Linnaea is the passionate owner of a beloved Santa Cruz institution that has evolved into a creative hub for American-made art, design, and feel-good goods. She first joined the store as a 16-year-old seasonal hire in 1993 and, 16 years later, celebrated her anniversary by buying the business. Since then, Linnaea has honored its legacy while transforming it into Artisans & Agency, a space that champions craftsmanship, community, and connection.

With a degree in art history, Linnaea brings a curator’s eye and a community builder’s heart to everything she does—from spotlighting emerging makers to introducing Denmark’s Christiania Bikes to the U.S. Together with her husband, Peter, Linnaea continues to shape the store’s future, keeping it fresh and relevant as it nears its 50th anniversary in 2026.

In this episode, Linnaea joins Michelle to share her inspiring journey of buying and evolving the store. They discuss how she transformed the business while staying true to its roots, her passion for community-building, and how she curates a unique shopping experience by introducing new brands and supporting local artists.

We are doing our first-ever open call! You can submit your store or favorite store to be on the podcast because every store has a story behind it! Go to theretailwhorepodcast.com, click on SUBMIT YOUR STORE, fill out an easy form and we’ll see you on the mic!

What’s Inside:

• Linnaea’s journey from seasonal hire to business owner and the transformation of the store
• The importance of curating American-made art and design while maintaining community connections
• How Linnaea became the U.S. distributor for Denmark’s Christiania Bikes and expanded her offerings

Mentioned In This Episode:
Instagram
Facebook
Artisans & Agency Website