Business & Tech
New Maple Grove Business: Juniper
A Maple Grove mom and retail manager opens her own clothing store at The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes.
After 15 years in the retail business, Liz Schiller of Maple Grove decided it was time to open a shop of her own.
"It's what I love doing and I'm good at it, so it just made sense to try it on my own." The 31-year-old mother of two opened her new store, , Aug. 15.
"The plan was to open right before the back to school season starts and that flows right into the holidays," Schiller said. Her new business is the latest store to open in and is located near .
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"This is a great spot for retail," she said. "This has become a destination shopping area with people from all over planning trips to check this place out."
It's something she has seen first hand. Before stepping out on her own, Schiller was a Gap manager.
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"I've seen the crowds of people this place can draw, so I'm happy to be here," she said.
Her store, which offers fresh and funky clothes for women in the 25 to 35 year old crowd, took her about a year to plan and design.
"Well, my dad actually put the idea into my head. He just said if I was going to stay in retail, I should think about doing it for myself, so here I am," she stated.
While Schiller's dad encouraged her, she admits opening her own store has been something she has thought about for awhile.
"When I was 12 years old I read a book called Juniper and at that time I thought it would make a good name for a store. So, when it came to naming my store - I didn't even think twice about the name."
On the Tuesday before the opening, Schiller had a crew of people helping her out. Her son and mother-in-law were hanging clothes, while her daughter arranged candles and her sister straightened the racks.
"We are so proud of her," Erica Clark, Schiller's sister said. "I'm going to be one of her best customers. In fact, I've already bought a few things from her so I know I'm at least one of her first customers."
Now Schiller is hoping the big leap is profitable.
"This store is my dream, so I really hope that it's a success," she said. "If it takes off, I'd love to open more and I've got a really positive feeling about this."