Meet Marissa Steenhoek | Owner & Founder of Beloved the Shop

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marissa Steenhoek and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marissa, what is the most important factor behind your success?
To be successful and set myself apart from other shops, I chose to take a unique approach with the products I offer. Instead of relying solely on trends, I focus on timeless pieces that people won’t get rid of in a year. I showcase the items in my shop by sharing how myself and customers style them in everyday life versus a basic stock photo of the item. This personal approach makes my customers feel like they’re getting more than just a piece of clothing – they also feel like they’re getting styling tips from a friend.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I’m proud of how far Beloved has come in the two years since it’s been established. As for myself, I’m proud that I started Beloved in college as a full-time student and am continuing to grow my brand while maintaining a full-time career in social media at Anthologic.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them to Vintage Brewhouse in Ankeny to try my signature strawberry oat-milk iced latte. I would also take them to Main Street Cafe and Bakery in Ankeny – their chorizo breakfast scramble is amazing.

I would also take them to a yoga class at Powerlife in Des Moines and stop at the Botanical Garden while we’re in town.

The final place I would take them is the Candle Bar DSM. I held my very first pop-up shop for Beloved here and it was an amazing experience. It’s also easy to support this place since it’s a fellow woman-owned business.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family has fully supported me since my shop was just an idea. I pitched the idea of starting it at a later time but they encouraged me to do it right then – and I’m glad they did. They also helped me with a lot of the behind the scenes tasks and were useful resources to me in areas like finance, legal, and all of the not so glamorous parts of owning your own business.

Website: https://belovedtheshop.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belovedtheshop/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belovedtheshop