Talking Business - The Hidden Gems of Cloquet

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of Abundant Baby.  So what happens when you cannot find “big boy” clothes for your infant, you make your own.  This was the inspiration for Abundant Baby, located at 708 Sunnyside Drive.  They wanted to offer quality lines of clothes, sized up.  This store provides infant clothing and accessories, boy’s and girl’s clothing through size 10/12, mother maternity wear, kid books/toys, jewelry, blankets, giftware, and so much more.  

Starting and owning a business is a family affair Mother Colleen Sunnarborg and daughters Jenna Gilbert and Bethany Sunnarborg opened Abundant Baby in November.  Their grandkids/children come to work too!  

“It was difficult to find a commercial storefront location for rent, we were lucky to notice a For Rent sign in a great location that was also cost-effective, but the search took months,” said Bethany Sunnarborg.  

The women rolled up their sleeves and painted the walls, refurbished the interior, and exterior of the building finding retail furnishings online, mostly Craigslist, which helped them stay cost-effective and frugal.  The rehabilitation of the storefront space took one month to the point of opening.

In the future, they plan to expand into gift baskets and design and produce clothes for infants and maternity.

Come check out this adorable store!

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of Cold One Liquor. You deserve a cold one—wine, Beer, Spirits, and so much more.  Cold One Liquor is located at 906 Hwy 33 South in Cloquet.  Owners Alison and Dean Crotteau and manager Haley Sobczak welcome you into the store and appreciate the opportunity to serve you.  From a social worker to a life coach to carrying on the family business, Alison is not new to business ownership.  Her grandpa Gene owned the grocery store that used to sit on the site where Premier Theatre and Cold One currently sit.  Her dad, Rick Stowell, and uncle Gary Stowell developed the property.  On January 1, 2019, Alison and her husband, Dean, an electrician, purchased Cold One from Gary. 

There is no business like the liquor business.  Customer service, community support, and competitive pricing are what the Crotteau's want you to experience when you visit the store and hear the Cold One name.  

We have the best staff.  They go above and beyond to help the customer and ensure the best customer service.

Staffing consists of approximately 15 employees.  College students like to work here, given the flexible schedule and becoming a part of the community. 

Inventory is plentiful with your favorite beer, wine, spirits, mixes, and gift sets.  Fireball and Busch Light are among the top sellers of products.  You will find familiar local names of Wild Cider, Duluth Cider, Earth Rider, and Moose Lake Brewery displayed.  

Stop by and say hello to Alison, Dean, and Haley.  Support local and stock up on your favorite beverages.  They can also help you pick the crowd favorites for upcoming parties and events.  

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of Hair Design by Adelle.  Professional, personal and fun, that is what you can expect when you visit Hair Design by Adelle, located at 15 14th Street in Cloquet.  Cloquet is home to Adelle, who has been running her business for the past 3+ years.  Before that, she was at Cost Cutters for seven years, Cailin Deas for three years, and Tranquility for two years and decided she wanted the flexibility to set her schedule, which would allow her to take an active part in her daughter's life.  

I am fortunate to have a job where I love what I do.  I get to know my customers, and they feel like family. - Adelle

New clients are welcome, but they must plan.  About 98% of her client base is repeat customers.

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of Marksman Trading Post.  Are you looking for guns and ammunition, antiques, collectibles, hunting and camping products?  You can find them all at Marksman Trading Post located at 227-1/2 Hwy 33 N in Cloquet.  Lesley Welch, the owner of LW Survey, purchased the once-known Alaspa Gas and Grocery and invested in a total building rehab.  A must-see transformation.  Marksman just celebrated their first anniversary in November.     

Managers Cory and Kaylyn Drickhamer invite you to see the ever-changing inventory.  For firearms, they carry pistols, rifles, shotguns, cases, magazines, slings, and more.  Ammunition consists of .22 LR, .380 ACP, 9MM, .45 ACP, 5.56MM/.223, 7.62MM/.308, 12 gauge.  You will find furniture, home decor, paintings, and photographs for antiques.  Collectibles feature die cast, models, books and magazines, and games.  They also carry gold, silver, coins and currency, and jewelry.  One of our favorites was the marble collection and the mounted elephants.  They do not carry electronics or tools.

Our favorite part of the business is the different people we get to meet.  This is different than anything Cory and I have ever done. - Kaylyn

In addition to the storefront, Marksman does guns shows throughout the area.

