Lianna Matt McLernon
The first thing you’ll see when you walk into Six for Good Presented by Essence One, Rosedale Center’s new store co-owned by six Minnesota makers, is the proudly emblazoned phrase #galsforgood against the charcoal gray wall in the back. And it’s true. The store concept and quasi-tagline is that six women artisans from six brands are opening up their own store and giving back.
You’ve seen these brands at different pop-ups—Lauren VanScoy, the instigator for the whole project met most of them at different pop-ups like Mall of America’s 2017 RAAS—but now they have own a place, permanently. (At least, as permanent as a nine-month lease is.) Six for Good features Essence One, an all-natural and hand-crafted aromatherapy and body product business by VanScoy; Thumbs Cookies by Robyn Frank; Hagen & Oats custom wood and signage by sisters Nikki Hagen and Anna Hollerich; Baubles & Bobbies jewelry by Ginger Neilon; and the double brands of Urban Undercover and Towel Topper, both meant to make traveling and life a little easier, by Sairey Gernes. Each brand has its own cause that it gives some of its profits back to, but they all own the store equally.
“I’m just the one who found the space. It’s community over competition and cheering each other on,” VanScoy says. “We had the space, we had a group of people, and there was no hesitation in taking the leap. This wasn’t a new idea for anyone.”
All of them had already had retail experience at various pop-ups, and the idea of truly owning their space and, as VanScoy points out, truly owning how they were able to represent themselves and tell their story appealed to them. When a temporary vacancy opened up in Rosedale Center, VanScoy jumped on it. She and the rest of the Six for Good team put everything together in six weeks and hope that once things settle down, they can focus on putting on artist pop-ups and events like a monthly Saturday coffee chats to meet artisans, talk about entrepreneurship or philanthropy, and more.
Check out their grand opening party on Thursday, April 18, from 5 to 8 p.m. They’ll be joined by other local, women-owned businesses like Leonetti Confetti, Her Spirit Vodka, Fast Mary’s, and City Girl Coffee as well as Rosedale’s Revolution Hall (and they’re bringing some appetizers). Before then, though, take a first look at the space.
