Several years ago, Kristine Knutson thought of an idea for something that she figured she would do “in the next life,” Knutson said.
A friend advised her to find a way to pursue the idea during her present life. Knutson started a small business, and she recently opened a second location in Long Grove, using an idea to carry on the heritage of a family member long gone.
Knutson’s idea was to make personalized mementos, ranging from T-shirts to napkins. After three years of watching her How Impressive business grow in her house, she opened her first store in Libertyville in 2006.
On Sept. 1, How Impressive held the grand opening for its second location at 309 Old McHenry Road in downtown Long Grove, located across the street from the building that housed her grandmother’s antique furniture and tea store called Village Green, which started in 1956.
Having made it through a recession, a breast-cancer diagnosis and ever-evolving competition both nearby and online, Knutson said opening her business in the shadow of where her father’s mother, Josephine Kempner, once had her own business felt like a great addition to her present life.
Q: How does one get into the business of personalization?
More Top Picks Best Composite Toe Work Shoes For Women
A: I was helping with a benefit for a homeless shelter and a woman was putting names on customized napkins. I told her that was something I’d like to do, maybe in the next lifetime. She said, “Why do you have to wait until your next lifetime?” That made me think. I wanted to stay at home with my young children at the time, so I self-taught myself how to make websites. I also started experimenting with customizing things a bit. I started making napkins for everybody I knew. For the Super Bowl in January 2003, I had customized napkins for the party. A guy said, “Wow, how impressive.” I went home, got online, started a site and reserved the name How Impressive that night.
Q: But how does anybody get into this? At a corporate party, is there an appeal for grabbing a napkin with your boss’ name on it and blowing your nose into that?
A: It’s more of a prestige thing. By having your name on it, or your family name, you’re identifying, “Hey, this is important.”
Q: Your grandmother died before you were born, but it means a lot to you to be working near where she did. Why does it feel good to have a store in Long Grove?
A: It’s awesome. It’s really cool to know that her presence was right there. How cool is that? She grew up in Lake Forest, and she drove on the gravel roads to get here. When I’m driving from Libertyville, it doesn’t seem so bad. I mean, the traffic is worse but I’ve got paved roads.
Shout Out is a weekly feature in which we introduce our readers to their fellow community members and local visitors throughout suburban Chicago.
Twitter @RonnieAtPioneer