Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Gould.
Hi Melissa, I’m so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In 2018, my husband and I retired from military service and moved back to Minnesota from Europe. Having been home with the kids full-time since 2016 and in countries where I didn’t speak the language, I looked forward to connecting with our new community. I joined a hobby group and ran a booth at our farmer’s market. After a couple of years of the summer heat on asphalt, I started looking for a brick-and-mortar location. Before I opened my doors, I knew I wanted to call my store Minne Made and more, and that I wanted to focus on locally sourced artisanal goods. In late 2021, I found a small building vacated by a start-up brewery and started making plans. I shopped on wholesale sites for Minnesota companies and recruited local artisans from craft fairs. On November 14th, with around 30 total vendors, I conducted a soft opening for family and friends to test my hardware. It was a confidence booster and a mild success. I opened to the public on November 17th. For the first year, I ran the business almost exclusively myself, including almost every shift; it was exhausting, but I learned so much and made strong connections with our customers. I could hire an employee about a year after opening, and we started splitting shifts. Nine months later, I added two more employees, and now I work primarily in the background.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t have a business degree or retail experience, so I had to learn everything on the job. There have been many lessons over the last 2+ years, all of which have been eye-opening. I’ve always said, “You don’t know what you don’t know until you know you didn’t know it.” It has held for this experience 100%. I am still learning daily, and I hope that doesn’t change. The hardest part has been fitting it all in – it’s just impossible. And that’s why I’m so grateful to be able to hire out and count on others for their help.
We’ve been impressed with Minne Made and more, but for folks who might need to be more familiar, what can you share about what you do and what sets you apart?
Minne Made is a retail boutique primarily stocked with products from Minnesota-based businesses. We partner with artisans and wholesalers to provide locally sourced, quality goods. We strive to build relationships with our partners and share that experience with our customers. While we strive to ensure our products come primarily from Minnesota and secondarily from the five-state area, we offer products produced worldwide. We are a community over-competition business; our success hinges on the overall wellness of our community and not just how much we earn. We are community members; we live, shop, and support locals. Our success is also due to hard work, determination, top-notch employees, quality vendors, and our faithful customers. We are inclusive. We have relationships with people of all backgrounds. These relationships enrich our lives in ways we can’t measure.
What matters most to you?
My children are the most essential thing in my life. Everything I do is intended to make their futures better. I gave them life, but they didn’t ask to be here. I want them to grow into their best versions of themselves with kindness, empathy, understanding, and a good work ethic at the forefront of their characters.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.minnemadeandmore.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minnemadeandmore/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minnemadeandmore/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/minnemade-and-more/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/minnemadeandmore/
Image Credits
Headshot: Doshie Dior, Store Images: Zanielle Foxcroft
