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Yarn Underground
Two women, who thought all they had in common were their
little kids in play group, soon learn that they both have a love for fiber,
knitting, and entrepreneurialism. I was
in store for their official one year anniversary the day of our interview, and
was shown around the store.
Marisa Gibler and Shelley Stone are blazing a new trail
with their store, in the college town of Moscow, Idaho. These girls not only "rent" out
ball winder and swift, but blocking wires and drop spindles. They also have used books and a needle
exchange program. They don't want new
knitters to have a huge expense out of the gate, they just want them to learn
to knit. They believe their customers
will come back and keep knitting using all the great yarns they offer in the
store. They also have a variety of local
yarns to the area including Shelley's hand dyed yarn, Palouse Yarn Company.
In this small quaint basement store, the girls have built their
business and divided up the jobs involved in the day to day running of a small
business. They have built their
partnership, and have committed themselves to the business, are getting along really well, and complimenting
each other's natural talents. Marisa,
originally born in Alaska, moved to Seattle, Washington in Kindergarten, then
moved to Grangeville, Idaho for high school before coming to Moscow for college. Marisa is
married to her husband, and they have two children. Shelley came to Idaho because, after growing
up and going to college on the East Coast, she wanted to explore the west. She came to Moscow, she met her husband here
and fell in love with the area. They too have a couple of kids.
The girls are working really hard at networking within
the community, tapping all the resources in the area, from PalousaFest to Radio
Free Moscow. They are also networking
on-line with Ravelry and facebook.
Marisa and Shelley are enjoying building their business and having a
great time with the challenges that go along with that. The store has classes and knitting circles,
and it shows how much they care about their customers.
The store is full, with their own line of yarn, Palouse
Yarn Company, and other lines like Cascade, Dream in Color, Plymouth, Joseph
Galler, and Brown Sheep. While I was
there, they told me of their plans to bring in more yarns that the store needs,
such as some mohair and some self-patterning sock yarns. And they mentioned talking with Skacel and
Malabrigo. I was excited to see the
Knitter's Pride brand of needles. I had
seen them in the magazines and on-line but hadn't yet seen them in person. I have to admit to getting myself a pair of
the double points.
Moscow, Idaho, is located in what the locals call 'the
Palouse' in northern Idaho. This small town dates back to 1877, and was
named by Samuel Neff after his home town of Moscow, Pennsylvania. This little town is also a college town, and
home of The University of Idaho, and the U of I Vandals. Not but 8 miles to the west is another small
town of Pullman, Washington, also a college town for Washington State
University. SO, you have two college
towns, just eight miles apart in distance.
I left my interview feeling the excitement the two gals, Marisa and Shelley share in
their basement yarn shop, Yarn Underground.
They are awesome young women finding their way with a business that is a
dream come true and sure to be a success.
They both are happy, confident business women thinking outside the box
with their used books, rentals and needle exchange program. They have plans in 2012 to bring Jacey Boggs
with Insubordiknit to the store, and that should be great fun.
Here is the shop mission statement: At the Yarn Underground, it's our mission to
bring you great yarn and fiber AND affordable tools. Because we like to knit, especially
with the good stuff, and the more money that we can save you on all that other
stuff, the better!
If you find yourself in the Palouse, stop by and check
out Yarn Underground, and say hello to Marisa and Shelley for me!
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