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Work Space: Urban Homestead |
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Written by Erin Frustaci
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Thursday, 16 November 2006 |
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Erin Hooley |
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Bonnie O’Brien, left, and Jesse Laner, sit in their store, Urban Homestead, at Centerra in Loveland. The couple owns the first franchise of the home products store that originated in Durango.
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Next week, Urban Homestead celebrates its first birthday and owners, Bonnie O’Brien and Jesse Laner, couldn’t be happier.
The small bath and body boutique, situated among mature corporate stores at the Promenade Shops at Centerra in Loveland, soaks up business by being different.
“I think it’s really important for people to know we are locally owned,” O’Brien said. “Our store is more an experience or lifestyle, not just an out-of-the-box corporate store.”
The first Urban Homestead opened in Durango eight years ago. O’Brien, who is from Pagosa Springs, frequented the store and formed a relationship with the owner. She and Laner, her fiance, opened the first franchise the day after Thanksgiving last year.
Laner has a degree in business and O’Brien has retail experience. The couple knew they wanted to own their own business. Laner said the first year has gone well, though they were met with a few challenges.
“I think there are still a lot of people who don’t know who we are,” she said. “It’s really hard to compete with the corporate stores. They have so much buying power and sales we can’t compete with.”
The name — Urban Homestead — can also be a little misleading, O’Brien added.
“A lot of people think furniture store,” she said.
What the store does carry is high-end bath products and lounge wear, including several brands from France.
The concept was to bring an East Coast and West Coast feel to Colorado — hence, the Urban style.
O’Brien and Laner are busy expanding their inventory and improving the business every day. Their Web site will soon allow customers to shop online.
“We do have goals to look into product development,” O’Brien said. “We would like to produce our own signature lines.”
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VITAL STATS
Name: Bonnie O’Brien, 24, and Jesse Laner, 28, of Loveland
Company: Urban Homestead
Title: Owners
How long have you worked there? Open since the day after Thanksgiving 2005
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IN THEIR WORDS
What makes job challenging?
Retail is ever-changing because customers’ likes and dislikes are ever-changing and evolving. It is a challenge to stay ahead of the trends and to find those unique items that a customer can not find anywhere else.
Makes you get out of bed in the morning?
It is seeing the enjoyment that our customers get out of finding that unique and different item that will set them apart from the everyday crowd — whether it is a wedding/baby shower gift, Christmas gift, home decor and/or their own apparel.
Impressed by
Unselfish people who give back to their community impress us.
Not impressed by
Dishonesty.
How to get ahead?
You have to do more than what your are required if you want your employer to pay you more than what they are required.
Did you ever think in a million years you’d work here?
Yes and no… it has been a dream of ours for years to own our own business, but we had no idea it would come to fruition so soon.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you do?
Jesse: Coaching and real estate.
Bonnie: Traveling and studying fashion.
What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done while at work?
Jesse: Thinking I knew better than my fiancee.
Smartest?
Listening to our customers, developing a relationship with them and hiring good people.
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever done to make money?
Cleaned-up dog doodoo for Jeff King, the Alaskan Sled Dog Musher
Any interesting anecdotes?
“If you help enough people achieve what they want, you will automatically achieve what you want.” — Zig Ziglar
What’s the one thing you wish you could do on the job that you can’t right now?
Spend more time with developing our own Urban Homestead product lines.
What do you do during your breaks?
What breaks? Just kidding… sleep.
What’s one thing about your job you would do, even if you weren’t paid to do it?
Find ways to get involved with the community.
Name one thing in your life that really prepared you for your job.
Our parents.
What’s the biggest payoff in your job?
Customers who appreciate our concept.
Are you the boss? Do you think you should be?
We split the duties between us — Jesse does all the dirty work.
What do you do when you’re not at work?
We are small-business owners, we’re ALWAYS at work.
Pets? Family?
Engaged, have one dog
Favorite TV shows.
“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Flip That House,” “Friday Night Lights” and “CSI”
Movies.
“Legends of the Fall,” “Fried Green Tomatoes” and “Braveheart”
Books.
“The Giver,” “Live to Tell,” “Ender’s Game,” “The River Why” and “The Kindness of Strangers”
What Web sites do you have bookmarked?
Urbanhomesteadstores.com, redenvelope.com and shopbop.com.
Where do you play?
Any place outdoors.
Go out to eat?
We love to support the local restaurants.
Favorite spot?
Anywhere with friends or family. | Only registered users can write comments.
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