We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Megan Boesen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Megan below.

Alright, Megan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

Back in 2016, there was a shop in Northeast Minneapolis called Crafty Planet and the owners of that business were looking to do something else. I thought it would be a shame if this home of fiber crafts were to disappear. I also wanted to try my hand at doing all the things I had wanted to do in previous jobs. I wanted the work that I poured my being into to be mine. So with guidance from the owners of Crafty Planet I opened my store, Knit & Bolt, in the same location.

My main goal was to offer a shop where people could get local yarns, natural fibers, modern quilting cottons, and learn how to use them. I wanted Knit & Bolt to be a place where people would feel comfortable asking questions, trying new things, failing at things, and trying again.

Megan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Crafting has always been a part of my life. From the first knit stitches taught by my mother to the quilting techniques presently taught to me by our instructors. Creating something with your own two hands is a wonderful feeling. Taking those skills and turning them into a retail business is not the easiest thing. There is the buying of products, the paperwork, and most importantly the people that all come with retail.

Knowing that I can connect with people, and see the spark of “I got it” appear in their eyes during a help session, makes all the paperwork worth it. Guiding someone to pick out just the right yarn or fabric for a baby blanket is fun. It is also nice to know that they trust my guidance. That I have knowledge and care that I can pass along to them. Also, I love untangling yarn and get to do that sometimes as well.

Part of the care we pass along to our people is our openness and inclusivity. We are a queer-owned store and want to maintain a fun, welcoming, safe space for our marginalized folks to feel comfortable in. If you come into the shop you won’t be treated like a unicorn, or a shoplifter, or too young to know anything. You will be treated like a friend.

Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?

In 2019 I was on the verge of failing. The shop was over-inventoried, I was the only one working at the shop, 7 days a week from 8am to 7pm. My personal relationships were taking hit after hit. It wasn’t pretty. So I reached out for help. A former yarn store owner and I sat down and talked about just why I decided to do this. We talked about where I was struggling, and where I needed outside help. I took the plunge into business coaching for my retail store. I learned a lot there were a lot of things that I didn’t know. Things I never would have thought to look into. It wasn’t a piece of cake to turn things around, but I did. With the help of the coaching, I was able to hire an employee, get my inventory in line and not ruin my personal relationships.

My biggest take away from all of that? As for help and be brave enough to take the help that is offered.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

When managing a team it is easy to go down the path of, “This is what I want, this is how it will be, just do it”. That path also easily makes for a team that doesn’t have any buy-in on your business.

How do you not go down that path? Remember and use the fact that everyone has different communication styles and personalities. Ask questions of your team; “How should the customer feel when they come into our store?” “What is the best way to handle this situation?” “How would you sell this item to me?” Asking those questions, and engaging the talented people you have surrounded yourself with, will create more buy-in from the team and less “managing” for you.

Yes, you need to have clear goals. There are dollar amounts that need to be hit. Clients have to be satisfied with your team’s work. You set those goals, but asking your team for help to reach them and how to reach them works.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.knitandbolt.com
• Instagram: knitandbolt
• Facebook: knitandbolt
• Youtube: knitandbolt