Building Dreams at Sugarbrooke Creative
This week we’re featuring the town of McIntosh, Minnesota (pop. 625) and sharing some of the stories of rural revival happening here! Today’s guest blog post is from Katie Krogstad Roed, owner of SugarBrooke Creative, an award winning boutique marketing agency nestled amongst the lakes and trees in Northern Minnesota. Welcome, Katie!
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Rural America is deeply rooted in my DNA. Growing up on a fourth-generation farm, our town’s population barely broke 100. After graduating from high school, I left to pursue my dreams of college and a career that would take me beyond the farm. I often told my parents I’d never again live in a small community. And for years I didn’t.
My marketing and public relations jobs took me to large cities across the United States. I loved the new places and people I met. But the novelty of it eventually wore off. I wanted something I had swore off back when I knew it all — rural life and the sense of community that comes along with it. Which brought me to McIntosh — a simple town, filled with people who welcomed me with open arms.
I made McIntosh my home. And with access to broadband internet, I launched a marketing and PR agency that remotely serves leading Fortune companies across the US. My love for marketing and passion for helping build and strengthen the dreams of others is something that drives me on a daily basis. So, when Andrea moved to town and shared her big ideas and crazy dreams, we became instant besties. I knew that her visions, coupled with basic marketing principles and some creativity, could help her breath new life into a dying town.
Thousands of communities across Rural America are lined with empty buildings filled with broken windows and broken hearts. The insurgence of big box stores and the promise of two-day delivery have made it hard for mom and pop shops to survive. We had to create a plan that would ensure Andrea’s hard work and personal investments wouldn’t fall victim to the latest small business statistics. So...we dialed in on creativity and fine-tuned the strategy. Then said a few (hundred) prayers.
By looking at what big box stores can’t deliver on and understanding the psychological needs of people, I’ve worked alongside Andrea at Minnesota Rust and Katherine at Howard Soap Co. to fill a void that that large retailers can’t compete with. Using place marketing to help spark interest, we’ve worked together to create events that focus on customer experience while showcasing what makes McIntosh so special. Its people.
Using effective marketing channels like social media — combined with bouts of perspiration and inspiration — have turned McIntosh and its specialty stores into a destination worth visiting.
Find out more about the rural revival happening in McIntosh, Minnesota here:
EPISODE 93 // ANDREA STORDAHL OF MINNESOTA RUST
WELCOME TO MCINTOSH, MINNESOTA