Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamie Collins.
Hi Tamie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I have always had a strong interest in fashion and design. When I graduated from high school I wanted to enroll in design school and my dad, a superintendent of schools, told me there were not many jobs in design. I made a career choice to become a kindergarten teacher where I could still use my “creative” side on a daily basis. I loved teaching but I was always drawn to owning my own store and using my creative side on a daily basis.
The first year that I opened Zinnias was in a historical train depot in Waseca, Minnesota. My husband and I also enjoy the aspect of tackling buildings that need some TLC and a facelift at the same time. When I first opened I mainly carried home décor but I always wanted to slide into a few clothing lines as well. I was very nervous to take on clothing lines because small boutiques struggle to get good price points simply because of the limited volume. During the first seven years of owning and operating Zinnias out of the historic depot, I also started doing prom flowers for my daughters and some of their classmates. This very limited adventure led to moms and young girls visiting my store to select and pick up their flowers. Before I knew it I had a few young ladies asking me to do their wedding flowers. I discovered a new passion and love – creating flower arrangements and helping to decorate wedding venues.
We had the opportunity to sell our renovated train depot and I made the decision to start dabbling in clothes. With the decision to venture into clotheslines came the enormous task of attending “markets” in New York City, Atlanta, and Las Vegas. The pressure of picking out the right clothes, accessories, and home décor items on a limited budget seemed overwhelming to be along with being a huge financial risk. I have been told by many customers that I have a “great eye” and they simply trust me.
During the next six years, the store sales began to grow at the same time that I was up to twenty-four weddings a year along with prom, Valentine’s Day, and other special occasions. I was doing all of the flowers work out of my home as we did a makeshift flower cooler out of one of our bathrooms whenever I would order flowers. Then Covid hit.
When Covid hit, I was operating my store out of the basement floor of a local bar/restaurant. The restaurant needed to use more space, because of Covid restrictions, so I had to shut down and make a decision about my future.
I was not ready to stop what had become my passion so my husband and I purchased two historic downtown buildings that had been vacant for approximately five years. The buildings were side by side and we renovated the buildings into what is now home to Zinnias Boutique we also built our own walk-in cooler so that I could work on floral arrangements at the same time as customers are shopping in the store. It has taken seventeen years but I have the perfect store to complement my passion and creative side.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think the biggest struggle initially, with any business, is having the financial patience to stick with it. There were several years where financially I would barely break even and I was fortunate to have some faithful customers who chose to shop locally and this helped to keep me alive. Opening a business is a risk both financially and mentally because it becomes a strain 24/7 and there were many times that I would question my ability to select the right product.
The tipping point, or struggle decision, came when I knew that I had to expand and make a change, at a point in the business when I was barely making ends meet. Is it wise to expand and potentially take your business into the red? That decision was the best decision that I made for Zinnias Boutique and then Covid became a major obstacle. I sold items, via Facebook for a few months, and then made the decision to go all in and buy two historic buildings right during a pandemic! The major obstacle – Covid –created a blessing in disguise.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in trying to purchase accessories, clothes, and décor that I feel are unique, and at the same time, I try to sell them at a price point that is less than what an individual would pay in a metro store. We have also worked hard to create a shopping experience, in a store that is unique, and historic and makes the customer want to spend time in the store – looking around. The culture of Zinnias, no matter who is working, is a friendly relaxed atmosphere where the customer leaves knowing that we appreciate that they are spending their hard-earned dollars at a small storefront.
The flower side of Zinnias has become my true love and I specialize in trying to stay trendy while at the same time using my creativity to put together arrangements that are different. Weddings can be so much fun for me that it does not even feel like I am working. I do feel tremendous pressure because I want the wedding to be a special event – with my flowers as part of the showcase. When I get the opportunity to help design and decorate the wedding venue – I am on cloud 9 because I can use all of my creative juices!
Networking and finding a mentor can have a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I think that all small boutique owners want other boutique owners to be successful.
It does not matter what town I pass through, I will try and stop into the local boutique and ask them about their boutique and what products or other parts of their business have worked well for them. I have found this to be extremely helpful in assisting me with future decisions that I am making.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 651-354-2513
- Facebook: Zinnias Boutique
