Winter 2023/2024 Issue - Magazine - Page 18
Featuring Blue Earth, Mn
GettingtoknowJulieLogeofBlueEarth,MN
Tell us what you would like to share with our readers about
your life and/or business. I am proud to be part of a family
business that just celebrated our 48th anniversary! This is quite
an accomplishment as small-town main street businesses
struggle to stay open. Another problem facing small businesses
is that many owners of these shops are getting ready to retire
and don't have plans to pass on their business.
Past: My parents, Marv and Jacqui Dikken started this business
in 1975 selling paint, wallpaper, and craft supplies. The store's
name was The Workshop. I was mixing paint when I was in high
school! I started working at Dikken's full-time after my daughter
was born in 1988. My kids were raised as part of this family
business as well as my nephews. Since then the store has
expanded and moved to a larger location.
Present: Dikken's now encompasses 3 floors filled with home
decorating products- flooring, tile, paint, blinds- as well as
home decor, gifts, and boutique fashions. Although my parents
are now retired, I still work closely with my brother Matt and his
sons Kory, Jacob, and Alex. Matt, Jacob, and Alex install
flooring and tile from South Dakota to Wisconsin, Minnesota,
and Iowa while Kory is a painter and has taken over the painting
side of this business from my dad.
And now I am blessed with 5 grandsons!! They are aged 5-15 and live close by. Spending time with them has been a
priority for me these past few years. My favorite day of the week is Wednesday when the boys come over and we
have "Wild Man Wednesday". I used to have all 5 all day but as goes life, the boys are getting bigger and the littlest
one will start kindergarten in the fall. I am already missing these days! Finding the balance between work and home is
a challenge many of us face. When things at work get stressful it is nice to know my favorite little men will be over to
play games and be silly!
I am involved in the Blue Earth Business Improvement Committee. Among other things, we sponsor 2 large events for
Blue Earth- the Wine Walk on Mother's Day weekend and the Holiday Sampler in November. I think it is important to
be involved in our community and show my appreciation for their support of our business over the years.
Future: There is so much new technology in how people do retail business these days. I have to be honest and say
that I do not embrace all that technology very well! Keeping up with emails, Facebook, and all social media takes so
much time it is hard to keep up with other day-to-day things at the store. I hope to be able to keep our business
moving forward with good old-fashioned customer service! Although there is a lot of talk about retiring among my
friends and colleagues, I am not ready to embrace that idea either!
How has this changed your life? Being part of a small family business has certainly impacted my life in many ways. It
brings us closer as a family but it can be challenging to separate work and personal time.
I am so fortunate to have great relationships with my family! I am also very fortunate to work with some awesome
ladies who have become like family to me. Owning a small business is more a way of life. It is not a 9-5 every day. It is
a struggle to compete with big box and online retailers so work is always on my mind- how can I make the store
better? What should I be doing differently?
18
Womeninc Spring 2024
