Tracker Pixel for Entry

Shop & Give Back

Culture | October 22nd, 2014

Katie Lewis Photography

New downtown Boutique, Others, Built by the community, for the community

Community is the main focus of the new retail boutique in downtown Fargo. Laura Morris and Jodi Regan are two driven, passionate women who manage the new boutique Others.

Others is aimed at improving the three pillars of a strong community: education, job creation and public health.

The store strives for sustainability: the ability to fuel itself through the buying and selling of its products.

“We wanted to stray away from continually asking for funding,” Morris said. “We wanted something more sustainable, and then we also wanted every dollar donated to go toward the cause.”

The idea of Others was created by Morris and her husband, Austin, who have always dreamt of building something bigger than themselves.

They took a few “learning experience vacations,” as Morris calls them, to learn more about nonprofits. The busy couple, Laura working as a pharmacist and Austin working as a real estate investor, realized they would need someone with more experience and time to dedicate to the store.

A friend of the couple, Regan, was intrigued by the idea of Others. She and her husband, Jordan, moved from Chicago after some persuasion by the Morris’ so Regan could help manage the store.

The merchandise sold at Others is sourced from companies who support the store’s three pillars of a strong community. In turn, 100 percent of the store’s profit is donated to initiatives that support the same three pillars. Morris and Regan call it the “double giveback.”

Others will feature a variety of items such as trendy men’s and women’s clothing, children’s items, edibles, gift items, jewelry, accessories, and all-around feel-good items.The store will also have a community space with free Wi-Fi, an espresso bar and live music occasionally.

Morris and Regan have started a crowdfunding project on Indiegogo.com to help get Others started. The women are asking for donations from the community on the Indiegogo website from people who are as passionate about the store as they are.

“The point of Indiegogo is so we can start funding our initiatives sooner as opposed to taking out a lot of loans, and then having to pay back interest, and then not being able to use the money that we have quickly to actually do what we want to do,” Regan said. “We want (Others) to feel like it’s built by the community, it’s for the community and it’s also for tying community to the greater story of humanity.”

Everyone who donates on the Indiegogo website will receive a perk, which is one or several free items from the store.

Beyond funding, Morris and Regan are asking for furniture, lumber, piping, ladders, doors, window frames and many other miscellaneous items to get Others up and running. Shout-outs of any kind are also greatly appreciated.

“Fargo’s an incredibly supportive community, and so we feel like if we get more people branching out to their networks, we’ll reach a greater base,” Morris said.

Oct. 31 is the last day to donate on the Indiegogo site. The store will hold a sneak peek preview party for its early supporters on Nov. 6 at the store’s location in the Landmark Building, 17 7th St. S. The party will feature live music, hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and other celebratory fun. The grand opening of Others is Nov. 11.

Morris and Regan are passionate about helping as many people as possible in as many ways as possible, and they want to exemplify that through their store.

If You Go:

Others Preview Party

Landmark Building, 17 7th St. S.

7-9 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6

Tickets: $100

http://igg.me/at/othersshopfargo

Facebook: facebook.com/othersshop

Instagram: #othersshopfargo

othersshop.com

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comNorth Dakotans will take part in a nationwide civil rights rally on Thursday, July 17. Protests, marches, rallies and acts of service are scheduled in Bismarck, Bottineau, Devils Lake,…

Back-to-school season is on the horizon, but there's still plenty of summer left. Check out our favorite August attractions and events in North Dakota and western Minnesota. And if if you missed them, here are a few excellent May…

July 18-19, 25-26 and August 2-3North Dakota Horse Park, 5180 19th Ave. N., FargoLadies and gentlemen, prepare to place your bets — racing season is upon us! Not just horses will be racing this year; word on the street suggests…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.com On July fourth, Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest took place at Coney Island. The winners, Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo, reigned victorious. Chestnut earned his 17th title by…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comWhy doesn’t the world require politicians to leave office at 60?Most of the leaders of countries, whether gods, fascists, democrats or socialists, are not doing very well these days. David Van…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gion and Simone Wairickgion@gmail.com The Red River Market returned to downtown Fargo on Saturday, July 12. The event will take place every Saturday except July 19. (That date will be moved to Sunday, July 20, due to the…

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comThe Moorhead Public Library will offer three free, all-ages outdoor concerts featuring regional bands this summer. The series begins on June 12 with the Meat Rabbits, a group that blends…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comPhoto by Sabrina Hornung Wing, North Dakota is a town of 132 located about an hour northwest of Bismarck on Highway 36. There’s a shiny new Cenex on the intersection of the highway and the high…

By Deb Wallworkdwallwork@icloud.comI first met Catherine Mulligan at a party at her house. It was a small gathering, spontaneous, just a few people over for dinner. Directed toward a stack of plates and bowls and a big pot warming…

By John Showalterjohn.d.showalter@gmail.comPhoto by Yvonne Denault There is something intimate and personal about plays. Even in our age of multimillion dollar Hollywood productions and droves of streaming services, watching actors…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

The drug that keeps re-purposing itselfBy Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com There is a drug that is getting a lot of attention nowadays all over the world. It has various commercial names (Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus), but…

By Alicia Underlee NelsonProtests against President Trump’s policies and the cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are planned across North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday, April 4 and…

By Vern Thompsonvern.thompson@rocketmail.com Working in the Bakken oil fields of the Williston Basin is so different from my home in Fargo. I'm not judging, because the people working and living in western North Dakota are very…