entrepreneurs
Story and photos by Marlene Chabot
y n n u S Side
Sherri Lynn Lynn’s and the Sunflower Boutique
Sherri Lynn Hoheisel (left) and her daughter, Angie Hoheisel, co-own Sherri Lynn’s and the Sunflower Boutique in Pierz.
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Sherri Lynn’s and the Sunflower Boutique in Pierz may shine brightly in the morning on the sunny side of the street, but co-owner Sherri Lynn’s sunny disdisposition radiates all day long. If you haven’t visited her yet, make sure to stop by. Sherri Lynn Hoheisel, originally from Anoka, opened the boutique with daughter Angie almost two years ago. Named after their favorite flower, the boutique carries the women’s personal line of can-dles, bath and body products and gourmet foods plus other fine Minnesota handcrafted products. Gift baskets laden with the owners’ creations are avail-able for corporate and special events as well. Before the boutique opened, you could find Sherri and Angie at 30 craft and fine art shows a year, throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa.
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Summer 2014 | her voice
Now, they travel to just six shows, including Rice, Minn. The moment you step through the boutique’s door a wedding display draws you in. “That’s Angie’s special corner,” Sherri explained from behind the counter. Her engaged daughter loves customizing the lotions and soaps to match a person’s wedding colors. The color-coordinated products are purchased for bridal shower and wedding favors. “We even provide matching bags for the gifts,” says Sherri. Someday, Angie would like to expand the wedding area to include a bridal consignment section too. As I strolled to the counter, I asked whether either of Sherri’s parents was involved with handcrafts. “My mother Lynn is extremely creative and has been my inspiration since childhood,” she replied. Mom supplies the store with quilts and stained glass windows and occasionally fills in. The co-owner of the boutique stepped out from behind the cash register now to give me a
tour of the unique store and to share the history behind the products Angie and she creates. We began in the candle section first. Sherri became involved in the candle making process in 1973 while earning her business degree at Winona State. “I did it to earn extra cash,” she explained. When college ended, she continued creating candles and other items to give as gifts, but it wasn’t until 1999 that she actually ventured into her own home-based business, Candlelight by Sherri. From the start, all three of her children were involved. The first type of candle created was made by pouring scents and melted wax into jars. Later, waxed dipped critters, Sherri’s Lil Stinkers, were added to her line. The candle maker has experimented with various scents and colors over the years. Once she used a high school’s colors to honor the graduates. Her favorite part of creating jar candles in h e r