Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Schueller.
Hi Kim, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was an artist at the Holly House Boutique for over 5 years with my hand painted pottery. I had also participated in local and regional art fairs for 15 years. The previous owner of the boutique notified me that she would be selling the boutique and would I be interested in purchasing it and becoming the new owner. My answer was a very quick “thank you, but no thank you!” I was busy with my pottery and doing shows and had really no interest in taking on a boutique. (In fairness to her, she proposed this during the busiest time of year for an artist!) She asked me if we could meet a few months after things settled down and we met for over three hours that February. Lots of information and details were shared about everything involved in running a boutique. In 2014, art fairs were really becoming a hit or miss thing. When they were great, they were really GREAT, but when they weren’t they were sadly, horrible. A lot of time, a lot of shlepping of displays, table, products, rain or shine. It can be a lot of fun but it is NOT a glamorous life!
My husband and I were soon to be empty nesters and with art fairs not being what they once were, I thought more and more about the boutique. After 15 years of art fairs and also being in several boutiques I had a lot of contacts in the business and could also see both sides of the business.
In 2014 I purchased the boutique and immediately took the boutique from 3 weeks to 6 weeks during the Christmas season, implemented social media, more marketing, events and credit cards.
That was eight years ago and the Christmas boutique is now 7 weeks long and I have added two additional seasonal pop-ups, one in Spring, one in the Fall and I also have a booth at the Minnesota State Fair. It turned out to be a great career and business decision to purchase the boutique.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’m blessed that the challenges have been minimal! My biggest challenge happens every year when I am looking for a space to lease because I am a temporary/seasonal business. Leasing agents are typically looking for a long term tenant and not a three month tenant.
A continuing challenge is how to scale the business as it grows. (Although that’s a good challenge because it comes with the opportunity to grow.)
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The Holly House Boutique is a local retail boutique that does three seasonal pop-ups each year along with a booth at the Minnesota state fair. We focus on locally handcrafted items from artists and vendors from all over Minnesota and a few from Wisconsin. What sets us apart from other retailers or boutiques is that we focus on bringing mostly handmade, hand-crafted items into the boutique -things you won’t see at a big box retailer or at other stores. We are also proud of the fact that we carry many one-of-a-kind items that you can only get from a local artist. Many items cannot be replicated exactly, and it makes for a great gift or unique item. Artists are constantly creating and restocking so when you shop again and again you will always see new things. My artists are extremely hard-working and love to create!
The thing I am most proud of is our customer service and my relationship with my artists and vendors. Having been an artist myself I really cherish creating relationships with the artists. I love giving customers a special experience, a story behind what they bought and making sure they feel like I am genuinely interested in them. I want everyone to leave with the feeling that they had a happy and joyful experience.
I try to cultivate a happy, joyful, peaceful, fun atmosphere in the boutique. I want customers to love being there just because it feels fun, happy and good. (At our Spring and Fall boutiques you will hear my favorite music throughout the store – DISCO!)
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I really strive to make each boutique throughout the year new and different. I am always looking for new artists! Visit the website to fill out an application if you are an interested artist/vendor.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.hollyhouseboutique.com
- Instagram: @hollyhouseboutique
- Facebook: The Holly House Boutique
