Firms find home in Pequot shop
PEQUOT LAKES -- Two other business opened this month leasing space from Madam Gulleechy's antiques and collectibles.
Deb Gunderson started her graphic design business in her home about three years ago, at first balancing her own business with another job. She worked at the Pine River Journal for 13 years, cutting back to part-time work the last few years as she started her own business. Mind's Eye graphic design took off quickly and Gunderson went to work on her own company full time. It was the culmination of a longtime interest in visual communication.
Recently she moved that home-based business into a small office created for her inside Madam Gulleechy's. The office has its own exterior door as well as a store front inside the antique store. Mind's Eye creates business cards, logos, brochures and other advertising. Gunderson, who has a graphic arts degree, also paints signs.
She is working on stylized maps, with businesses represented along area cities and landmarks, for Jenkins, Breezy Point and Pequot Lakes. Gunderson printed tens of thousands of the maps for Walker, Longville and Hackensack and then about 100 each go to the advertising businesses with overruns to the area chambers. She also produced maps for Backus, Pine River and Jenkins. The maps include calendars of events and a locator and description of the advertising businesses. Gunderson went door-to-door to find businesses interested in the project and then produced the graphics with Julie Rettig Design. The work is time and labor intensive.
For map readers, the delight can be in the details. One accent graphic to highlight the Chippewa National Forest has a tourist taking a photo of a two deer who appear to be posing as any human couple counterpart in a vacationland setting.
After spending considerable time going door-to-door to reach customers, Gunderson said having her first store front means greater visibility in getting customers to find her.
A short walk on the wooden sidewalk leads to Rafter G Tack and Mercantile store, which leases a nearby shop from the Deb and Mike Bjerken, Madam Gulleechy's owners.
Suzanne and Mickey Gaines, Pine River, opened the shop, which is a combination of gift and tack for horses. The small store includes clocks, a little log furniture, a few antiques and new tack. They also take consignment items.
Mickey Gaines, who also trains horses, said opening a tack shop is something his wife always wanted to do.
"There are a lot of horse people around here," he said. "I've been working with horses all my life."
RENEE RICHARDSON can be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.