Minnesota Made with Sarah Schroeder

Minnesota Made is an apparel company based out of Stillwater, MN. Founder and Owner, Sarah Schroeder talks about the journey to what is now her beautiful business, Minnesota Made. With a passion for the environment, Sarah has made it a priority to ensure that her products are aligned with her values - including working with WRAP-certified factories.

The clothing that you get from Minnesota Made isn't just another screen print. Sarah's artistic talent is embedded into each piece with special meaning and sometimes even hidden quotes. You're likely to find your new favorite hoodie, t-shirt, tank top, etc...all of the clothing is incredibly soft and cozy!

With the holidays coming up, Sarah talks about Small Biz Weekend and some of the deals that they'll be offering. Can't make it to Stillwater? Check out the website to view all of the other stores across MN that carry Minnesota Made clothing.

Minnesota Made Website
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Minnesota Made on Instagram

Transcript

Minnesota Made
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THIS TRANSCRIPT HAS BEEN AUTO-GENERATED USING AI TECHNOLOGY. THERE MAY BE WORDS THAT ARE INCORRECTLY TRANSCRIBED.

Katie: [00:00:00] On the way here, I was trying to think about how I think of you, and I feel like because you and I have known of each other, known each other. Was it high school or junior high? Were you a Stillwater Junior High?

Sarah: I kind of, I mean, yes and no. I went to St.Croix Catholic. Okay. So then by the time. Seventh and eighth grade.

Sarah: We went there for a few hours and then ninth grade I went there full time. Yep. And then, but yes, first of water high school too. Yeah. I think it was high school, I feel like.

Katie: Yeah, I think so too. But I've always looked at you and thought like you were an artist.

Sarah: Oh,

Katie: Like you

Sarah: Did take a lot of art classes.

Katie: You well, but I feel like you ooze creativity.

Sarah: Oh, cool.

Katie: So you were born and raised to water? Yes. And then went to school at umd? Correct. And then came right back here.

Sarah: Pretty much

Katie: Right.

Sarah: I know. It's kind of funny because I just think about how. You know? Yeah. I moved away up there for four and a half years, which really, It's not like you're up there the entire time. Like [00:01:00] as far as like some, I had summer jobs back here.

Sarah: Granted we would go up there as much as possible. But yeah, I went to school up there for four and a half years and then, yeah, it just, I don't know. You're from around the valley. There's so many people that leave and they all come home. . I know.

Katie: know. And then the people that don't, you're like, What's wrong with you?

Sarah: Right, right, right. But yeah, I've

Katie: did you find?

Sarah: Right , it just has never been like a question of living somewhere else. I don't know why. . But I mean, how here, I feel like everything's just special here. Yeah. When you have the river and like when you're an outdoorsy person, like we have a boat and we camp, and you know, we go out on our boat, whatever like it, everything's just here.

Sarah: And then, I mean, I also joke around about how, like with Duluth, how both places are somewhat similar. Yeah. I mean, as far as being next to water, whatever, granite, they have a big gigantic lake. But it's still, Yeah. Like we spend a lot of time up there 

Katie: Yeah 

Sarah: But yeah. Well, and we, [00:02:00] I should also say we do live in Bayport now, which is,

Katie: you're out of the loop now.

Katie: No, I'm just kidding. usually outta the loop

Sarah: by three minutes. , three minute drive.

Katie: on the river

Sarah: though. Yes, right. Yeah. . Yeah.

Katie: So you came back here from college and what kind of work did you start doing right after that?

Sarah: So this is back in the day of where they didn't really have job placement for you. So I worked at a coffee shop, here in town.

Sarah: And then, what was it, I worked there, I worked out at the Andos. I'm trying to remember exactly how old I was when I first got my job, but the first was at the Gazette here in Stillwater. Yeah. So which was the, obviously the n.

Sarah: And it was fun because one of my childhood friends, Mickey Adams, she worked up there and was the editor and stuff.

Sarah: So yeah. Worked up there for a couple years and then where did I go? I think I went to Gartner right after that. Which is here in town. So I was, uh, product designer and stuff I should say, started out doing mockup, then did production, and then was the product designer

Katie: designer. What kind of products?

Sarah: It was baby [00:03:00] invitations, wedding invitations, a lot of party type of stuff, whatever.

Sarah: Yeah. And I was there for, I think it was seven and a half years. So, yeah.

