Fox Run at the Shoppes at Arbor Lakes is a go-to destination for locally made artisan goods. Here, founder Tia Scott chats with us about launching the store, what owning a shop has been like during the coronavirus outbreak, and some of her favorite gifting trends this holiday season.
Photography provided by Fox Run
How would you describe Fox Run?
Fox Run is a curated collective of 25 Twin Cities and greater Minnesota makers of local goods. We work directly with our makers to produce one-of-a-kind works that are exclusive to our store. We are in the business of people. Whether it’s helping facilitate and encourage cross collaborations or providing access to information, guidance and mentoring, we work hard to make sure that we are supporting makers from the person through the product. It always warms my soul to see the effects of what we do ripple so clearly through our maker community.
We are also expanding our offerings with classes, photo sessions, community outreach and so much more. Our business has grown so much, even during the past six months of the pandemic.
How did Fox Run go from mobile marketplace to brick-and-mortar store?
Funny story: At each event last year, everyone we met asked, “Where is your storefront?” Our obvious response was, “You’re standing in it!” We then met with the Shoppes at Arbor Lakes after we had been featured in a local publication. During that meeting, they asked me what I’d really like to be doing, which was host my own markets. This all led to meeting the real-estate team and working with the entire staff at Arbor Lakes.
Ultimately, this was the decision that has saved our business during the coronavirus outbreak. Our storefront has taken the place of our truck in terms of flexibility and sales. While we still have the truck, we are navigating the long-term shopping effects of the pandemic and are so happy to have our retail storefront to continue our amazing growth.
What do you look for when curating vendors and products for the store?
For me, it’s a combination of people and products. I am always looking for amazing products from small local vendors who aren’t a full-fledged company and are most likely doing their making as a side hustle. At the core, these businesses are helmed by really good people who are passionate about their craft. I’ve been very fortunate to curate amazing vendors, all who have been a joy to work with.
What gifting trends are you seeing this holiday season?
I’m writing this from the safety of my office during the busiest part of the holiday season. What’s hot right now is all the “F**K 2020” products that we currently have. We are also seeing a lot of things that make a cozy home run out the door, such as pillows, candles and signs. I think a lot of people are tired of being at home and they are looking for products to make their spaces a bit more enjoyable and fun. Plus, they are sending these gifts to their friends and sharing the love.
What does the future of Fox Run look like?
I really want people to know that although Fox Run has been around for a while, we have only been curating the maker side of things for a little more than a year. It’s surreal to think we’ve created the largest mobile boutique in the country, a homegrown retail storefront, a space at the Minnesota State Fair and at so many other markets — all within two years. It’s always hard to predict exactly what is coming next, but I would say that as long as I’m able to find good people to work with, we will continue to grow.
I won’t glamorize it: It’s been hard — way harder than my corporate job ever was. But I’m a risk taker. And nothing worth having comes without its own risks and rewards.
