We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jessica Murphy a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jessica , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

As a single parent who works in mental health many of my stories start with taking a risk.
But by far the biggest risk I have taken in recent years is opening Based Gift and Art Store.
We had the opportunity to lease and transform the former Cafe Meow at 2323 Hennepin Ave.
Jumping in while funding that was promised didn’t come through running off a prayer, a dream, and the belief in our mission.
Based offers a space for people facing housing instability to make and sell their art. We also accept donations and anything that is donated to us goes right back into the community for free.

It’s been a giant risk. And I don’t know how it will turn out. I am reminded every single day we could turn around and lose it all. But I am also reminded every single day that we are doing something amazing and much needed in our community. And the people that we have helped are impacted by our mission.

Jessica , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

We started out as Home Base which was formed in 2020 when we saw the need to help the unhoused community through the uprising.
We collected supplies every weekend at a park in Uptown and delivered directly to the encampments.
That is still happening. While it is not every weekend at least a couple of times a month you can find us set up at Bryant Square Park accepting donations.

I also have had my own business for over 10 years. As I got to know the community and the people who lived unhoused in a more personal way I saw the incredible talents they have and the barriers that prevent them from sharing them.
When the opportunity arose to combine the two I had to take the risk and jump on it.

Our store is filled with amazing art made by amazing people.

We also take donations in the store. Because housing instability looks different for everyone we are able to accept things in the store that wouldn’t make sense to accept when delivering to encampments. So we still accept clothing, bedding, tents, hygiene items etc that people living unhoused can use. But we also accept things such as small appliances, furniture, lamps etc. Things that people just starting out or starting over can use.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I feel like here at Based we are constantly pivoting. I initially was determined that I didn’t want the store front to look like a thrift store. We are not a thrift store. But as donations come in and it makes sense we have a huge focus on those items.

Our most recent possible pivot is I am considering opening up the space to other local artists. Which is not something I considered before. But I recognize that it also could help with continuing our mission.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

Sure. In some ways it still feels like a side hustle. But I started out as a bath product business. And initially just started making bath products for my family because I wanted to eliminate chemicals that my children were exposed to.
For many years we sold at craft fairs, art shows, cons and Renaissance festivals. We still do as we can. But now we also have this cool store where others get to buy great bath products, amazing art and help support and important mission

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Basedstoremn
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559811839143&mibextid=ZbWKwL