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EDITORIAL: Quilting finds a home here
Nov 21, 2012 (St. Joseph News-Press - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
A collection of Northwest Missouri quilting enthusiasts deserve credit for piecing together a brighter future for themselves and the region.
The Quilt Shoppe in Stewartsville is a well-known area success storyMissouri Star Quilt Co. in Hamilton just recently was recognized at a White House event. Crossroads Quilting -- it prides itself on helping customers "reach their creative potential" -- is conveniently nestled in between in Cameron. Nearby shops in Jamesport add to the mix.
With all these specialty shops located so close together -- and with other retail, agritourism and restaurant options in the region -- we see a future for a quilting "destination experience" right here.
The latest example of note comes from an area family that has pieced together old-fashioned hard work with modern technology to craft a successful enterprise.
Missouri Star Quilt Co., in existence just four years, is a leading light not only in Hamilton but for the region and the nation. Founder Alan Doan was recognized at the White House for his spot on the Top 100 List of Empact 100, a group that lifts up American entrepreneurs under the age of 30.
Mr. Doan and his sister, Sarah Galbraith, started with a quilting machine and $2,000 in fabric. They now have 31 employees. The real star of the shop is their mother Jenny Doan, who is featured in sewing tutorial videos on YouTube.
Quilters from all over the nation who have watched Mrs. Doan, or who have picked up one of their "daily deals" on the Internet, travel to Hamilton to visit the shop. These business owners show local businesses can succeed by working with, not against, online retailing trends.
Congratulations to the Doan and Galbraith families. Your enterprise is a star in Northwest Missouri's crown. And along with the other nearby entrepreneurs, you are stitching a new niche for our regional economy.
___ (c)2012 the St. Joseph News-Press (St. Joseph, Mo.) Visit the St. Joseph
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