Katie: And then af after that

Sarah: that's kind of how, Yeah. Minnesota made, came to me. So, I was part of a layoff. There was a bunch of us that were laid off at once. And then this, I think it was like in June when I had gotten laid off. So here, you know, people are like, Oh my God, you have some time off or whatever.

Sarah: I was like, No. Like I need to find another job. And like I was so stressed about it, whatever. But it was interesting because how Minnesota Maid started was we actually went up to Duluth with some friends to see a trip of by Turtles, an atmosphere concert. And we saw a bunch of people like walking around with Minnesota shirts and.

Sarah: I was, and a lot of 'em were men, and I was like, Why isn't anything made for a woman? Like we're the shoppers at times, You know what I mean? Mm-hmm. and like, I don't know. I just was like, why can't I find [00:04:00] anything? Even anywhere was looking for stuff. Everything was for a guy. And then I've always been super cautious about I should say conscious about like our environment and like ways that you can do things better.

Sarah: So yeah, that's really how it started. I started kind of messing around with some designs and stuff when I was unemployed.

Sarah: and then really wanted to use like sustainable apparel. Mm-hmm. . So I did tons of research as far as like what are business, what are companies that are out there that have sustainable apparel?

Sarah: What does it mean to be sustainable? Cuz it's kind of certain things of where people will say like, Oh, this is sustainable, but it might not. Some things get in a very gray area at times. But one of the things that I had found out was some of the businesses, and or I should say apparel, places that I still order from is that they use wrap certified factories, which means worldwide responsibly accredited production.

Sarah: So the way that the garments and stuff are made, there's child labor. It's good for, it's not bad for the environment. [00:05:00] Like there's a ton of things that these factories have to do and keep up every year. Mm-hmm. . So it kind of ends up broadening how, don't even wanna say like broadening like your. Choices of places that you can use because yes, I'm all about like using things that are made in the US as well.

Sarah: Yeah. However, now it's like all these other things are raising their standards and stuff too. Yeah. So it's kind of like this mixture of both. And it's also interesting at times with some of the factories too,

Sarah: Parts of it might be made in the US but they might end up being finished in another country or whatever.

Sarah: So it's kind of interesting when you like look at each different type of apparel 

Sarah: Like just the different fabrics and the different blends. Yeah. They're all not made necessarily in the same factory or the same way or whatever. 

Sarah: With a lot of our sweatshirts and stuff that we use, we have, uh, small little stickers that we put on there and it says like, made from recycled water [00:06:00] bottles. A good description of how it is made is that the shirt has cotton that comes from Texas recycled water bottles that are from South Carolina.

Sarah: Then it's made into thread North Carolina. The thread is sent to Miami where it's made into fabric. And then that's where they're all made in the rep certified factories. Wow. So, yeah, it was pretty cool.

Katie: So when you started Minnesota ma mm-hmm. , you started with

Katie: research 

Sarah: obviously. Mm-hmm.

Katie: find the companies that are going to help me make

Sarah: right.

Katie: Tell me about your first design that you made and how, how that came to fruit.

Sarah: So, I don't think that there was like just one particular design that I did first because being a product designer, You know, that you have to make a 

Katie: Yeah. 

Sarah: So I think I made five at the time, possibly. Oh, I don't even know off the top of my head. But it's interesting because like even, so this all started nine years ago. Mm-hmm. , um seven. I always say like seven years ago is when we finally [00:07:00] became a business. Like after you really like, become a thing.

Sarah: Yeah. But even some of our, the designs that I did back then are still in our current line.

Sarah: The first show that I signed up for was at the Legion in Bay Port . Nice. Like a little hometown event Christmas event. Yeah. So I had to make sure, you know what I mean, that I had enough stuff, for that. 

Katie: So you started out as kind of a market?

Sarah: Mm-hmm. Yes, Yes. So, and it was just like one of those ways of like, how can I get in front of people to be able to sell the product? And then just kind of signed up for a few more events and just kind of kept that up. I eventually, I think it was in January, so I was unemployed for about six months um and did.

Sarah: Getting a job for one guy who worked out in Maple Grove. So here I pretty much have worked in Stonewater my entire life. So now I'm having to go like 45 minutes the other direction, , which is totally fine. like

Katie: like LA traffic too , right?

Sarah: When [00:08:00] everyone's like, Do you hate it? And I was like, Not really. I'm like, I get why people listen to music and stuff in the morning and can listen to radio.

Sarah: I'm like, I've never had that.

Katie: Yes. Yeah. So

Katie: Mm-hmm.

