were at risk during the pandemic. They began offering online classes, telehealth sessions, and many free music therapy and mental health based services. Christina explained that even when people could return to the clinic, they’ve had several rolling shutdowns, still wear masks onsite and many clients still access their services virtually. “We still feel the effects of the pandemic every day.”
Photo by AB Photography.
Despite all of these challenges, Christina finds her work in the community very rewarding. She now operates in a predominantly internal role as Executive Director, but loves the occasional opportunity she has to fill in for staff and work with clients directly. “It really helps to bring me back to the center of why we do what we do. I love knowing and trusting that we’re making a difference in peoples’ lives everyday through music.”
In the future, Christina is excited to continue expanding their reach to serve more people and communities. In the past year they have opened a second location in St. Peter, Minnesota and are working to broaden the scope of services they offer there as well as seeking more staff for their growing team.
Christina is a single mom of three which keeps her busy outside of her work at Healing Rhythms, and she strives to find time for the things that bring her joy. “Nature fuels my soul. I love water skiing, snow skiing, kayaking, spending time with my family and friends, and sitting by a campfire making music.”
Thank you for taking the time to read Christina’s story! If you find value in this content, please consider donating to help Collider continue amplifying the voices of Rochester entrepreneurs. You can also find out more about Healing Rhythms Music Therapy by clicking the link below!
Article by Corrie Strommen, Director of Community at Collider.