New specialty store opens in
downtown Morris
Joliet - Kelly Norby left her position in supply chain and logistics with Walgreens and her home in Vernon Hills to become an entrepreneur in downtown Morris, Illinois where she opened Le Mouton Rouge Knittery, a retail knitting and crochet store.
“I grew up in Ottawa,” said Norby, “so I always knew there were a lot of specialty stores in the area and I understood the demographics.” According to Norby, people who knit and crochet vary greatly in age - anywhere from teens to those in their 80s or 90s.
Le Mouton Rouge Knittery provides yarn, needles and notions as well as knitting and crochet classes, parties and other events. The store space includes a large classroom area that will be used for teaching and stitching. Beginning July 7, the store will host a Stitch Night every Thursday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and all knitters and crochet lovers are welcome to stitch and share ideas. Norby also plans to offer knitting and crochet classes in September.
Before making her move to Morris, Norby contacted the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Joliet Junior College where she was able to get help with planning, market research, and financial analysis.
“The Grundy County Chamber referred Kelly to us in March,” said Carol Turney, business analyst for the Illinois SBDC. “We discussed a number of options and financial strategies. We plan to meet again to discuss her business needs and plans for growth.”
Le Mouton Rouge will have its grand opening on July 16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be sales, door prizes, and cake at 3 p.m.
The store is open Monday thru Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Norby got the knitting bug about seven years ago when she began making Christmas stockings. “My mom tried to teach me, but she was laughing so hard she was crying so I took a knitting class in Vernon Hills and got hooked.” Eventually, that interest brought her back to her roots and gave her a new career.
For more information about Le Mouton Rouge call (815) 941-9100, or visit the website at www.lmrknittery.com.
To learn more about Joliet Junior College’s SBDC, call (815) 280-1400, or e-mail sbdc@jjc.edu. People can also visit www.sbdcjjc.com for more information.
The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Joliet Junior College is one of the small business service providers in the Illinois Entrepreneurship Network and is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.