Maiden Minnesota

Who:

You might recognize a few of the names. Their talents range from handbag creation and jewelry making to fashion design and authoring children’s books, yet they all have something in common: They represent noteworthy women-owned businesses based in our state that are making some really cool stuff. And lucky us, they’ll all be together for one night at this month’s highly anticipated Maiden Minnesota.

What:

The shopping extravaganza—positioned just in time for the holiday season—is set to be bigger and better in its second year, boasting double the number of female-driven businesses and a wider range of design-focused merchandise. The brainchild of Urban Junket handbag designers Tracy Arnold and Tracy Dyer, along with Relish Minds PR’s Jennifer Stack, Maiden Minnesota was created to highlight the remarkable crop of (often hidden) female talent that they consistently uncovered in the Twin Cities.

Why:

“We thought, let’s try to get these people together and bring some awareness to all the cool companies here,” Dyer says. “There are a lot of things in this event that appeal to women. It’s a bit of a celebration atmosphere with cocktails, snacks, and shopping, but there’s also the opportunity for people to approach the owners of these companies and talk to them about the things they struggled with and what they went through when starting their businesses.”

It Takes A Village:

“The other thing I thought was really cool at last year’s event,” adds Stack, “was how the companies connected. There was such a great camaraderie, and people felt comfortable approaching each other and learning from one another.”

While the event features a handful of larger, longstanding businesses, including The Thymes Ltd., Alora Ambiance, and retailer Local Motion, there are several recent start-ups, such as wardrobe styling company Corset and Italian–inspired children’s apparel line Ciao Marco. Seeing other women-owned businesses that have made it work—even made it big—empowers the up-and-comers.

Ripple Effect:

Most of the businesses sell goods at local and national retailers, while others only sell through special shows, but each will offer exclusives and specials during Maiden Minnesota, as well as donate items to the night’s silent auction, which benefits WomenVenture. Five dollars of every ticket sale also benefits the local organization, which provides technical tools and emotional support to women (and men) who are starting their own businesses or looking for a new career path.

November 13, 5–9 pm at W Minneapolis–The Foshay, 121 S. 8th St., Mpls. For tickets ($20), visit womenventure.org or maidenminnesotaevent.com.