Lakes Makerie Recognized with Customer Experience Award
2026-2027 Minnesota's Retail Champion Awards
St. Paul, MN (October 1, 2026) – Minnesota Retailers is proud to recognize Lakes Makerie with the Customer Experience award as part of the 2026-2027 Minnesota's Retail Champions program.
After a successful career in cardiology, Sarah Vernon took a leap of faith and turned her lifelong passion for sewing into Lakes Makerie, a fabric shop and sewing studio in south Minneapolis. The store combines thoughtfully curated fabrics, patterns and sewing supplies with knowledgeable service, supportive instruction and popular classes for makers at every experience level. When Joann Fabrics closed its stores, Lakes Makerie welcomed many sewing enthusiasts who were searching for a new creative home. By building a destination centered on creativity, learning and authentic human connection, Vernon has reimagined the traditional fabric store and created a customer community where people feel welcomed, inspired and connected.
“Lakes Makerie and Sarah Vernon has created a customer experience measured not simply by what people purchase, but by how they feel when they walk through the door,“ said Bruce Nustad, president of Minnesota Retailers. “The store welcomes customers into a community where they can learn, create, exchange ideas and build lasting friendships. Sarah’s thoughtful approach shows the extraordinary power of independent retail to bring people together, and we are proud to recognize Lakes Makerie with the Minnesota’s Retail Champion Customer Experience Award.”
“We are incredibly honored to receive the Customer Experience Award. Lakes Makerie was created as a place where people could discover beautiful materials, learn new skills and experience the joy of making something themselves,” said Sarah Vernon. “The community that has grown around the shop is more meaningful than I ever could have imagined. This recognition belongs to our wonderful team, instructors and customers who make Lakes Makerie such a creative and welcoming place.”
The Lakes Makerie team will accept the award at Retail Rally on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, starting at 2:00 p.m. The event—held at Brookview in Golden Valley—will feature an insightful keynote presentation from University of St. Thomas Associate Professor Seth Ketron, Ph.D., titled “AI in the Customer Journey: Real Insights for Retail Leaders.” For more event details, visit www.retailrally.com.
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About Minnesota Retailers: Minnesota Retailers is a non-profit association formed to improve communities through a holistic investment in retail, representing small, regional, and national retailers. Our mission is to ensure collective success across Minnesota by advancing retail for businesses, employees, consumers, and policymakers. Our vision is to be the driving force in the evolution of the state's retail landscape through advocacy, valuable insights, and championing innovation. More at www.mnretail.org.