Sarah: But yeah, I was working out there.

Sarah: Still just kind of continued to do events and stuff. And it started to get to a point of where stores were asking if I, , was selling apparel mm-hmm. , and then I was like, Oh. I'm like, I yeah.

Sarah: Might need to be figuring something else more out with this. Like this isn't just like this little hobby that I had started out to be. Yeah. So yeah. So then I started, I mean, selling into stores and everything.

Sarah: I should have looked back exactly like years as far as like how long, cuz it was kind of a little while until I did a 

Katie: Your website is beautiful 

Katie: by

Sarah: the way. Oh, thanks. I do that too. I do it all. . 

Katie: that You

Katie: do I mean, that's the designer

Sarah: do it all. Yeah. But yeah, even, I don't know, I guess even like my process and stuff is a little bit different because kind of how we were talking before, I ask a lot of questions [00:09:00] and I wanna make sure that I'm like doing things the right way I feel like so many times when people start businesses, they're like, You have to do everything now.

Sarah: It's not always a sprint. I feel like at times it can be that, but I'm really thoughtful as far as like, does this feel right?

Sarah: Is this something that I want to be doing? You know, and again, website for example, When you even start out doing that, you know, everyone's like, Oh, do you have all of your products on here? Is, are you gonna be adding more? Are you gonna be doing this? And I feel like now even having the shop, I mean, we have so many items here in the shop that we don't even have on the website, and it is just this constant like, okay, like, and you just have to do what is manageable for yourself and yeah.

Sarah: Right.

Katie: I can relate to that.

Sarah: Mm-hmm.

Katie: you went from being a vendor at markets. 

Sarah: Mm-hmm 

Katie: And obviously we're sitting in this beautiful store

Sarah: now Mm-hmm.

Katie: So when did this come about? Like what was that [00:10:00] first step

Sarah: Well, and it's funny, so, you know, people say like, don't say like, I would never um I will say like even with the business years ago, If people ever talked about owning their own business, I was like, I will never own my own business.

Sarah: Like, are you crazy? That sounds like such pain in the ass. Like I do not want anything to do with that. And here I am. And the same thing with the. Would I ever have a retail store? People ask me that all the time. I'm like, No. I'm like, absolutely not. I do not want a retail store here I am but things like, kind of how I was saying before, like how you just kind of let things work out and you let things happen and you just have to go with your gut with things.

Sarah: I mean, even to go back a little bit further, you know, obviously when I. This was all out of my house. I was screen printing everything in my kitchen.

Katie: Oh I didn't know 

Sarah: that.

Sarah: Oh yeah. Screen printing everything in my kitchen, making the screens downstairs in my basement. Like everything. Even before like we had the heat press.

Katie: Mm-hmm. , 

Sarah: I guess [00:11:00] I'll just even say this little quick. portion

Sarah: about like inks. So when I screen print stuff, I use water based inks, so it needs to be heated up in order for it to cure onto the apparel. So before I had the heat press, my husband and my lovely friends. Would help out at my house and literally sit there with an iron on top of the design and would have to do it for like a minute and a half to two minutes per shirt.

Sarah: So when you're making a lot, it takes quite a while.

Katie: Yeah.

Sarah: So anyways, so I had started out everything out of the house and then had a few different. Product design jobs and stuff. And it really did get to the point of where Minnesota made got so busy that I couldn't even have a full-time job anymore.

Sarah: Super scary step. super. Cause the whole unknown. Yeah. Yeah. It was very scary. I ended up working from home for a while. Would go to coffee shops to try and do my computer work because I'm a social person and it's really hard to be sitting at home all 

Katie: time. Mm-hmm. [00:12:00] 

Sarah: by yourself. And then eventually we ended up, or I ended up renting a studio on the North Hill here in Stillwater.

Sarah: Mm-hmm. . So it's that old architecture building. 

Katie: I'd have to drive by it to recognize it.

Katie: I think

Sarah: if everybody knows where Jessica Lang used to live. It was like a couple places right before

Sarah: that 

Sarah: The building's super cool cuz like way back in the day, it used to be a grocery store.

Sarah: There's two apartments upstairs. So it was an architecture firm and then they had left. So the whole main floor was. So then he wanted to rent out the entire thing, but then I was able to rent out just a portion, which was amazing. And then two other women that I had gotten to know that actually were working with me had their own business as well and were doing products and stuff too.