Check out a recent Pine Knot News feature for additional information:  https://www.pineknotnews.com/story/2022/10/14/news/newish-pawn-shop-aims-to-attract-travelers/8110.html

Buy - Sell - Trade.  Stop in to check out this great newer addition to our community.  There is something for everyone!

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of Sweet Land Farm. Sweet Land Farm began in 2014 when Nathan & Veronica purchased their home and 32 acres off Provost Road in Cloquet, MN.   Veronica was in graduate school and they had just had their third baby, so it seemed like the right time to buy a fixer-upper and begin their farming dream!  Both continued to work off-the-farm jobs as they built the farm and personal care product businesses.  In 2018, Nathan was able to leave his job and focus on the business full-time.    Veronica has a job at the University of Minnesota which allows her summers off and all five to be home together farming and adventuring. 

 Nathan, Veronica, and their children Isaiah, Simon, and Frances have been planting hundreds of blueberry plants each year in preparation for the opening of their pick-your-own blueberry farm in 2020.  It has always been their dream to have a space for the community to come to play, explore and enjoy the outdoors while enjoying organic blueberries.  

Why blueberries?  Not a ton of complexity to grow and maintain, and who doesn't love blueberries?  

Here is a quick recap of the August 2022 blueberry season 

26 - total days, 178 - berry picking appointments, 1,800 + /- Number of total pounds picked, The number of parents, grandchildren, grandparents, friends, and neighbors talking and laughing while picking - Too many to count!

Let's talk about personal care products.  There are so many products to choose from.  Various scents of goat milk soaps, lotion bars, lip balms, home-knit gnomes, cedar soap dishes, Minifigure soaps for kids, bug spray, and gift sets are all made in the production room in their house. 

Sweet Land Farm gift boxes are handmade and unique, making gift buying easy  - they will even ship/deliver it directly, supports a small business, and each item in the gift box is made by talented makers.

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of Garden Isle Bath and Body.  Garden Isle Bath & Body is a family owned business established in 2010 in Old Kapaa Town on The Island Of Kauai by Minnesota natives Cori and Craig.  They lived on Kauai for 11 years and, during the pandemic, decided to move back to their home state to be closer to family and opened a retail shop at 807 Cloquet Avenue, Suite 1, where they operate making fresh batches of bath and body products from the purest of ingredients for the most sensitive skin.  Each product is made with love from Cori and Craig's hearts and shipped to homes and offices worldwide. 

Garden Isle Bath and Body makes products in small batches to ensure quality & freshness.  Special blend requests are welcomed.  Products include body oils and body mists, bug repellant, body butters, candles, face, neck, and feet products, hair care, lotions, scrubs, handmade soaps, and pet care products with gift sets—creators of Kauai's Exclusive Coco Mac Body Beautiful cream.  A rich body butter that moisturizes provides Reef Safe UV protection (compared to 30+ screen), cools immediately, soothes, and heals sunburn overnight.

Garden Isle is more than just a storefront selling natural products.  When you enter the store, you are instantly greeted with a smile and warm conversation by Cori and/or Craig, and the large inventory of naturally made products is very well displayed.   The conversation is fun and inspiring, product knowledge is incredible, and product success stories.  Once you try these products, you will become a repeat customer and feel like friends.  Behind the storefront, you will find the production area where Cori handcrafts her products and a shipping area, all very neat and organized.  

Shop small business this holiday season.   

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of Venture North Aviation.  Many don't know we have an airport in Cloquet, nor do they know we have a company that offers aircraft rental, maintenance, charter, consulting, professional pilot service, fuel service, and accelerated and personalized pilot training.    Let us introduce you to Venture North Aviation, LLC.    Bill Stone, president, and general manager has been a part of the Cloquet airport for 11 years and shows growth yearly.  They are a significant contributor to the local economy.

Venture North Aviation, LLC offers a complete selection of accelerated flight training courses, including the accelerated instrument rating course.    Specific IFR flight training courses for the instrument rating include the 10-day accelerated instrument rating course and the 5-day IFR finish-up course.    Commercial pilot training courses include the 5-day accelerated commercial pilot training course.    Certified flight instructor courses include the initial 5-day CFI flight Instructor training course, a 5-day instrument flight instructor (CFII) course, or the two-week, ten-day CFI and CFII training course.

Accelerated flight training courses have been in high demand, and customer wait time can average many months for pilots from across the United States, even Alaska, and Hawaii.    Venture North offers five-day commercial pilot certification, instrument ratings courses, flight instruction, seaplane ratings certificates, instructor certification, and more.

