HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – South Haven native Stacy Moulter may baking her way to success. Mouter’s gluten-free company, Sandcastle Breads, won a year’s worth of rent-free space at Holland’s Shops of Westshore and $10,000 in marketing help.
More than 20 entrepreneurs took a shot at Set Up Shop @ The Shops contest, which started in June. Many got stuck trying to write a business plan or figure out financials, said Jean Ramirez, The Shops at Westshore’s general manager. She created the competition.
“That’s why we lost some people,” she said. But Moulter, now a Grand Rapids resident, and Holland native Shutaveya Ward made it to Macatawa Legends to present their ideas to four judges Thursday night.
“There was a lot to do and these girls did it and they did it with smiles on their faces,” Ramirez said.
Ward pitched the notion of a clothing shop devoted to plus-size women called Above Average. She used personal story and humor that had the four judges laughing out loud.
Moulter, who has been baking and selling gluten-free breads scones, cookies and macaroons at the South Haven Farmers Market for three years, brought samples for the judges.
The four judges: Greg Erne, who co-owns The Shops at Westshore, Lakeshore Advantage Presdient Jennifer Owens, JCPenney’s Holland store manager, Steve Jackson, and Colliers International’s West Michigan retail advisor Mark Ansara. The four took time to talk with each contestant.
“They want to mentor me,” Ward said afterward. “They’ve got some ideas. Really, the main reason I didn’t take it tonight is that I don’t have a following already.”
Erne said it’s the first time any of his shopping centers have offered free space for a year. The contest drew potential tenants, he said.
“We heard about a dozen ideas and honestly they were all very interesting and viable ideas so a couple of them we’re still pursuing as tenant actually, even though they’re not here tonight.”
As for Moulter, the opportunity has her “as nervous as nervous could be” and thinking about the future.
“We will probably be shopping for a house in Holland,” she said.
