MQ Gadgets Gifts Goodies

my business is mq gadgets gifts goodies, formerly the picnic pantry and parlour, located in east stanwood. i like to think of mq as stanwood's one-stop gift shop. you can find something for all ages with a great selection of pantry staples, kitchen gadgets, an olive oil/balsamic refill station, wine, greeting cards, books, baby gifts and so much more.what inspired you to start —or take over— this business? after hitting a roadblock in the veterinary industry, it was time for change. knowing that i would always own my own business, but never knowing exactly what that would be, this one spoke to me when i walked in the door as i was reminded of the visits to the former scandinavian bakery and lefse factory and the other shops where we frequented as kids saturday mornings for our penny candy stash. i felt so much potential in an already amazing store.what do you enjoy most about owning a business in this area? certainly, my family's roots (madsen / sherk) stem from here and the ability to meet past acquaintances and meeting new customers. having the ability to welcome locals, neighbors from other communities, as well as those passing through from other states and counties makes owning a business in stanwood one of the highlights. it's such a beautiful area and one where opportunity for business growth is on the horizon. there's so much kindness in this area.what local events, organizations, or community programs are you involved in? mq hosts local talent. to date we have over 60 authors, artisans and makers. we are proud that we can help the local talent have a place to display their goods. i enjoy participating in other events within the community as time allows. networking is so important.what’s something people might not know about your business? why mq? after learning how many people thought the picnic pantry was mostly picnic supplies and justified that as their reason for not coming in, it was time to rebrand. i thought it was hard to name a child but a business is whole different species. it had to be personal, professional, unique, and so much more. m is for madisen and q is for quinten, our children's names. if people cannot remember mq i am hoping they will remember that amazing shop in stanwood that has two letters.where can people find you on social/web?check us out online at www.mqstanwood.com, facebook at mq gadgets gifts goodies and on instagram @mqstanwood