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It is brought to you by Northwest Bank: The power of yes, 50 years in the making.
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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Business: Mary’s By Design
Location: 308 N. Alpine Road, Rockford
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday
Owner: Beth Branyan, daughter of founder by Mary Sweeney
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About: Mary’s By Design is a home decor store that’s been in business here for two dozen years. The family-owned business is in its third generation of workers. It was founded by Mary Sweeney in 1998 and is now run by her daughter, Beth Branyan, whose children are also now working at the store.
“We want everybody to be happy with their home and come back for years to come,” Branyan said. “We have clients that now we’re working in their children’s homes. We really have a personal connection with all of our clients.”
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The store sells unique gifts, home decor and furniture.
“We really focus on getting the right aesthetic for each client,” Branyan said. “Not everybody fits into that cookie-cutter style.”
What would you say to a women interested in starting her own business? “I think the biggest thing is if you have that creative spark inside you to pursue that. …
“Mary started in high school working at Illinois Design Center and just went from there. Since she’s my mom, I feel like I’ve been doing this since birth. … It’s just a very fun, creative outlet that I really think more people should explore.”
Who has been your biggest inspiration?
“My mom has been my biggest inspiration. This was something that she started doing from a young age that she loved. She took a pause to raise her family — my sister and myself — and never gave up on that dream. When I was in college and my sister was in high school, she continued that passion by opening the business and to see that it’s never too late to really go with that dream that you have, to make that a reality, I think that’s my inspiration.”
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.