Informational Meeting
- Emily Pearson
- Jun 22
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 21
The first informational meeting was a success! Thank you to all that came and helped spread the word. If I could sum up the afternoon in one word it would be: excitement.
If you weren't able to make it, no worries! I'll summarize everything here so everyone can stay informed.
Introduction
Just a quick bit about myself. I'm Emily Pearson, I've lived in Owatonna for 21 years. I moved here right after college for a job and fell in love with the town. I work full time at Pearson, an educational testing company, as a Publishing Technology Analyst (graphic designer). I've scrapbooked for 30 years and recently started hand embroidery. I've found connecting with other creatives to be healing and energizing. I wanted to build a place that fostered that creative space for people to gather, craft, and learn.
First of all—this meeting isn't a money ask. I want all who want to be involved in building this to be welcome without feeling like they have to invest monetarily.
The Vision
I see The Craft Apothecary as a cozy, curated, vintage–inspired retail space for secondhand art and craft supplies and a creative community space with workspace and tools available to use.
Retail Space
Secondhand art & craft supplies can be donated through a buy/sell/trade model for cash, store credit, member perks.
yarn, fabric, sewing notions, beads, scrapbooking paper and stickers, art supplies, paint, canvases, etc.
Unused materials are diverted from landfills and given a second life
Buy and sell items by weight where it makes sense. Keeping the need for plastic packaging at a minimum. Sustainability, reuse, and low waste is top priority.
Community Space
Local creatives can connect through workshops, clubs, and co-creating time.
Access to equipment and supplies. Have equipment such as Cricuts, sewing machines, printers, etc. for use by the community.
A cooperative model allows the community to help shape and sustain it.
Possible Co-Op Structure
The following is initially how I thought about the Co-Op structure and member levels. However in discussions with the attendees we wondered if maybe a non-profit model would be better suited? At the core do the members care about splitting profits or would people rather see profits go back into classes/space/equipment/benefiting the community. It does appear that a Cooperative Non-profit is a possibility. I have a meeting set up for Monday the 23rd with Cooperative Development Services and that is my top question to ask them. So with that in mind here were my initial thoughts on Membership/Ownership structure.
All Co-Op memberships will be a Lifetime Membership with one-time payment
*Profits will be divided by the % breakdown of Patron Memberships vs Owner Memberships
Patron-Memberships
$100–$200 rough cost
Individual Profit share % will depend on purchases made in the year
Owner Memberships
$1,000–$5,000
Individual Profit share % will depend on amount of initial investment
If we went the Non-profit 501(c) model we'd offer founders/members perk and or discounts rather than profit sharing.
Location?
Future Goal—I’d love to be in a downtown Owatonna building.
Accessible
Room for secondhand retail buying/selling
Room for class/workshop/working space
Storage for inventory rotation
Stretch Goal—retreat space
Realistic Starter Location
I’ve had initial meetings with a potential starter location—hopefully more info to come in the next month
A way to start small
Model what we are looking to do for the community
Have both retail and class/workshop space
Hold classes, co–creative time
Raise and save money for bigger downtown space
What We’re Looking For Now
A planning team to help bring this to life. Planning team has no financial requirements. I want all who want to be involved to be involved.
Tasks the planning committee will help with:
Talk to the community and see what the needs are
Establishing a board of directors
Defining the co-op’s mission and values
Deciding For Profit or Non Profit model
Writing the bylaws
Outlining membership structures and benefits
Determining how decisions will be made
Find a lawyer and start the cooperative process
Assist in guiding early operations (after co-op is set up and official):
Location planning
Programming/Class ideas
Supply and Inventory sourcing/intake/sorting/organizing
Most importantly—this group will lay the groundwork for a sustainable, community-driven creative space.
That is pretty much the run down of what I shared with the group today at the Informational Meeting. Things I've accomplished so far:
Officially filed the Minnesota Cooperative Articles of Organization with the state. (Claimed the business name and registered it)
I have a meeting set up with the Cooperative Development Services
I will update with any information I receive from this meeting and next steps that we need to take.
I have spoken with a potential starter space—more info to come on this if we get the green light.
Takeaways from attendee comments/questions.
Community Community Community
"I'll come if I can craft with people."
Show and Tell Events
Crafting with Others—Community
Biggest thing I took away from the discussions we had is people are looking for a creative space with access to materials to use as they need/want. Whether its bring your own supplies and work on the project you have been working on. Or come looking to learn and create something new.
If you missed today's meeting and still want to be involved in the planning committee—no worries! Email me: emily@thecraftapothecary.com and just let me know you'd like to be included in the planning committee (and maybe which part you'd like to help with). We talked about doing a craft gathering for our first official planning committee meeting. "The best ideas come when you are crafting with friends." I'll be sending out meeting day and time once we get something nailed down but we were thinking possibly July 20th for the first official planning meeting.
Huge thank you to Mineral Springs Brewery for hosting us this afternoon!
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