Fox Run
Maple Grove, Minnesota
Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do:
Tia: Fox Run
We are Fox Run, a collective of makers that travel around and have just opened our flagship store! We feature 25 makers from around Minnesota and curate modern decor, gifts, and lifestyle wares that are as beautiful as they are eco-friendly! When we aren’t at our store (Fox Run), we are traveling around the Midwest in one of the largest mobile boutiques in the US - Fox Run Mobile Marketplace, and for long-term events, you’ll find us at The Market at Fox Run! Three ways to shop 25 incredible makers!
Let us know more about your business name - how did you come up with it?
Fox Run is somewhat of a parody on a piece of property that we were looking at purchasing. My husband came up with the name while we were touring this farm as it was oddly divided in long “runs.” When we found our forever farm (a different one), my husband asked “are we still gonna name it Fox Run?” Since then we have started four businesses under the moniker “Fox Run” as we feel it aptly describes how on-the-go we are and our totem spirit animal - Foxes!
What is your signature style / item? How did it become so?
Our store, markets, and mobile store have all had different looks and feels but they still feel like they could belong in the same house. I love mixing old tables with modern decor, shiplap is a must, Birch plywood and butcher block, wainscoting/mounding, and boxwood. My design style is clean, uncomplicated and sometimes daring - why not mix two patterns together with a neutral? Life is short.
What makes your business unique to the industry?
We only carry MN-made items. And we work directly with makers to curate a lot of items that ONLY we have. We also have makers focused on their biggest talent and that maker is the only one who does their trade. You won’t find multiple candle makers, or pillow people, we work directly with everyone to have a very curated line, eliminating competition between our vendors, and giving our customers the best product we know exists, rather than a huge selection.
What's been your biggest roadblock when it comes to business and how have you been able to overcome?
So many roadblocks. We are known as a company that has grown VERY quickly which always has it’s own set of challenges. We are also known as out-of-the-box-thinkers. That means you have to give people a chance to catch up with you to appreciate what you are bringing to the world. Sometimes it’s hard to get people to make the leap to new ideas and ways to experience how to interact with our brand. What has been exciting though is to have such a wide array of shopping experiences and people still remember our fox (from our brand) and how we present our makers and most especially the translation between our store, mobile, and markets.
How has your business had to adapt amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic? What are you doing to navigate the situation?
Well there was that 9-week stint where our construction crew was just sitting around. That was hard. For us, we have to limit our Markets and Mobile this year. The Store (which was only supposed to be open one weekend a month) has now moved to three weekends because it’s the only operational piece at the moment. Like many, we had an explosion of people reach out to work with us as we opened the brick and mortar, because it’s literally the only option for us right now. We know that we will bring back mobile and markets eventually so it’s not like it’s permanently disabled our business, we just know that our eggs are in one basket. As far as practices, we have implemented a pretty rigorous cleaning routine and are doing our part to minimize risks.
What is your favorite part of what you do?
Seeing a new product after makers have made it just for me. It’s like Christmas! And connecting makers to opportunities inside and outside our organization. My proud mama moments where one of our makers grows their little business bigger!
What is your *must do* local activity?
I have no clue if it’s open yet? But Whirlyball in Maple Grove is a can’t miss activity up here! Don’t know what whirlyball is? Imagine bumper cars, rugby, and basketball.
Where to find Fox Run:
Storefront: 12241 Elm Creek Blvd. N, Maple Grove, MN 55374
Website: www.foxrunmn.com
Instagram: @foxrunmn
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foxrunmn/