Elevate Hennepin advising ‘a delight’
When Laura Merino-Franco had an idea to bring a group of women artists together in a retail collective, she knew she had a great idea. But moving from an online business to a brick-and-mortar storefront was overwhelming.
“I did not go to school for business or anything like that. In opening a store, it's quite different from just having a website, right?” said Merino-Franco, the founder of Primitiva Collective.
She had long list of questions about everything from sales tax to lease negotiating, branding a retail space, and how to plan strategically for a relatively unique business model. She found Elevate Hennepin and while it “seemed too good to be true,” she signed up to meet with several advisors.
She got answers to all her big questions and guidance on things she hadn’t thought of, too. Today, she’s looking forward to a busy holiday shopping season in her elegant Uptown, Minneapolis, shop thanks in guidance from her advisors. The process, she said, was “a delight.”
“It's hard to imagine where I would be without having received all the help and support from Elevate,” said Merino-Franco. “I would recommend it to absolutely everyone who is even thinking about having a business or that just wants to strengthen their business knowledge.”
Hear her story and take a look inside Primitiva Collective.
If her story resonates with you and your business, explore all your Elevate Hennepin options today.
Show all resources
Get connected to professional resources, tools, and guidance from business experts.
Schedule a consultation
Meet one-on-one with a Business Navigator to assess your best next step.
Real businesses, real stories.
Break through tech barriers with Elevate Hennepin technology advising
Finding the right tech tools, developing the right technology strategy, or building a high-quality digital presence is challenging for every business. But Hennepin County entrepreneurs and businesses can find a wide range of resources and consulting for owners and entrepreneurs exploring technology from any angle at any scale.
Elevate Hennepin helps Sweet Science Ice Cream 'sprinkle joy'
Sprinkle, the new Sweet Science Ice Cream truck, is hitting the road, part of founder Ashlee Olds' new strategic plan. She developed the plan with support from her peers and business training in CEO Now, a cohort from Elevate Hennepin.