Sarah: They wanted to rent out another portion of the studio. So then both of us were there. And the studio was a little bit different because what we did is we were open. To the public by appointment or once a month. We were open on weekends and would kind of set it up as a [00:13:00] shop or whatever. But yeah, back then, I mean, it was purely us doing consignment with stores and wholesale with stores doing events and doing tons and tons of events.

Sarah: And then unfortunately what ended up happening is that my landlord ended up renting it out the entire place to another business here in town. I didn't know about it, and it was like getting to the point of where it's like, okay, we're busting at the seams. We need more room, or we need whatever.

Sarah: So then it forced us then to now make another decision, like what are we gonna do? Like, where are we gonna go? And then even at that time, there was another person that was renting part of the studio and she actually found the store here. And she was like, Would you ever consider having a retail space and whatever?

Sarah: And I was like, No, , like, this is not what I wanna do.

Sarah: But then thankfully, like with my husband, I mean, we just have so many conversations and stuff about it and I was 

Sarah: like it's just this whole other ballgame and. He, you know, pointed out, he was [00:14:00] like, Well, Sarah, think about this. You normally pay X amount of dollars per month to be part of these events. He's like, You're pretty much, it's kind of a wash. Like if you end up renting this place and you just do less events.

Sarah: Yeah. And now you're open more. So yeah, that's how the store came to be. And now we've been here. Well, it's been like, what, three and a half years? And then obviously Covid, which the shop, I mean, completely saved the business because you know, like we were able to have people pick up packages and stuff from here.

Sarah: Mm-hmm.

Sarah: we were able to still function. On our website and everything. Yeah. But had we not had this, when you go from a business that ran off of events Yeah. And wholesale and consignment and whatever, to now, there are zero events, so. Yeah. Yeah. It was, it's, it's, it was interesting.

Sarah: Yeah. 

Katie: So what year did you get in here? Was it 19?

Sarah: Yep.

Sarah: So it 

Katie: So you didn't [00:15:00] have long before Covid hit then you had about a year.

Sarah: Well, yeah, like not even yeah, it was

Sarah: May, right?

Sarah: It was, so we moved in in April.

Sarah: Mm-hmm.

Sarah: Um And it was kind of funny because my husband and I found some super cheap tickets to Europe, decided to go do that, were gone, came home and had to like, move between the two places. I was able to start here.

Sarah: April 15th. So painted the whole place, like tried to figure out how to do, Oh my God. It was a lot of work and did in like a two week 

Katie: turnover. Wow. .

Katie: You saw one normal Stillwater with Tourism right?

Sarah: Yeah.

Katie: Tell me about that summer.

Sarah: I just feel like it's, it seems so long ago, but it's not, I don't know.

Sarah: Well, and then the last few years with Covid stuff has just been so 

Sarah: different 

Sarah: Stillwater has always been a touristy town. Yeah. It still continues to be that way just because like, there's so much here [00:16:00] to do and if you wanna go to a restaurant, if you wanna shop, if you wanna go hiking, like, there's just so much to do here.

Sarah: Yeah. So, and it's a good day trip for people.

Sarah: But yeah, I don't know. I think the fir, as far as I know, the first year went pretty good. I mean, everything just got real scary in March.

Katie: I remember you promoting a lot about the curbside 

Katie: pickup mm-hmm.

Katie: and order online and have a curbside 

Sarah: pick up Yes 

Katie: promotions around that. 

Sarah: Yep.

Sarah: Yeah. And it went really well. Like back then was really scary. Yeah. Like you just don't know what's gonna happen.

Sarah: And so for us, like it's just so amazing to see all of the support from so many different places and people and. Yeah, like it was, I mean, we obviously couldn't have done it without our customers and stuff. And then also just trying to be smart and think creatively as to like how things can work. 

Sarah: 

Sarah: A big thing that we still are trying to figure out too, like, hey, yeah, now we have Covid, now [00:17:00] afterwards, there's all that other stuff which everybody talks about supply chain and yeah, it is still such a, so super real thing for us. Yeah. 

Katie: Well, especially considering how careful you are with your sourcing mm-hmm. . Correct. How has that impacted you on the supply chain front?

Sarah: Oh my god, it's crazy. It's interesting cuz like one of our sweatshirts that's our, I mean, was our biggest seller it has been out for over a year and I keep asking like when we can get that one sweatshirt and we were just told that.

Sarah: We

Sarah: won't be able to get until February

Sarah: Which, I mean, that's just one of those things of where it's like Right, That can't work. There's, that's not, that It's not an option. Yeah. What's the next option? So, you know, just getting samples and stuff of different sweatshirts mm-hmm. , and trying to figure that out. We have kind of pulled back a little bit from.

