Bemidji Woman Finds Success Opening Her Own Business

Jordan Peura (left) and Hannah Anderson, owners of
Compass Rose

Hannah Anderson grew up believing that if you work hard enough, all things are possible. Watching her father, a woodworker, craft beautiful things (sometimes after much trial and error) instilled in her the importance of cultivating resilience and a strong work ethic.

In the summer of 2016, Hannah and her boyfriend Jordan found themselves with invitations to eight weddings. With all the hustle and bustle of summer, Hannah and Jordan struggled to find just the right gifts for their cherished friends. "We were just running around looking for last-minute gifts, and it was hard to pick out something personal, or something that reflected the couples and their unique relationships," Jordan said.

Hannah, a professional graphic designer, decided to take gifting into her own hands from then on out. Her creativity had led her to a career working for a number of advertising and marketing companies around the Bemidji area, but she felt like she had not yet reached her full potential. "I have always been a hard worker, and when you work for someone else, that work ethic can only get you so far," she said, "so I just started toying with the idea of starting my own business." She talked Jordan's ear off for weeks about the types of products they could create, friends' and families' style, and how Bemidji was a great market for a small business. Then one day, while in the McDonald's drive-thru, Jordan finally told Hannah after another one of her brainstorming rants, "You keep saying you can do it, so just do it!"...And she did. After just one week, Hannah had created their brand and an online store, uploaded a handful of products, and had already received her first order.

The online store became profitable. Meanwhile, Hannah and Jordan were using their home as a workshop and storage unit. Jordan would be woodworking in the garage while Hannah painted and finished wooden signs on the kitchen counter. They set up shelving that spanned all the walls in their guest bedroom to hold their products and sort shipments.

It didn't take long for Hannah to decide it was time to leave her full-time advertising job and open up a brick-and-mortar store in Bemidji. She came to the Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF) to seek loan funding and guidance from the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). She worked with Sean Moran, NMF economic development specialist, and was able to get a microloan through the entrepreneur development program. She also received an SBDC grant. Hannah worked with two SBDC mentors who helped her navigate the basics of opening a small business. By February 2017, she was opening her store, Compass Rose, in a space she leased near the south shore of Lake Bemidji.

The physical location allows customers to come in and place custom orders, and Hannah has expanded her product line to include essential oil holders, drinkware and coasters, totes and handbags, journals, and cards. Compass Rose also carries a variety of accessories and jewelry. They handpick their vendors and wholesalers to keep a unique variety of product in their retail shop. Now, less than a year after opening the store, Hannah is looking to expand and move into a bigger space. She will be moving into a three-level space that is located downtown Bemidji on 3rd Street, a hub for local boutiques and unique shops like hers. The main level of the new shop will be the retail space and will include a kids play area and a lounge for customers to sit down and discuss custom orders with Hannah. The basement level will be used as a workshop (so Jordan can start using his garage at home again), and the top level will be a do-it-yourself space where they can host classes and workshops. They also plan to use the top level as a space that the community can rent for events such as kids birthday parties and baby showers. Hannah hopes this will create an opportunity for her to collaborate with other local businesses.

Compass Rose is not just a business, but a reflection of Hannah and Jordan's life and their values. They chose the name Compass Rose because they see it as a symbol of adventure and how people navigate through life, and how they can always find a way even if there are unexpected turns or roadblocks.

Compass Rose anticipates opening in the new location at the end of March 2018.

For all the latest updates you can follow Compass Rose on their Facebook page and visit their website at www.compass-rose.com.