Center Stories: Abby Smith & Barleyberry Boutique

Every other month on our website we’ll be highlighting a different client of the Owatonna Area Business Development Center in a series called “Center Stories,” interviewed by Executive Director Sean E. Williams.

Abby Smith of Barleyberry Boutique

Diving right in, what made you decide to go into business for yourself?

I've always dreamt of having my own boutique forever. The pathway that I took—I've always wanted big: go big or go home. But through taking your [Small Business Academy] class, I realized that starting small is a lot better, and I don't have to deal with rent or anything right now. The pop-up idea just gets people super excited. I was like, you know, I have nothing to lose at this point - I'm young.

What's your favorite part about owning your own business?

That it's me. I get to make the decisions, and it's just my own speed, and I get to kind of show up where I want to show up, and also be the face of it and meet new people. It's just been fun for people to be like, “Oh, that's Abby doing that!” And it just feels good. Because before I pretty much ran a retail store, but I wasn't the owner. So a lot of that credit—I just feel it now, and it feels good.

What do you wish you had known before you started?

I'd tell myself that it's okay to start slow, to start small. I think that I love to rush into things a lot of the time, and I'm glad that I took that class to slow me down. It did make a difference in the fact that I got to put all my ideas out there before just doing it and talk through things a little bit, and just telling yourself, “It's okay, and no one's gonna know if I started a month before or after.” Just slowing down.

What resources did you find and take advantage of here in Owatonna?

I used connections to my advantage a lot. I got involved with Owatonna Business Women and the Chamber. I love Owatonna. I grew up here, and I never wanted to come back here for the longest time. But as I get older and I've moved away, I absolutely love it. There's not a community like it, and people are just there for each other. And as far as small businesses, people really care about them and want them to succeed, even though a lot has come and gone.

What resources did you take advantage of here at the OBDC?

You guys recommended SMIF [Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation]. I went and got a loan through them. Love them. They were fantastic. I took a class through you. You guys are always there when we need anything too, which is so great. It's not just “You're done and you're on your own.” Danielle [Wavrin, Director of Entrepreneurial Services] has reached out so many times, even though I've not answered, but she is always there. And even just doing stuff like that, it's always: “We still think of you and we want what's best for you.” So that's super cool.

How has starting out as a pop-up impacted your business, versus trying to dive right into a brick-and-mortar store?

It's been so much fun being able to go different places. As much as it's more work, but not paying for rent or utilities or anything like that right now, and still being able to do what I love. It's not probably a long-term idea, but it's been great, and I'm glad that I was like, “Okay, we're gonna start this way.” It's been a lot of fun. I think it's hard when you're starting off, to be put in one spot people don't know about you. Being able to kind of pop around, and even if they're not going to be longtime customers, just getting out there into different businesses has been great.

What's next? What are you looking forward to or excited about?

Doing the pop-ups is super smart, but I do want to be put somewhere, like the Shops [at Rose Street]. That's kind of my next step. I love it here, and people are here, and so this community is just way better. It's the community aspect. It's so different. So I think that's what makes it hard for me. I live on a farm. I'm staying there my whole life, but I love it here. But yes, the Shops, I think, are my next step. See how it goes, and if it doesn't, then that's okay, and we'll figure something else out. But yeah, just stay still for a little bit at least.

You can learn more and follow Barleyberry Boutique on their website. This interview was edited for length and clarity.