Duluth's Cedar and Stone Nordic Sauna business used the pandemic to its advantage.<\/p>\n
It initially started out as a community sauna business, where people would use the mobile, health-focused sauna for individual or group use.<\/p>\n
As with many businesses, the pandemic disrupted this plan. So Cedar and Stone pivoted and ventured into sauna manufacturing for homes and cabins. It hired more staff and established a manufacturing facility in West Duluth. <\/p>\n
The company's custom-designed, Nordic saunas built with high-quality, sustainable material is meeting an unmet need, a news release from the company said.<\/p>\n
Customizations include increasing sauna space for customers with large families, adding outdoor showers or including smart technology so users can enable the sauna's stove remotely.<\/p>\n
\"Now revenue is up rather than down,\" the release said.<\/p>\n
The Duluth Studio Market, which we covered back in February and checked in on in March, opened last week.<\/p>\n
Owned by Stacey LaCoursiere, the artisan market sells curated items from fair trade companies and local artists. Merchandise includes pottery, jewelry, childrens gifts, illustrations and local apparel. <\/p>\n
The space, located at 512 N. 45th Ave. E., also doubles as a photography studio for LaCoursiere's marketing business, Duluth Studio Co., which offers commercial photography, videography and design services.<\/p>\n
LaCoursiere's initial plan was to open in late spring but that was pre-pandemic. Back in March, she told the News Tribune that rolling with the punches is \"what you have to do as an entrepreneur.\" <\/p>\n
She's certainly rolled with the punches, and opened the business last week.<\/p>\n
Northern Minnesota was one of the nation's \"top trending destinations\" over the Fourth of July weekend. <\/p>\n
Airbnb hosts in the area saw a 50% increase in income compared to the same holiday weekend last year, according to Airbnb.<\/p>\n
In addition to northern Minnesota, rural areas, in general, were also popular destinations for holiday travelers. <\/p>\n
Rural hosts in the U.S. earned more than $200 million in June an increase of over 25% compared to the same time last year.<\/p>\n
We all know what's influencing these figures: COVID-19. <\/p>\n
To Airbnb, the weekend's outcome shows that people are itching to travel, but don't want to go to great extents to do so. <\/p>\n
Kelly Busche covers business and health for the News Tribune. She wants to hear from people currently on unemployment, especially as we near the end of the additional $600 in unemployment benefits that runs out later this month. Drop her a line at kbusche@duluthnews.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Follow this link: <\/p>\n The Memo: Airbnb travel up, a new business and more - Duluth News Tribune<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Duluth's Cedar and Stone Nordic Sauna business used the pandemic to its advantage. It initially started out as a community sauna business, where people would use the mobile, health-focused sauna for individual or group use. As with many businesses, the pandemic disrupted this plan. Continue reading