Building The Hope Chest
By Heidi Keppeler
My daughter Hope and “The Hope Chest.”
Being a mom and a small business owner means that family and work naturally intertwine. Customers who visit my store, Heidi a Clothing Boutique, see this firsthand.
When my daughter Hope was born, I tucked a playpen into a cozy corner, and she came to work with me every day. My dad even built a little canopy bed for her naps, which over the years became a shop landmark — her special spot.
Hope has always loved being in the store. From a young age, she was fascinated by fashion — dressing up mannequins, trying on jewelry, and arranging little displays. Eventually, she started her own mini ventures: crafting dog necklaces from bead kits and selling them to visiting pet lovers, or setting up a lemonade stand on hot summer days outside the boutique. It was such a joy to watch her creativity bloom and her entrepreneurial spirit take root.
Through the years, I’ve seen her learn the value of hard work, the importance of connecting with people, and the joy of building something that comes from the heart. That’s the real beauty of owning a small business; it becomes a space not only to grow, but to share and inspire.
Hope’s Lemonade Stand
Now Hope is eleven years old, and she is taking her next step. With her natural creativity, ambition, and a deep love for animals, she’s launched her very own consignment space inside the shop: The Hope Chest. She has curated a collection of her own pre-loved girls' designer clothing, and she is donating a portion of the proceeds to Wanderers' Rest Humane Association, a cause close to her heart.
Each day brings new ideas and excitement, and we will be making a trip to the shelter to drop off her first donation in the coming days. Seeing this confident girl who wants to help others makes me realize that growing up in the shop was a gift, for her and for me. It’s truly a blessing to pass along the lessons I learned from my father’s family business as a child to adult, and see how that evolves in my own children. The Hope Chest is more than a display of beautiful clothes — it’s a reflection of Hope’s spirit, her passion, and her heart for giving back. I couldn’t be prouder.
It is so important to inspire others to do what makes them happy and build from the love that’s within. That is the key to making a positive change and growing as a person. No matter how small or big your dream may be, when it comes from the heart, it’s all worth it.