[0:09] Hey there Andrew Mullin here the Mayor of Wayzata.  This show is designed to lift up members of our   [0:13] community whether that be our businesses  our churches our schools our nonprofits   [0:18] and most importantly our people. Today I'm here  at Candlelight Floral and today's show features   [0:25] an interview with the owner Lesa of Candlelight  Floral. We'll be talking to Becky from the Wayzata   [0:30] Chamber and we'll be also speaking to Dr Brost  from the Brost Clinic. So let's get to it! Hey I'm   [0:37] here in Wayzata today at Candlelight Floral. Been  here for over 60 years I'm here with Lesa Fenwick   [0:42] the owner and resident of Wayzata of Candlelight  Floral. Can you tell us a little bit about your   [0:48] business? Candlelight Floral was started in 1963  by another couple that lived here in town and   [0:57] my husband and I are the third generation owners  and we moved to town 8 years ago. So can you tell   [1:03] me a little bit more about what it's like to  be a chamber member a resident and a business   [1:08] owner because you're in a kind of an elite club  here. Yeah it's really one of the coolest things   [1:13] about being able to live in the community that  you serve is um it's so rewarding because when   [1:20] we're not at work I'm eating at the restaurants  I'm shopping at the stores I'm volunteering at   [1:26] Chamber events. We've been Chamber members now for  almost 50 years I think and my husband is now on   [1:33] the Chamber board and has been for a couple years  now. We are both my husband and I both are really   [1:37] into volunteerism and charity and being able  to serve the community that we live and work   [1:43] in is just like that's awesome. So cool. What's  your favorite thing about uh being a florist I   [1:49] mean it's got to be neat to be involved in all the  special parts of people's lives. It is yeah we're   [1:53] here for the good times the sad times um for me  I actually enjoy funeral work the most it's the   [2:00] most rewarding um I have the deepest connections  with my clients um I get the most I get so many   [2:06] hugs you know and thank you notes. Every day is a  different day. So while we may be doing the same   [2:13] things it's a different reason different instance  Um every day is kind of a surprise. What's it   [2:20] like being a a woman-owned business I mean here  in Wayzata and just in general? Well Wayzata is   [2:27] a very supportive community and that is one thing  that has like kept us here as long as we have been   [2:32] here and that's because the people the community  want to shop local. They want to support the small   [2:38] business. They want you know anything that they  can buy here in town and not have to go to the   [2:43] surrounding communities like they're going to do  it. I started here when I was 20 years old bought   [2:48] the store at 25 And so um while my husband and I  have owned it now for 10 years I've been here for   [2:54] 15 years and being able to grow up in this like  I'm not from here but being able to grow up as   [3:01] an adult in this town um has been really rewarding  and people are so supportive. Amazing So Lesa you   [3:07] know your business is so involved in the community  and you have a very special event that you do one   [3:11] time a year that I actually participated a  few times. Can you talk a little bit about   [3:15] that? Yeah we call it Petal it Forward and it  is an event where florists all over the nation   [3:21] um in all 50 states and actually internationally  hit their main street and petal it forward with   [3:27] free bouquets of flowers. We give two away One for  you to keep and one for you to Petal it Forward   [3:33] and brighten someone's day. We've doing it here in  Wayzata for nine years and this last year we gave   [3:39] away 2,000 bouquets to the community. So it just  helps spread the word about the fact that flowers   [3:45] and plants make people's days a little brighter  and um it is one of my absolute favorite days of   [3:51] the year. Well me too I've participated in them  more than a couple times and they're sometimes   [3:56] people are like "What are you doing?" But then  when they realize you're actually just giving   [3:58] them a bouquet of flowers who doesn't want that to  brighten their day. Exactly. Studies show that uh   [4:04] more people get more joy out of giving flowers  than receiving flowers. Oh really Interesting.   [4:09] Well you can count me in on one of those as well  I love it what a great thing to be doing for our   [4:13] community. Anything else you'd like to share about  being a resident a business owner here in Wayzata?   [4:18] Yeah so um I just want to plug the store a little  bit because we are here for all all occasions and   [4:25] we have a delivery pool of 20 drivers that work on  behalf of 60 flower shops in the Twin Cities. So   [4:31] we're able to coordinate deliveries for birthdays  anniversaries funerals new homes new babies all   [4:37] over the entire metro area. Yeah so when you build  your relationship with your florist um we can help   [4:43] you for all occasions and we can also help you  know throughout town and nationwide. Amazing   [4:48] which is really cool. Great well thanks for coming  on the show today. Yeah thanks for having me. I'm   [4:53] here today with uh Barbaro Brost Wayzata resident  owns a business here I know her as Dr Brost she's   [5:00] been putting me back together like Humpty Dumpty  for years uh at the chiropractic clinic But   [5:04] uh welcome to About town today and thanks for  coming on the show Uh first tell me a little bit   [5:08] about your business so our clinic was opened 1986.  