Lindsay Gaskins, CEO of Marbles: The Brain Store, has build a brand and spearheaded the company's growth—from its first kiosk, opened in May 2008, to retail stores across the country, including its best Chicago location at Water Tower Place.
So much for an economic downturn.
"Business is good," Gaskins said. "September [was] a slower month as we ramp up for the [December] holidays, but it [was] a very busy and exciting month for us with so many new store openings.
"The Chicago stores are doing very well. It has been great to have a store at WaterTower and that store has really excelled and become our No. 1 store. Our Lincoln Square store has really done great over the last few months; it seems like the community is really connecting with what we have to offer. Generally, all stores are doing better than last year and we are thrilled to keep expanding in our hometown market."
Gaskins, 34, an open lesbian who lives in the Wicker Park neighborhood, has called Chicago home for about eight years. Her parents live in Ipswich, Mass., and she visits them often. Gaskins went to middle school and high school in the Boston area, "so I guess I call that home, too," she said.
Gaskins' wife is Laura Barnard, 31, and they have a daughter: Louise Gaskins Barnard, 1½.
"I can't say enough about how great the Chicago community has been to Marbles," Gaskins said. "Another nice surprise: we are continuing to have new customers that have never heard of us come into our stores and rave about it."
Marbles, as they promote on their website, is a one-of-a-kind retail store with a smart collection of hand-picked, expert-tested, certifiably fun ways to a healthier brain for all ages. Marbles offers the opportunity to play games, solve puzzles, try out software and flip through books to find the right products.
The first Marbles store was opened in downtown Chicago in October, 2008—and then three more Chicagoland stores opened in 2009, followed by four more in the Midwest in 2010. Ten more stores opened across the East Coast in 2011.
"Marbles: The Brain Store has done very well in a tough economy and we are thrilled to be able to expand," Gaskins said. "It has been amazing to think how far we have come in such a short time. Sometimes I forget about all the little things we have accomplished because I am going so fast and our company is changing so rapidly. But, I am grateful everyday for the Marbles team. Without them, there would be no expansion and no success.
"I think Marbles: The Brain Store is a good idea but, more importantly, I think the creativity and the problem-solving nature of my team have made the difference. I am lucky enough to work with amazingly talented folks [who] make the Marbles experience different than any other store you have been in—and that experience makes the difference."
Gaskins offered multiple reasons for the company's success:
—Risk: "Without that, you can't have great success."
—Work hard and set good examples with everything you do: "If you don't, those will be your trouble spots."
—Engage your customers and learn from them.
—Make decisions quickly, with the most relevant information available.
—Listen to your customers, your co-workers, your inner voices.
—Be lucky: "It's better to be lucky than good sometimes."
Gaskins also said, "Be creative, use your logical planning skills to reach your potential, showcase your strengths, get help when you need it, and always stay on top of your communication."
Gaskins endured struggles to raise money—and benefited from it. She networked for almost two years in order to find the right partners for this stage of growth, she said. "I talk to people as much as I can about our business," she said. "Handling long-distance relationships, battling them by creating district management structures, buddy systems, travel, and open communication have helped a lot."
So what makes the job fun?
The people she works with, Gaskins said.
"They are fun, smart and great to be around everyday, she said. "Also, I get a thrill out of the reaction from customers. I love to hear, 'I love this store.' Also, I really enjoy building a beautiful store that people can engage with that is based around the principle of a healthy brain and also offer a unique retail environment."
Gaskins said some of the cool products for the fall include Modus, Lutso, Mindstein, Geek Box, and Tavern Puzzles. For the upcoming holidays, Gaskins suggested Blue Buckyballs, Mindspring software, and da Vinci's Catapult
For more information, go to: www.marblesthebrainstore.com .
