Today we’d like to introduce you to Mari-Rose McManus.
Mari-Rose, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I always wanted to open a shop – ever since I started shopping at the Mexican Shop in Evanston. I loved their idea – traveling all over the world and bringing back your finds. Fast forward over 30 years and I’m approaching my 50th birthday. As the saying goes – “get busy living or get busy dying”. I had to just do it – and the only choice was my little town of Wilmette. My law office is there, my home is there and my son’s school is there – and I just love it. It’s a Mayberry kind of town, with a lot of lifelong residents and people who have left Chicago looking for Mayberry. I’ve been open a little over 3 1/2 years and it’s been a struggle the entire time. Retail is tough – my shop is a curated living space that carries everything from apparel and accessories to furniture and lighting. I wanted to do something different and it takes a long time for people to understand what I’m doing. I also carry a wide variety of price points – another thing people are not used to. I also concentrate on environmentally friendly brands and lines that are made in the United States. I have many local Chicago lines. I’m happy to report that I hope that the hardest part is over – I have a lot of loyal customers and the word is spreading. It’s a labor of love for my town and my customers – I hope that I am becoming a part of the local fabric.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As I referred to above, this has not been an easy road. I took on a lot of debt to be able to open and sustain exhibit. I also have another business, a law office, that must take priority. I am a family law attorney and my clients are going through some very tough and challenging times. They come first, as they should. Retail is tough enough even when you can make it your first priority – it’s even tougher when you’re running another business. I don’t have any employees, so I do the best I can. I was very lucky in the beginning to have a good friend partner with me and do the public relations and marketing for the shop. She has moved on to bigger and better projects, but she was a pivotal factor in getting the word out about exhibit. I encourage people who are considering opening a shop to know that it will take some time to become profitable. I’m still getting there!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Exhibit – what should we know?
The unique thing about my shop is that everything is set up in an apartment-like space and everything is for sale, from the rugs and furniture, to the apparel and accessories. Even the display furniture is for sale. It keeps the shop fresh and ever-changing. Fast fashion hurts a lot of people (and is devastating to the environment) and I’m proud that I don’t carry it in the shop. The vast majority of my designs are made in the United States (many of them in Chicago) or in the country of the designer. I’m trying to bring back the value we used to place on our possessions and a sense of community to where we shop.
So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
I feel that women are very well positioned now to change the world. People are sick of all of the current political climate and I believe that women can change it – either through local micro-actions or by running for office as women are now in record numbers. I believe we have to take responsibility for making our own opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Address: Exhibit
1148 Wilmette Ave.
Wilmette, IL 60091 - Website: www.shopexhibit.com
- Phone: 847-251-5840
- Email: mr@shopexhibit.com
- Instagram: shopexhibitwilmette
- Facebook: shopexhibit
- Twitter: shopexhibit
Image Credit:
Rhonda Holcomb
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
