BIZ BUZZ: Scrapbooking store expands with new owner
Memories for the Making, the scrapbook store on Edgewood Drive in Baxter near Quizno's, has a new owner in Karlee Anderson.
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Anderson, 25, purchased the business in August. Anderson has a teaching degree from Southwest Minnesota State University. She worked at Ben Franklin Crafts in Brainerd as the store manager for 4 1/2 years.
Anderson is continuing to expand the inventory and is adding classes. Beyond the group classes, Anderson will work one-on-one with individuals to help them complete their projects. She is offering class-kit projects where all the pieces necessary to complete the project, minus the adhesive, are pre-packaged for convenience. Fridays include the Scrap Madness event where people can come and work on projects from 10 a.m. to midnight for a $10 fee.
Memories for the Making is adding inventory and classes to appeal to both novice and experienced scrapbookers and is expanding its card stock to attract cardmakers. Karlee Anderson (right), 25, purchased the Baxter business in August.
Brainerd Dispatch/Renee Richardson » Purchase reprints of this photo.
During other hours when the store is open Anderson said people are welcome to come into the store and use the large table in the back to work on their projects any time for free. Classes will be aimed at both novice and those who are experienced but want to learn new techniques. Demonstrations on how to use new products and displays are aimed to assist scrapbookers and cardmakers as they look for innovative ideas, such as use of the Cricut machine. Customers will be able to enlarge or make copies of actual photographs, but not the digital versions.
Anderson is expanding the store from a primarily scrapbook focus to include more card stock for card making, including wedding invitations. Anderson said 70 percent of her customers are card makers. And she wants to add more options for scrapbooking on unfinished wood, on coasters and using shadow boxes so the finished project may become home decor.
After her experience as a store manager, Anderson said owning her own business was the next step and this opportunity presented itself. Family members have helped her get started with information on accounting and software programs and business expertise. Her parents own Anderson Homes Inc.
Memories for the Making employs three part time but most of the work is squarely on Anderson's shoulders. A grand opening is scheduled Sept. 22-27.
"It's been a lot of fun," she said. "I knew I'd be working a lot of hours."
Anderson said she believes there is still a strong market for the store.
"People get satisfaction passing down the memories, their heritage," Anderson said. "If you look through somebody's scrapbook it's telling a story."
She plans to use special monthly promotions as a way to lure customers. And she said people don't need to feel overwhelmed at the task and options.
"I really believe in keeping it simple," she said.
Last week, customers Vonnie Yliniemi, Carol Demgen and Teddi Bonafield were working on a project in the store. They said they enjoyed the large work area, friendly staff and the option to pick out something in the store when they needed it while they worked.
Demgen credited the Yliniemi and Bonafield for helping her with her project.
"It was wonderful," Demgen said. "They were great. I wouldn't have done this without them."
"It makes it more fun to work in a group," Bonafield said.
In her long range plans, Anderson said she'd like to eventually own her own building and be able to offer scrapbook retreats where groups stay overnight or over a weekend working on projects in an area above the retail store.
Teddi Bonafield (left), Carol Demgen and Vonnie Yliniemi worked together at the large table in Memories for the Making on Edgewood Drive in Baxter. The business is under new management with a new owner as of August. Plans are to increase the store's inventory and offer shoppers new creative outlets and classes. Brainerd Dispatch/Renee Richardson » Purchase reprints of this photo.
Lisa Steffen and Julie Garvey opened Memories for the Making in 2001.
"I've enjoyed the seven years we've been here," Steffen said, adding now they wanted to go in a different direction.
Steve & Barry's announced it is closing the store in the Westgate Mall, but did not have a final date following a store closing sale.
Steve & Barry's reported it was recently purchased out of bankruptcy by BH S&B Holdings, a newly formed affiliate of investment firms Bay Harbour Management and York Capital Management.
BH S&B Holdings plans to run the chain with a smaller number of stores to reach profitability goals, the company announced. To that end it will go from 276 stores to about 170 stores. The Steve & Barry's in Brookdale Center in Brooklyn Center was also slated for closing. Steve & Barry's stores in Burnsville Center in Burnsville, Knollwood Mall in St. Louis Park and Northtown Mall in Blaine will remain open.
Integra Telecom reported it was named one of America's 5,000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies by Inc.
Inc. ranked Integra Telecom 1,557. Telecom recorded a three-year revenue growth of 241.8 percent between 2004 and 2007, ranking 33 in gross dollars of growth. Integra reported it ranked among the top 50 private companies in America in the following four 2008 Inc. 5000 categories: No. 22 in the top 50 businesses in Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, Ore-Wash.; No. 33 in the top 100 Inc. 5,000 companies by gross dollars of growth; No. 43 in the top 100 Inc. 5,000 companies by revenue; No. 44 in the top 100 telecommunications companies.
The Long Prairie Packing Plant will be the subject of a multi-million dollar modernization and expansion, American Foods Group announced. The company reported demolition was completed on 4,000 square feet to make room for a 15,000 square foot addition. The company reported the business expansion is from an increased market demand for processed meat, specifically Kosher. The company reports it provides more than 370 jobs. The expansion is expected to be complete in February and create 25 jobs. American Foods Group reports it processes and delivers more than four million pounds of beef per day and employs more than 4,000.
Anderson Custom Processing, 121 Lindbergh Drive S., recently added machinery to its business. The Chamber of Commerce in Little Falls reports the business shipped 12 million pounds of corn starch in 2007 with product that ends up all over the world.
Little Falls Motors opened as a used car dealership on West Broadway in the former Little Falls Dodge site. The business is owned by Al and Troy Nouis.
O'Reilly Auto Parts opened a store in the former Sears building, 208 LeMieur Drive in Little Falls. The manager Troy Olson was previously the assistant manager at the O'Reilly store in Brainerd.
RENEE RICHARDSON, senior reporter, may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.