Photo by Deb Gau Columbia Imports owner Dereck Deutz said being able to serve the community was one of the positive things about small businesses.

MARSHALL — Local businesses form a unique part of a community. Shoppers and Marshall area businesspeople said a big part of what makes small businesses special is the people.

“It’s the personal touch,” said Carolyn Bennett, who was visiting RLee’s Emporium in Marshall earlier this month. At a small boutique, she said, “You can tell a person picked out everything.”

Being able to build personal connections with customers, and providing great service, are some of the strengths of small businesses, Marshall businesspeople said.

“We hear over and over that it’s a welcoming place,” Whitney Deutz said of Noble Woman Boutique in Marshall.

Deutz said she and other staff at the store make a point of remembering customers’ names and the things they like. People were excited to be helped by staff, she said.

“You don’t get that personal touch from an online purchase,” Marshall Floral owner Dawn DeSchepper said of service at small businesses.

Dereck Deutz, owner of Columbia Imports in Marshall, said one of the positives of having a small business was being able “to serve the community, and the people that you know.”

Local businesses don’t just go the extra mile for service — they also get to know customers in the long term, DeSchepper said. Over 47 years, she said she’s gotten to know generations of customers.

“I love doing a wedding (for a customer), and then I’m doing their kids’ wedding,” she said.

Over time, customers and employees become like family, DeSchepper said.

Businesspeople said being able to connect more with customers was a benefit in a few different ways. Whitney Deutz said Noble Woman staff are able to think about what their customers would be interested in when they go to market for new merchandise. RLee’s Emporium owner Rhonda Erbes said another positive thing about businesses like local boutiques is that they bring variety for customers. For example, the stores don’t all carry the same clothes, she said.

Dereck Deutz and other local business owners said there’s a lot to be said for how small businesses help to reinvest in their communities. Erbes and Deschepper said local retailers often carry items from local suppliers, artists and vendors. Business owners said local businesses are also more likely to support community organizations and fundraisers.

Running a small business was also personally rewarding, business owners said.

“I always wanted to open up a small business,” Erbes said. “The corporate world just didn’t seem like it was me.”

Erbes started her own business in Cottonwood – a decision she said has made her happy. RLee’s Emporium offers items like gifts, boutique clothing and children’s clothing. After nine years, RLee’s has also expanded to a location on Marshall’s Main Street.

Dereck Deutz said being able to grow and exceed was also part of the reason he was interested in having his own business. Plus, he said, “I had a strong interest in food and sustainable agriculture,” which became part of Columbia Imports.

Since 2016, Columbia Imports has been building a customer base, Deutz said. He said it was good to see his business survive through the COVID pandemic. “Knowing that we are sustainable through a pandemic . . . seeing that, it’s promising,” he said. Deutz said he also hopes to offer new services in the future, like a bistro serving foods like wine, coffee and charcuterie.

DeSchepper said the journey to running her own floral business was one she never expected, but it was rewarding. She started working at Marshall Floral as a high school student.

DeSchepper said she remembered her FFA horticulture teacher saying, “‘Wouldn’t it be funny if you owned your own floral shop?'” She would go on to prove the teacher right. “I loved it as soon as I started,” she said of her job.

Businesspeople said there are challenges that go with running a small business. DeSchepper said it took a lot of time and teamwork to keep the shop running while raising a family. “Family is what keeps it going,” she said. “And I’ve been blessed with wonderful people to work with.”

Although running a small business is a big job, southwest Minnesota shoppers tend to be loyal customers, local business owners said.

“People are really cool in this area. They really support small businesses,” Erbes said. “Once they find you, they really support you.”

Erbes said it’s been also fun to meet customers visiting Marshall. People will often stop in at local stores when they come to visit family in Minnesota. “I’ve gotten to meet people from all over the country,” she said.