Those trainees don't just spend money at Venture North. Customers average 150 nights a month in hotels here in the Cloquet-Carlton area. The average stay per customer is 7 to 10 days.    That number will likely double when VNA adds a new headcount to support its training programs.

Venture North Aviation offers warm hanger space for customer airplanes, aircraft tie-downs, conference room, pilot briefing rooms, comfortable lounge with recliners, TV, private showers, and a courtesy vehicle for transportation.

In addition to providing training to his customers, Bill King shared about the workforce development and professional career paths of the pilots that work for the company.   These pilots come from all over the United States to work in Cloquet for Venture North Aviation.    Some of these pilots come to Venture North Aviation to advance their careers and choose to become professional pilots for airlines or corporate flight departments around the country after spending a certain amount of time learning and being coached.

With the company's year-over-year growth, the airport's current space doesn't meet storage or maintenance demands at Venture North.    A new hanger and office space facility is being built, which will be leased by Venture North Aviation.    This facility will allow for the addition of new full-time maintenance technicians to support this expanding service center and expanding fleet.    The new hangar will also enable customers to store planes - including larger planes - especially in the winter.

Whether you are a prospective airplane owner, new pilot, veteran pilot, or non-pilot, learn more about Venture North Aviation.    A personal level of attention complements their quality of service.    Their detailed flight training programs offer customers peace of mind and cover all aspects of aircraft piloting and ownership.    Let Venture North Aviation lead you toward success in your next aviation venture.

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of Family Tradition. What started as an A&W back in the 50s is now Family Tradition, located at 816 Sunnyside Drive, serving the Cloquet community since 1984 under the ownership of John and Sara Kay Johnson.  Sara Kay and John met while working at the A&W in the early '80s.  John works the back-of-house side of the business, and Sarah Kay works the front-of-house serving and working the till.   Whether it is breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Family Tradition is your local small-town restaurant offering home-cooked meals.  The chicken salad is a special recipe and can be ordered for your next party.

The days may be long, the work is hard, and a shortage of employees, but John, Sarah Kay, and their employees have made Family Tradition a place people call home.  People who visit become family.  In addition to locals, many people stop in on the way to the lake, hunting land, fishing trips, bike trails, and the Pine Valley ski jump.

The menu consists of homemade soups, salads, traditional burgers, homestyle hot sandwiches, Coney Island hot dogs, and traditional dinners, and breakfast is served all day.

Stop by Family Tradition today if you are looking for a locally owned, non-franchised restaurant with good food, reasonable prices, and an excellent reputation.  Be sure to check their updated hours.

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of Storage Pro.  Storage Pro, located at 1208 Hwy 33 South, is your local storage solutions provider and authorized U-Haul dealer.  Pru Properties purchased the old McDonald Rental and renovated it into company business offices and climate-controlled units.  Reliable, professional and secure, you will find 5x10, 10x10, 10x15 and 10x20 and climate control units ranging in size from 5x6, 10x6, 12x6, 10x10, 10x12, 10x17, 10x20.  In total, there are 189 outdoor units and 29 climate-controlled units.  They also have storage units in Carlton, RV parking, and portable storage options. 

Motion-activated lights, security cameras, and controlled access with key fobs and card access provide 24-hour access.  The office is staffed Monday - Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.

Storage Pro is a certified -Haul dealer offering trucks, vehicle dollies, trailers, and appliance dollies subject to dealer availability.  They also offer a full line of U-Haul moving products. 

Stop by Storage Pro and say hello to managers Kellin Lamirande and Marlene. 

In this episode of Talking Business, Shelly Peterson - Founder and CEO of Promoting Me, LLC. and Holly Hansen - Community Development Director for the City of Cloquet  are talking about the Hidden Gem of Nu Luxe.  Nu Luxe Salon (Pronounced NEW LOOKS), located at 902 Hwy 33 South, opened on September 6, 2016, in Cloquet and is locally owned and operated, offering various products and services to suit every style for men, women, and children.  The salon is owned by Bree Morton, a stylist who married a Cloquet native and has a full life with four kids.  Her team at Nu Luxe includes Dray, Hanna, Sam, and Meagan.  They offer hair services, including Balayage coloring, are certified for Brazilian Blowouts, and Lahbee eyelash extensions and full body waxing.  What you probably don’t know is that they are known for providing bridal updo hair services and makeup onsite and offsite, as well as reduced-price haircuts for military and public safety staff ($10 men, $18 women).