Sarah: Wholesaling just because it also has been hard to say to wholesalers, Yep, this is wonderful that you wanna order this one sweatshirt while the size larges are out. And [00:18:00] we have no idea when we're getting those back 

Sarah: in. Yeah, 

Katie: your store's full though, 

Sarah: It's great to see.

Sarah: you Yes We just,

Katie: There's so much 

Sarah: to look

Sarah: at. Yeah. We while our store is small. Yes. And you have to be smart with a small store Yeah. And merchandising everything. 

Katie: Did you have to learn merchandising or is that something that you already knew or does that do your, does, does your design background just kind of allow you to be natural with it?

Sarah: Yeah, I would say just kind of allowing me to be natural with it.

Sarah: Pinterest is my best friend,

Sarah: It's so nice. Just again, you know, like back when I was designing and stuff too. Yeah. You, we were always creating, you know, inspiration boards and that type of thing. So this is just, I mean, it's a kind of a habit that you just.

Sarah: That I just do on a daily basis as far as like next ideas or, Yeah. When it comes to merchandising, whatever. I think it's super important to like, you know, creating an environment is so important and having fun with it and doing something else besides some, what other people do. Yeah. [00:19:00] So, and also doing it on a very, very small budget for small business.

Sarah: Yeah. 

Katie: What about the business side for you? Does that come naturally or do you have to force yourself into the numbers and the

Sarah: P? Oh, totally have to force myself into it.

Sarah: Yeah. Thank God for QuickBooks.

Katie: Yeah, But do, I mean, obviously you're doing well and 

Sarah: see you

Katie: have an understanding of it. You have a

Sarah: I'm super organized. Yeah. So I mean, even if I don't touch my QuickBooks, Every week or whatever. Yeah. It's not that big of a deal to me because I know Yeah. And will, Yeah. Just be able to do it.

Sarah: And again, super organized,

Katie: like a really balanced left brain, right by person. , 

Katie: yeah 

Sarah: Right, 

Sarah: right. Yeah.

Sarah: Yeah. 

Katie: Cuz you've got the artistic piece and then also are able to sit and look at a spreadsheet, I'm 

Katie: sure.

Katie: Maybe not 

Sarah: I would not be able to do that every day though. That I don't know how

Sarah: people in finance 

Katie: at 3M or something.

Sarah: not.

Sarah: No, no, no. I'd be like, 

Sarah: can we

Sarah: make the spreadsheet look prettier?

Sarah: Can we?

Sarah: put colors on here?

Sarah: And 

Katie: if

Katie: [00:20:00] we put a border 

Sarah: Yes.

Katie: Yeah. Let's talk about some of your designs that we see in here. Okay. Everything. Your design. 

Sarah: All of the apparel in here as far as, I don't even think as far as the hats, sweatshirts, t-shirts, all that type of, it's all Minnesota made.

Sarah: We have other products in here that kind of go well with our products. Yep. Yeah, just pair really well with it. Which is kind of funny because a lot of them ended up being women owned businesses, , which is great. But yes, otherwise a lot of 'em are arts.

Sarah: Do you want me to like, describe some of 'em? Yeah. Okay.

Katie: I mean, especially some of your most popular ones that

Katie: people 

Sarah: love. 

Sarah: Yeah so that one right over there is the Minnesota Horizon. The trees, the pine trees. Yes. To most people, obviously, it looks just like. Pine trees, but what I tell everyone is how I came up with the horizon line and stuff is the first portion on the left, I actually traced the sink.

Sarah: Ray River, Verto Water's located, and then on the far right hand side Lake Superior's hidden in [00:21:00] there too.

Sarah: So it's just kind of, that's kind of one 

Sarah: of 

Sarah: those 

Sarah: things where I was saying like hiding some stuff in there. Yeah. 

Katie: There's something about your tags too, that you hide in there isn't there

Sarah: On the t-shirts? So, on all of our T-shirts if you flip up the bottom, we put quilts on the inside. So we have about 15 different random quotes that we put on there. And it kind of started way back in the. I used to make my husband t-shirts. Mm-hmm. like for Valentine's Day or Christmas or just make one offs, whatever.

Sarah: And I started putting on the inside of his shirts like, can't be Valentine's to 2014 or whatever. And then when I started this I was like, well, there needs to be like something more special about this and I am a really positive person. So I really think that, and words to me are amazing because, I am a terrible speller and I'm not good with English whatsoever.

