Northfield women business owners kick off Buy Local campaign

Positioned around the Riverwalk bench named for a trailblazing woman business owner, a large group of today’s local women business owners gathered for a photo and a coffee-fueled networking session.

The assembled group was organically created through social media by Kendall Horton-Clements, owner of the Ole Store, and Beret Froehle, co-owner of the Rare Pair with Chrissy Neuger.

The organizers said they wanted to kick off the Shop Local Campaign 2024 by assembling as many women business owners/leaders as possible to jump start the holiday shopping season.

“Our original idea was to carry a line of “Support Local” sweatshirts,” said Neuger. “Once we got the sweatshirts in the store we thought a collaboration with other women owned businesses in town could be fun and we could cross- promote on social media. Our idea quickly snowballed when we realized how many local businesses are owned and run by women, it’s pretty incredible!”

Froehle added that she and Neuger were thrilled with the turnout of fellow women business owners.

“It’s a really powerful and supportive group,” said Froehle. “Getting a chance to get to know one another better and make connections was invaluable. We’re hoping to continue to meet regularly and expand the group. We know there’s more of us out there!”

Chloe Kiener, Goodbye Blue Monday owner, said the group tried to reach out to all of Northfield’s female business owners, but many had morning conflicts. “We’d like to include everyone,” she said.

Jessica Peterson White, owner of Content Bookstore, and Shawnee Langworthy, owner of River View Yoga and Cafe Shawn, said reaching all of Northfield’s women business owners is especially difficult “since most of them are always working.”

Many of Northfield’s downtown brick and mortar stores are women-owned, including Joan Spaulding, The HideAway; Vicki Scott, Verbena Vinyl; Rachel Kinney, Paisley Garden; Amy Peterson, Monarch Gift Shop and The Measuring Cup; Elizabeth Vuenker, Soulstice Boutique; April Ripka, The Sketchy Artist; Leslie Danla and Kim Kocak, Homebody Refill Market; Brianna Lane, Raven’s Nest Cafe/Farmstead Bike Shop; Laura Meyers, Imminent Brewing; Cynthia Gilbertson, Northfield Yarn; Jenaveve Bell-Pittman, Tanzenwald Brewing Co.; Lindsay Ness, The Grand Event Center.

Kendall Clements, owner of the Ole Store, described the gathering as “an incredible display of how the small-business community is so quick to support one another and to facilitate connections.”

“It feels so good to get to know so many other small business owners and know that this network will continue to stay in touch,” added Clements.

Several women-owned business owners not pictured included Morgan Morton, Bread People; Tina Moen, Well Fitness Studio; Trish Brown and Cassie Schnoor, Fine Fettle; and Lisa Bolduc, Contented Cottage Bed and Breakfast, Cottage Tearoom & Fare.