The Chicago Market: Living and Giving^® Announces Jan 2010 Retailer of the Month

The Chicago Market: Living and Giving^® is proud to announce the December 2009 Retailer of the Month honoree. The ROTM program is designed to acknowledge exceptional retailers who are making a difference in the gift industry, as well as to provide inspiration to other retailers who can benefit from the winners’ stories.

Congratulations to the January 2010 Retailer of the Month, Julie Windsor of Beat Street in Winnetka, IL.

Retailer of the Month: January 2010
Store Name: Beat Street
Owner: Julie Windsor
Website: Launching in 2010
Location: Winnetka, IL
Years in Business: Six years

Julie Windsor, owner of Beat Street, has a passion for art. Though she considers herself an artist first, she got her start as a rep in the clothing industry, traveling to shows and stores all across the country. When she wasn’t out on the road she could be found hard at work in her Chicago-based showroom. In 2003 when her showroom lease ended, she opted not to renew so that she could spend more time close to home, but soon a new opportunity arose and she could not resist. In the fall of 2003, Windsor opened Beat Street in a space of about 500 square feet, “the smallest somewhat retail space I could find,” said Windsor. It was on a side street to the Winnetka Business district that had mostly offices and no other retail stores except a plumbing showroom. Windsor called it Beat Street, shortened from “Off the Beaten Path” and filled it from floor to ceiling with a mixture of seasonal goods, retro styled toys, candy, clothing and artistic finds. ”I kept the prices as low as possible using hard keystones on everything,” said Windsor. It took almost a year for people to seek out and find Beat Street but soon enough word spread and within two years there was need for expansion.

In May of 2006, Beat Street moved to a space twice the size of its former location, roughly 1,000 square feet, in the Hubbard Woods Shopping District on Green Bay Road in Winnetka. “By 2007 we added a back building with on site storage and the sales just keep going up,” said Windsor.

In June of 2009, Beat Street expanded yet again to an even larger space, its present day location, at 930 Green Bay Road. “The store continues to do even better since the move and we are still growing and getting new customers everyday,” said Windsor.

Beat Street is unique due to “our product selection, artistic displays that are hands on, staff that like matching up people with fun stuff and creative energy. It is as if the store has a pulse,” Windsor explained.

During the month of December, Beat Street will distribute a special light up LED snowflake keychain that is good for a 10% discount in January.

Windsor resides in Winnetka with her husband Ted and their children Julian, Adrian, Lily and their pet Parrot Kiwi.

Each month a different retailer is to be featured. To nominate someone you know for Retailer of the Month e-mail Paula Guiliano at .

For more information on MMPI or The Chicago Market: Living and Giving, please visit www.shopchicagomarket.com or call 800.677.6278 (MART).