Sarah: So like when somebody can like sit there and pretty much paint a picture [00:22:00] in a sentence, like, it's amazing to me, like with quotes and stuff. Yeah. So that's how, Yeah, I put stuff, put quotes on the inside of all of our t-shirts.

Sarah: Yeah. It's fun. 

Katie: Wonder if there are people that don't even recognize it. And now me,

Katie: Oh 

Sarah: there are quite a few people that we've had customers come back and they're like, We didn't even know that this was in here.

Sarah: This is awesome that 

Sarah: I 

Sarah: found this

Katie: what are some of the other ones that you have stories behind from the design?

Sarah: So the other one of our, I mean I did, did I do it last year? I think. And it's been a huge seller with us, so it's been wonderful. is the forest floor of Minnesota.

Sarah: So, my husband and I have gotten into like foraging and stuff and it's just, you know, the forest floor of Minnesota is quite amazing of all the different things. Yeah. So spent some time researching as far as like what flowers and mushrooms and all that type of stuff, that are here.

Sarah: So I did that one. And then the Camp Minnesota one is another one of where it has a little bit more hidden stuff in there. I have the Big Dipper and then also the North Star hidden [00:23:00] in the stars in there too. So what's another

Katie: Big Dipper 

Sarah: Thanks.

Sarah: And the Little Dipper 

Katie: too.

Katie: And the Little Dipper. Yes,

Sarah: So, and also I guess the big thing to know about Big Dipper and Little Dipper, if you are not a person that know. Thingss even about Minnesota or the state motto is Al de Nord, which is the star of the North. So when you are looking at the Big Dipper, you find the North Star off of the Big Dipper, and the North Star is also part of the Little Dipper.

Sarah: Mm-hmm. . So we have North, we have Little Dipper designs and we have Big Dipper designs, which families love to match . Yes.

Katie: and I have to say all of the clothing that I have purchased

Sarah: from mm-hmm.

Katie: is like the softest. Most cozy clothing. Yes. Ever. Yeah. And it, it, and I am the worst person when it comes to laundry

Sarah: Yeah.

Katie: things.

Katie: How you're supposed 

Sarah: to. 

Sarah: Yep.

Sarah: right 

Sarah: Yes. So,

Sarah: that, I mean, that also is a, was a huge goal for myself is like, [00:24:00] you know, you have your favorite t-shirts and sweatshirts and whatever,

Sarah: and I love being comfortable in whatever. So when it comes to. Like any of our choosing of our stuff, it's like I always make sure that I get samples and I'm like, What is this and what does this feel 

Sarah: like?

Sarah: Mm-hmm. , 

Sarah: because it needs to be something that's comfortable. It needs to look good on people too. Mm-hmm. . And there also needs to be stuff for like different sizes as well, so, You know, we do have some things that are women's sizes but a lot of our stuff we do unisex,

Sarah: izing.

Sarah: Mm-hmm.

Sarah: So a lot of it ranges from extra small to three xl mm-hmm.

Sarah: So it opens up stuff for everybody. . Right,

Katie: right. 

Katie: You also wanted to talk about events and how those have changed not only since your previous space, but 

Sarah: but also

Katie: since Covid. So talk a little bit about how that has shifted over the last couple of years.

Sarah: Like I said, like, I mean before Covid, we used to do events every single month. 

Katie: Kind of events were you [00:25:00] hosting? Was it just like the pop out shop kind of 

Sarah: event?

Sarah: Anything. I mean, they're wide range of stuff. I mean, we've done as big of events at the Twin Stadium and the Viking Stadium down to, like I said, like we would do it at the Bayport Legion.

Sarah: We used to do Harvest Fest and Stillwater. We do art and Bayfront Park every year. We still do that up in Duluth. That's like one of our favorite events to do.

Sarah: Mm-hmm. , 

Katie: Um it's

Katie: probably a great event for you 

Sarah: Yeah,

Sarah: well, and we've gotten, I've gotten to know so many other business owners and stuff up there. So, and like I said, we go up there quite a bit, so it is, yeah, we love, it's one of our favorite events. It's really fun and it's beautiful to be right down at the lake in that area.

Sarah: But yeah, there's, you know, it's just interesting. Being a small business and doing some of these events, small ones, if you're doing it at a brewery or whatever, may not be very expensive. But then sometimes when you get to do these bigger ones, they're pretty spendy. Mm-hmm. . So it is like you really have to put in your effort and stuff of like, okay, how are you gonna make [00:26:00] this work?

