photo from E. Freeberg
When Erin was a young girl, she wanted a cash register because she loved “playing store.” Today, she owns the real deal…and the cash register is all hers, too.
Beckoning to great gift givers everywhere who seek that perfect little something, Adorn is a trendy store nestled on the town square in Indianola (IA) – and the dream job for entrepreneur Erin Freeberg.
Erin built Adorn from the ground up in 2012, armed with a solid business plan, an amazing mom as her business mentor and a wealth of marketing and public relations know-how. As a result, Adorn has become a destination boutique for many of us seeking special, one-of-a-kind gifts and home decor.
Style sets both Erin and Adorn apart.
While some business owners excel at accounting or social media, Erin also has an in-depth appreciation for design which helps her buy, select and arrange merchandise that attracts the right customers. “It’s one of those skills that’s hard to transform into a perfect career…you have to blend creativity, a love of meeting people, and a knack to discover what will be trending,” she said.
Erin’s most valuable business talent, however, might just be her decisiveness. She’s confident in her business sense to choose up-and-coming styles and shows good decision-making skills on what her customers will like. That trait is particularly advantageous when buying at market, which could otherwise be an overwhelming hubbub of new products and salespeople.
Aside from her lifelong dream to be a successful retailer, Erin’s professional background paved her entrepreneurial path. “As I was spending time in corporate America and searching for that passion-filled job, I just never knew how I was going to own a store and make it work,” Erin said about her former public relations career. “I figured I would have to retire before I could do it.”
Enter Erin’s mom…who became a chief business mentor, cheerleader and sounding board for Erin’s ideas.
A mentor in Mom.
“Other people have to search out awesome business mentors. How lucky am I to have been born with one? I watched my mom, who had a career and a family and success. I watched her get it done. So, for me, becoming an entrepreneur was never scary,” she said. “(My mom’s) advice to me for 15 years was to write a business plan.” And once Erin did, the store came to life.
As chief janitor, marketer, buyer, cashier and accountant, Erin juggles many of the same business tasks any entrepreneur does. The most fun chores for her? She quickly acknowledges that “meeting and helping all the awesome customers is most fun and energizes her every day. “And, buying and selecting products is also great, because I get to fill the store with things I love too. I guess in the big picture, it’s all fun – it’s my business!
Opening the door to entrepreneurship.
Erin has a little advice for anyone contemplating retail: “Owning a store is so much more than wanting to hang out there and look at pretty things. I went in knowing it was going to be work, and there is never enough time to get everything done.”
“Owning your own business is a lifestyle – I’m a one-woman show with a supportive husband. If you have three good reasons why you want to do it, awesome. Then, do your research. Write your business plan. Know when a customer comes into your store, they can immediately see what you’re about as they open your door!”
You can open the door of Adorn here!
And join us in following Adorn and amazing Erin on Facebook