So a long long time ago. So I am originally from   [5:17] Sweden and practiced six years in Sweden before  we moved to Wayzata and set up the practice at   [5:23] the building where we are now in a much smaller  space and then over the years we've grown and and   [5:30] uh currently we're one of the largest chiropractic  and natural healthcare clinics in the Midwest   [5:35] Wayzata has been a fabulous community to work  in because I think on the average people here   [5:41] are much more health consscious than in a lot of  places So um yeah it's it's been it's been a great   [5:48] great community for us to Yeah And you're in a  sort of a unique club here where you're a resident   [5:54] a business owner and also a chamber member Can  you tell me a little bit what it's like to own   [5:58] and operate a business in the community that you  live Yeah it's great I have a three minute commute   [6:05] That's good Which is awesome And yeah Wayzata  is just an unbelievably fabulous city to work   [6:11] and live in I mean it doesn't get much better  than Wayzata especially in the summertime with   [6:16] with the lake and Yeah exactly And speaking about  family so my daughter and my son-in-law who are   [6:25] both chiropractors are currently um taking over  ownership of the clinic which is really cool So   [6:31] so we'll go into the next generation and then we  have just have to make sure one of the grandkids   [6:36] end up there eventually Oh that's awesome Yes it's  fun Um what what do you like most about being a   [6:41] chiropractor and and owning a chiropractic or a  wellnessoriented business Uhhuh most people that   [6:47] come into a chiropractic clinic come in with some  sort of pain right Like back pain or neck pain or   [6:52] headaches or whatever But then we gradually I mean  we help them with that and then we gradually teach   [6:58] them um natural ways of taking better care of  their health like um you know eating better and   [7:07] exercising and getting your sleep and all such  good stuff Wellness is great You know health is   [7:14] wealth right Yeah Exactly It's the most important  wealth And and you know it's kind of interesting   [7:18] because I've seen working in this community So  many examples of people that had worked really   [7:23] hard and accumulated plenty of money and and then  they didn't take care of their health And how fun   [7:29] is that when you get to retirement and you can't  enjoy it right So you got to you got to just as   [7:35] you plan for your your financial um security when  you when you get older you have to plan for your   [7:42] your physical security too and mobility so you can  do all the fun things you want to do Well I know   [7:48] you're also a longtime member of the chamber been  been part of leadership on the chamber over the   [7:53] years Talk a little bit about what that's like and  what our chamber does for for businesses and for   [7:58] our community So we've been members now for many  many years and and been really um a lot part of of   [8:04] of the community part of the events you know James  J Hill days and the art fair and so on and and um   [8:12] it's the chamber is great I mean this is a great  chamber I was on board the chamber board for about   [8:17] six years and and um it it's just a very very  well functioning chamber you know they actually   [8:25] get stuff done and um very supportive of everybody  that works in Wayzata. And you you've been a women   [8:34] owned business since 1986 Yes That's I'm sure been  an interesting journey over the years You have any   [8:40] um you know comments about what that's been like  for you Well it's not been any issue in any way   [8:48] It's like Yeah I think and now what's funny is  is that my daughter is taking over Yeah You have   [8:55] a second generation female leader Yes Exactly  That's amazing Well good Yeah Well thank you for   [9:00] all that you do in our community and do you want  to talk a little bit more about your business You   [9:05] know where you are when you're open things like  that So we're um right up on um Wayzata Boulevard   [9:11] right the first building off the freeway or off  Highway 12 when you come off this is super easy   [9:18] for people to find and um you know we have a lot  of patients that live obviously in the community   [9:24] and the surrounding areas but we also have  patients that drive for an hour to get to us Wow   [9:30] I just had a patient this morning that was that is  lives in Wisconsin Oh my goodness So um you know   [9:36] some people drive quite far to get to us and it's  and you know it's easy to get to from wherever you   [9:42] come from So so that's that's a good thing Um our  our clinic you know we have six chiropractors on   [9:49] staff a couple of massage therapists and a really  good support staff and and we do chiropractic care   [9:57] um acupuncture disc decompression therapy In  fact we were the first clinic in in Minnesota   [10:03] to do