Sarah: Yeah. And yeah, so, 

Katie: you get out your spreadsheet and you're like, I have to sell this many sweatshirts,

Sarah: that is not a lie 

Katie: lot 

Sarah: times, 

Katie: where do you post your events? Like when you are going to be at an event, do you PO put them out there for someone to find?

Sarah: Yes. Which I have not been very good about that recently. Most of the time, like if you find any of our information would be on social 

Sarah: media There's only a few events that we're doing for Christmas time, which I will put those on our website and stuff too. Okay. But yeah, we're typically on there.

Sarah: Otherwise our, I mean, our biggest weekend of the year that we do is small business weekend. So the thing that we, we call small business weekend, because why not make a weekend out of it, not just a day, Right. So what we do is, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We do the same deals that you would get on Saturday for small business Saturday, but we just do it the entire weekend because we wanna give people the chance to be able to come and shop with us.

Sarah: We know it's a busy weekend, holiday weekend for people, [00:27:00] people being in town, and it's like, why not just spread the love all weekend? Right. So, yeah. Yeah, it's a great weekend for us. 

Katie: do You do that online as well?

Sarah: We do not for that. We specifically is just in store. Okay. But then we do do some stuff for Cyber Monday.

Sarah: Okay. And. With our small business weekend, we kind of always do this tiered thing as far as like, spend $25 and you get this free and spend 50 and you get this free. So it's kind of nice for people to come in, like not only are you purchasing something, you're actually getting like some extra free gifts with stuff.

Sarah: Yeah. And yeah, we've ha we get a lot of repeat customers year after year, which they're like, we know that we can go in and get these free items and yeah. So it's pretty.

Katie: Speaking of giveaways mm-hmm.

Katie: I wanna talk about community 

Sarah: and mm-hmm. 

Katie: your involvement with it, because I notice that you also tend to just give things. Mm-hmm. a away, just because it adds to the community. It's not even like, come in and buy something [00:28:00] and I'll give you this.

Katie: it's like,

Katie: Hey, I've got popsicles and it's hot out.

Sarah: Oh, right. Or freezes. Yeah.

Sarah: Yeah.

Sarah: Well, and it's kind of one of those things like just you.

Sarah: Like, I don't expect people to come in and be like, Oh, you have to buy something.

Sarah: And it's like, no. Like just come in and experience the shop and stuff too. Yeah. So yeah, every summer we do free frees. Yeah. So we get the construction workers next door that come in and visit. We have some of the mail carriers at times. I mean, it's not, Yeah, that's just kind of for everybody. So Yeah, it's kind of nice to, I mean, it's good to do something nice for other people.

Sarah: Yeah. At no cost, prefer them, you know 

Sarah: what 

Sarah: I 

Katie: mean?

Katie: And it adds to the community. 

Sarah: Mm-hmm And

Sarah: so

Katie: obviously born and raised 

Sarah: here, Mm-hmm and you 

Katie: to stay here. So talk a little bit about the community and why it's kept you here.

Sarah: here. Well, it's five minutes away from my house. Just kidding. Totally kidding. Well, Stonewater is important to me and I think like, I mean, we were kind of talking about this before, like [00:29:00] that there's so many people that move away and they come back here.

Sarah: So being here and like being a part of the community is important to me. And I think also. Stepping up and showing other people like what you can do with like your capabilities. You know, like we donate and stuff a lot to schools and stuff around here. I actually help out with things now during winter time.

Sarah: Cuz during the whole month of December it's what is it, Hometown for the holidays here in Stillwater.

Sarah: Yeah. 

Sarah: So like last year I helped with it and it was super fun and it's just, it's cool to be able to have people come here and enjoy like, The good stuff that we have. Yeah. So, yeah. And you do, you also wanna help keep like a, you know, a thriving community and thriving businesses and stuff.

Sarah: It's pretty amazing also to see in state water alone, like especially downtown state water, how many women own businesses are down here, and how many are from here too. Yeah. Like, there's a lot of us, so [00:30:00] that makes it fun too.

Sarah: Yeah. 

Katie: What does the future hold for Minnesota Bay?

Sarah: Minnesota? Oh Lord, . So I've never been, be totally honest. I've never been really good about answering this question. Yeah. So even like back when I had a regular job and whatever, everyone was like, What's your five year plan and what's.

