MONROE - Terra Junk once tagged along with her grandparents to craft shows selling candy bags to other children. Now, she's continued with that entrepreneurial spirit and is selling personalized signs and gifts in a storefront after finding success online.
Junk and her husband, Barry, reached their goal sooner than anticipated and recently opened 213 Designs at 715 17th St., Monroe, in the building that was formerly Legacy Personal Training.
The South Wayne natives had been selling their items on Amazon and Etsy online. It all started 15 years ago when Junk sold her work at local craft fairs. When she had her oldest daughter, Fiona, seven years ago, she took a break for a couple of years.
In 2013, she got the itch to create and sell again, opening up her Etsy shop. By December 2015, she decided she would leave her position as the IT manager at Wisconsin Cheese Group to focus on her side business.
"We couldn't do both anymore," Junk said. "It was very exciting and very nerve-racking."
The couple has two other children, Haddie, 4, and Cameron, 1. Finding space in their small home to fill hundreds of orders was becoming difficult. In June, the couple began looking for a business location.
Barry has a construction background and a degree from Madison Area Technical College in cabinetry and construction. He remodeled the building with new floors and walls. In July, he left his job at Kuhn North America in Brodhead to join his wife and pursue their longtime dream at 213 Designs. He does all of the woodworking and helps with packing and shipping.
"He's always loved building, and I've always loved painting things," Junk said. "So it just kind of worked out."
The business offers personalized home decor, such as framed quotes, family names, snowman paintings and mugs. Junk said she sticks to things she likes and tries to keep things new and trendy.
Fiona has also been helpful, spending time playing with the cash register and letting customers know the mugs are all dishwasher safe.
Junk said the new store had a "good turnout" Tuesday for its opening day and saw several unfamiliar faces - a sign that people were checking them out.
"It's exciting," Barry said. "It's been the end goal for a long time."
Junk and her husband, Barry, reached their goal sooner than anticipated and recently opened 213 Designs at 715 17th St., Monroe, in the building that was formerly Legacy Personal Training.
The South Wayne natives had been selling their items on Amazon and Etsy online. It all started 15 years ago when Junk sold her work at local craft fairs. When she had her oldest daughter, Fiona, seven years ago, she took a break for a couple of years.
In 2013, she got the itch to create and sell again, opening up her Etsy shop. By December 2015, she decided she would leave her position as the IT manager at Wisconsin Cheese Group to focus on her side business.
"We couldn't do both anymore," Junk said. "It was very exciting and very nerve-racking."
The couple has two other children, Haddie, 4, and Cameron, 1. Finding space in their small home to fill hundreds of orders was becoming difficult. In June, the couple began looking for a business location.
Barry has a construction background and a degree from Madison Area Technical College in cabinetry and construction. He remodeled the building with new floors and walls. In July, he left his job at Kuhn North America in Brodhead to join his wife and pursue their longtime dream at 213 Designs. He does all of the woodworking and helps with packing and shipping.
"He's always loved building, and I've always loved painting things," Junk said. "So it just kind of worked out."
The business offers personalized home decor, such as framed quotes, family names, snowman paintings and mugs. Junk said she sticks to things she likes and tries to keep things new and trendy.
Fiona has also been helpful, spending time playing with the cash register and letting customers know the mugs are all dishwasher safe.
Junk said the new store had a "good turnout" Tuesday for its opening day and saw several unfamiliar faces - a sign that people were checking them out.
"It's exciting," Barry said. "It's been the end goal for a long time."