non-surgical de disc decompression therapy  So we can help about 85% of people with disc   [10:10] herniations without surgery which is fabulous  We we also have really good cooperation with   [10:16] um some of the um local surgical places too In  fact we they come over and and find out what we   [10:24] do and we you know we know what they do and so so  we can't do it all so they send people to us and   [10:30] we send people to them and it's great cooperation  And of course if people you know we have X-ray on   [10:36] site but if somebody needs an MRI or a CT scan or  something we we can get them in the next day most   [10:42] of the time So we have really good cooperation  with with the medical community here too Great Uh   [10:49] thanks for being such a great community member and  and a good doc too Well thank you Hey I'm pleased   [10:53] to welcome to the show today Becky Pierson the  president of the Wayzata West Metro Chamber and   [10:59] uh longtime uh community member and been the head  of the chamber for some time It's so great to   [11:04] have you Thank you Can you tell us a little bit  about what the chamber's up to these days Maybe   [11:07] for those who don't know about it maybe start with  a little background and then talk about you know   [11:11] kind of your areas of focus and what you're  focused on right now Yeah absolutely That's a   [11:15] that's a lot So if I if I don't hit all those come  back and ask me again But um but yeah I think it   [11:20] is sometimes hard for people to understand what  the chamber does what we do Um I think sometimes   [11:25] there's confusion between the chamber and the  city too So um anyway I would say between the   [11:30] two we partner together Um but we are separate  organizations Um but the chamber we've been in   [11:35] Wayzata actually for almost 80 years Um so we have  been doing this um in town for a long time So it's   [11:42] really been a a great love for the chamber Um  so back back when a number of businesses leaders   [11:47] got together and thought we would really like an  opportunity to work together and figure out how   [11:51] we can do some things um make connections that  type of thing So we've been doing that um since   [11:56] then So I mean our mission and values are really  to um make sure that business and community thrive   [12:03] together I mean it's an important balance that is  is um something that we all work at every day and   [12:09] particularly in a community like Wayzata where we  do so much um as a community It's important. So um   [12:15] so we uh enjoy what we're doing We really focus in  on connecting promoting and supporting our members   [12:21] um and do the best we can to do that and allow  them to do those same things with each other So   [12:27] we're um about 400 plus members Um so it's a good  size organization and that just um provides an   [12:34] opportunity for even more people We've got members  that are inside um in Wayzata We've 50% of our   [12:39] members probably are within Wayzata and then the  others are outside So it's a it's a great wide net   [12:45] of people that people can um work with and meet up  A lot of people know the events that chamber puts   [12:51] on the Chili Open the art experience right Things  like that But there's so much more that you do Can   [12:56] you talk a little bit about some of the other of  programming that you do and networking and some   [13:01] of the great ways uh that you're engaging uh the  business community Yeah absolutely And I'm glad   [13:06] you asked that because festivals are sometimes the  thing that people see often because of the size Um   [13:11] and we've been doing those for probably 50 plus  years too So um but we I mean per chambers have   [13:18] different personalities and different focuses  Ours has a really great balance of festivals   [13:22] and membership activities So we do a lot of member  programming for our members Um what we try to do   [13:28] again just provide opportunities We're really  a platform for people to connect Um and we try   [13:34] to make it with a lot of variety So we try to do  different days different times of days different   [13:38] seasons Um and then we try to have varying  sizes you know whether it's one-on-one scheduled   [13:45] connection that we orchestrate on a monthly basis  up to people being able to connect with thousands   [13:50] on Lake Street during festivals So um we've  got a real range of those um type of networking   [13:55] opportunities that has really helped people grow  and um along with the festivals kind of a an added   [14:01] bonus in terms of connections is the volunteering  People really do um love to volunteer It's just a   [14:07] great way to connect with people in in a different  format You know it's not when they're business to   [14:12] business and that type of thing or it's a way for  um members that have their customers coming to   [14:18] festivals to be able to just engage in different  ways So um so providing that network networking   [14:23] and volunteering are are great opportunities that  we can do with our program programming It's not   [14:28] lost on me today that uh all three of my guests  are female leaders I noticed that you launched a   [14:34] new networking series you know targeting women  business leaders and also I