Sarah: Like, what, what are your, what are you doing this next year and what are you, Whatever. And I think that kind of goes back to that whole thing of like, I'm really cautious of what I do. Yeah. And like pay attention to like the certain things that or opportunities that are brought up. Right. And I kind of go from there.

Sarah: Yeah. I will say one thing that we have.

Sarah: Trying to figure out or whatever. It's wonderful. Downtown right now is like completely full. All the businesses, all the restaurants, you know what I mean? It's awesome. Our shop is small, so, you know, we kinda keep bringing up, like, do we get a bigger shop? I don't know. [00:31:00] Yeah, I don't know. I don't know. That's just kind of like the one big thing that we've been talking about. a lot 

Katie: there, so you might have just 

Sarah: manifested Yeah, right 

Katie: right 

Sarah: if we one, another one that we talk about too, if we ever were to have another shopper do something else, I think we would do something in Duluth too. Yeah. Would be really fun. So, yeah.

Katie: do 

Katie: you have staff that work for you or is it mainly you and then the fam? That 

Sarah: helps

Sarah: out mainly me. And then, yeah, I have a couple of friends and family.

Sarah: Yeah. It's, it's a, it's a total small different, I, I think at times people think that there's a lot of people that make this function. Mm-hmm. . And I would say probably, I mean, especially with all of the design and all of the website, the orders, all of that type of stuff, it's all me. Yeah. But then we do have help Yeah.

Sarah: In the shop and stuff. , which is fun.

Katie: I also wanted to ask you, I remember a while back you had partnered up with another business outside of the area that needed some [00:32:00] help with design. So 

Sarah: is

Sarah: that 

Katie: something

Katie: else that you expand on where you wanna help design for other businesses?

Sarah: So, yeah, I mean we definitely, it's kind of one of those things.

Sarah: There's a couple every year we get a few different businesses and stuff.

Sarah: That will reach out and just say like, Hey, we've purchased your clothing. We love like your purpose and like we love your type of apparel and all that type of stuff. Would you ever consider doing custom apparel for us? So I.

Sarah: One that always, one thing that always is the big thing in the beginning is right what time of year? Because like right now is like the beginning of our crazy time of year. Mm-hmm. . And we're pretty busy, I mean, really through almost all of January. Like it's, Yeah, Q4 s is busy, but when you, when talking about like custom apparel and stuff I will do some things kind of has to be a fit and stuff too.

Sarah: Yeah. 

Sarah: But yeah, there's a handful of different places and stuff that I've done that for. So it's kind of fun.

Katie: When they do custom apparel for you, is it like gifts for their employees [00:33:00] or is it something

Katie: that 

Sarah: they're it kind of, most of the time it seems, Yes, definitely more like that. 

Sarah: One thing that I totally love to share . You know, people ask us like where our location and stuff is. So everybody thinks that everything's on Main Street. It's not true in Stillwater. There's so many things off of Main Street. Yep. So it's been interesting, like with our shop with having some of the parking lots and stuff around here.

Sarah: Yeah. Like our shop is kind of one of the main entrances, which I would never think that because you almost think like north, South, whatever. And when you grow up here, you don't really pay attention. You know what 

Sarah: I mean? So, we have a lot of people that we will start out their day and stuff here, so it's super fun to tell, you know, tell people like, I'm born and raised here, what do you wanna know?

Sarah: Where do you wanna go?

Sarah: Yeah, But just kind of making awareness as far as like, we are on Chestnut Street. We're not on Main Street. There's other places like down at the Isaac Staples Mill and like down at the Grand Garage. And same thing, like I always forget the building [00:34:00] where Barbara Ans is at.

Sarah: Yeah. But there's lots of shops and stuff and lots of different places that are off of Main 

Sarah: Street Mm-hmm. . 

Sarah: So, this last year, I mean, with so many things, it's been challenging being where we we're at. Yeah. I mean, first you started out with Covid. Now we have construction on both ends, which has.

Katie: Really? 

Sarah: Yes Right. So, but we still get

Katie: knowing the last day 

Sarah: of 

Sarah: it. Oh

Sarah: my God. Right. I will be very excited for construction and stuff to be done. But yeah, there's again, we just, were on Chestnut Street. Come find us, . Yes.

Katie: Yes And talk about where people can find you online.

Sarah: So our website is Minnesota made apparel.com.

Sarah: And then, uh, same thing for Instagram and Facebook, Minnesota made apparel.

Sarah: you

Sarah: Yes, thank you.