Cathy Keezer, the proud new owner of Lyle’s Shoes in Wadena and Park Rapids, has fulfilled her dream of owning and operating a store that sells products she is passionate about. With over 17 years of experience in the footwear industry, Keezer started working for the previous owners in August of 2022. A few months later, they approached her with the opportunity to purchase the shoe stores, and she seized the chance to own not just one, but two locations of Lyle’s Shoes.
Cathy Keezer’s journey to become a business owner began when she was just a teenager. She always had a love for shoes and would spend hours browsing through different stores. Her passion for footwear led her to pursue a career in the industry, where she worked for several companies before landing a job at Lyle’s Shoes. Over time, Keezer gained valuable experience and built strong relationships with customers.
The purchase of the business, its two locations, and the name “Lyle’s Shoes” cost Keezer around $400,000. Owning a shoe store had always been a dream of hers, and now that dream has become a reality that she never thought possible. Keezer credits the former owners, Brian and Lisa, for giving her the opportunity to turn her passion into a successful business venture. She is grateful for their support in helping her pursue her dream and is thrilled to come to work each day.
At Lyle’s Shoes, Keezer interacts with a diverse range of customers from locals to tourists from other countries. She enjoys meeting new people and building relationships with customers who return year after year. Despite being faced with challenges such as managing inventory or handling customer complaints during peak seasons like Christmas or back-to-school time as first-time business owner but she remains excited about daily opportunities and experiences that running the store brings her way which makes it even more rewarding than what she ever imagined beforehand . She is passionate about her work and looks forward to turning it into something unique while making it worthwhile for everyone who enters through its doors.
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