think you've uh   [14:40] started a sort of a business council Can you tell  me about those two initiatives Yeah absolutely   [14:45] Last year we started um it's called the Women  Empower Network and most of the programming that   [14:51] we do um we try to really listen to what members  needs are what their goals are and if they've got   [14:57] ideas on what they would like to see and we had  just a great group of female members that were   [15:02] getting together in different ways and talking  more and more about an interest to formalize   [15:07] that and really set up a schedule for that group  to get together So we launched that So now we've   [15:12] got four of those events every year We're that  was last year was our first year and we're going   [15:16] to continue that again It was so successful and  um and last year we also started um a Minnetonka   [15:23] business council We've got um members that are  as I said in these neighboring communities and   [15:27] Minnetonka was really interested as a city  to have additional connections with their   [15:31] businesses So we launched this in conjunction  with them and I'm really happy and excited to   [15:36] say that we're launching that in Wayzata this year  Great Um in the past Wayzata we have we've done   [15:42] um opportunities and had mixers with businesses  and had the city doing updates and that kind of   [15:47] a thing but I think it's probably leaned a little  bit more into social and um what we found with   [15:53] the Minnotonka Business Council there a little  bit more structured So it's really all about the   [15:58] programming Whatever the topics of interest are  for businesses the city officials come in and   [16:02] um it's an opportunity for the businesses to hear  about it and then do a lot of Q&A So that's what   [16:07] we'll be doing in Wayzata So we're excited about  that Um and um and that's coming up on March 20th   [16:12] is the first one We're going to be over at Red  Cow and um so that will really be just hearing   [16:18] from the business from the city and um and asking  some questions So we're looking forward to that   [16:23] as well Tell me a little bit more about um how to  become a member of the chamber I've been a member   [16:27] since the early 90s and when I first started  I didn't own a business in town I do now but   [16:32] I joined as a community member So you don't  necessarily have to be a business member to   [16:35] be a member of the chamber Absolutely Tell us a  little bit about that and how does one become a   [16:38] member of the chamber Well I mean business members  certainly um you can if you are a lot of time it's   [16:44] word of mouth or people will Google that kind  of a thing So um if anybody's ever interested   [16:49] they can walk in the depot door they can give us  a call um go on to our website we'd be happy to   [16:54] connect with them send information you can see  it on our website Um so you guys have a physical   [16:58] presence in town Where are you located Oh sorry  um yes we are in the Wayzata Depot So we share   [17:03] the depot with the Wayzata or the Lake Minnetonka  Historical Society So that is we field a lot of   [17:09] questions when visitors come into town and send  them off to the florist that they're looking for   [17:13] or if they're looking to get a little check with  their back all those things So um so we do a lot   [17:18] of promoting right from our office but um but yeah  so businesses we've got businesses from anywhere   [17:23] from you know small sole proprietor up to larger  businesses I would say that our niche with um most   [17:29] of our businesses are small businesses So probably  sole proprietor two to five employees is is um the   [17:35] large percentage of ours But we do have community  members So large I think um I mean it's people   [17:40] that are either moving new into town and they  want to be able to get some regular communication   [17:45] or figure out how to engage Maybe they want to  volunteer So they will become a community member   [17:50] Um oftentimes we see kind of a transition as  people are a chamber member as a business and   [17:56] then they retire or they're traveling more and  so they just feel like they still want to have   [18:02] again that engagement They've they've built those  connections and so they will just transition to a   [18:07] a community member So we've got a lot of those  I mean but yeah it's it's great and they they   [18:12] still come around and um I think one of the one of  the things we hear most from our members is that   [18:17] um it isn't just about networking and kind of  transactional and quick get a business card   [18:22] and make a connection and move on to the next I  mean people really value the the relationships   [18:27] that they build Um which I I feel the same way  I mean I love building these relationships with   [18:32] the community I grew up in the community so it's  been my community for a long time Um but um but   [18:37] I think it's those kind of relationship that  people just don't want to walk away from They   [18:41] they really enjoy being part of it You know uh  some of us may note that you guys maybe had a new   [18:46] identity or change a big sort of rebranding that  happened this year Can you talk us a little bit   [18:50] about the change of the name and kind of what's  behind it and and and how you guys reached that   [18:56] conclusion that that was something that you wanted  to do at this time Yeah great question Um we have   [19:01] just at the end of the year we did go through a  a brand refresh Um we had been for years we've   [19:07] been the Greater Wayzata Area Chamber of Commerce  for like 50 years 50 of our 80 we have been that   [19:12] So I feel like yes it is a big change It's a name  change to Wayzata West Metro Chamber but it isn't   [19:18] necessarily a big change in reality because we  have had businesses members that are part of   [19:23] Wayzata and outside in our surrounding communities  So the the area that we serve is no different What   [19:29] we have just found is with some other changes in  the industry um there were some other businesses   [19:34] and and communities that just didn't necessarily  think of Weisetta or the greater Wisetta area   [19:39] chamber of commerce as their chamber right Um and  because so many have been successfully connecting   [19:46] with businesses in and out of Wayzata it just  made sense for us to try to come up with a way to   [19:50] help people understand that we are the rather than  Wisetta Greater Wayzata Area Chamber we're now the   [19:55] Wayzata West Metro So excellent Well that is still  where we were founded Um it's a it's a strong base   [20:01] for us It's where we have festivals Um so it it's  been a good change and we didn't we didn't get a   [20:06] lot of questions push back So I think sometimes  that means it's a it's a good thing Absolutely Um   [20:12] I would say the larger change that we made was  we changed our system So we have a much better   [20:16] um system for um the our member experience which  what which we're chicled about So that's great   [20:21] Yeah that's been good Um you know one of the  things that a lot of residents don't know and   [20:25] and some businesses don't know that the commercial  district here in Wayzata the commercial buildings   [20:30] and all their tenants and the business community  represent us about 30% of all of our tax base here   [20:36] in town in terms said differently they pay 30%  of every bill right Um it's so great to have the   [20:41] chamber be a partner of the city and and be able  to support that part of our stakeholders and I'm   [20:46] just thrilled um that we have so many Wayzata  businesses that are actually live in town and   [20:50] own a business in town I being one of them and  the two other guests today But can you talk a   [20:55] little bit about um your partnership with the city  and and how important that business community is   [21:00] to the tax base here and and to having a vibrant  successful Wayzata Yeah we well I mean the term   [21:06] the um that we we um punch above our weight  is something that I think we have all used   [21:11] in different ways and I think we all do that But  um the the fact many people when they hear that   [21:16] that we've got a chamber of our size or that there  are 4,500 residents in Wayzata they're just amazed   [21:22] because we we grow with the fabulous business and  commercial district that we have So um it is it   [21:29] is important when I started this conversation  saying that balance is important That's exactly   [21:33] why because without a thriving business community  the residents wouldn't have the experience that   [21:38] they have and our business community is here to  serve residents and more I mean obviously these   [21:45] kind of businesses that we have um can't just live  on for without them They they pay a significant   [21:51] amount of our taxes too which is helpful So  residents don't have to carry all that right   [21:56] So they help bring the the fees down the taxes  down for residents So it's a it's an important   [22:01] mix and and so our partnership with the city is  very important Um I would say communications and   [22:06] just being in the room or being in the rooms is  really important as a chamber with the city so we   [22:11] can hear conversations We can try to communicate  accurate information We can try to just keep   [22:17] things accurate because you know when things are  happening um you there's just a lot of a lot of   [22:22] chatter and you know we try to keep things on the  straight and narrow So particularly when there   [22:25] are impactful things going on bush away pan away  redevelopment all those things Um it's important   [22:33] for everybody to be together and and I appreciate  being on um um committees with the city the was   [22:40] that a crime prevention or the panway district  committee where it's a mixture of business and   [22:44] residents to hear each other's perspective and  and try to do the best thing moving forward So   [22:50] you guys have a great tagline Do you mind sharing  what that is is I think it just represents a lot   [22:54] about Wayzata Oh it does And and just how we feel  serving our our member and communities but it's   [23:00] big enough to make a difference and small enough  to care I love it Yeah it's great Thank you for   [23:04] being on Yeah Well I love being around town so  it's good to see you Great to have you Yeah Yeah   [23:10] And that's a wrap for our first show Remember  to support local and strengthen Wayzata [Music]