WDSE WDSE WDSE WDSE WDSE WDSE WDSE KEN: LAST WEEK ON "IN BUSINESS" WE STARTED THE PROGRAM STANDING RIGHT ABOUT HERE ON THE SHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR ABOVE DULUTH.

IT WAS THE START OF GRANDMA’S MARATHON.

THAT ALSO TRIGGERED THE START OF THE ANNUAL SUMMER TOURIST SEASON.

AND WE DECIDED TO LOOK AT THE TOURISM MARKET FROM A UNIQUE PORTION, AND THAT WAS THE GIFT SHOP, HOW IMPORTANT THAT WAS TO THE ATTRACTION, MUSEUM, OR THE DESTINATION FOR TOURISTS.

WE EXPLORED SEVERAL GIFT SHOPS ON A SEGMENT WE CALLED "EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP."

WE WILL DO THAT AGAIN THIS WEEK.

OF ALL THE GIFT SHOPS, ONE OF THEM IS RIGHT HERE AT THE GREAT LAKES AQUARIUM.

THE REASON IT EXISTS IS BECAUSE OF LAKE SUPERIOR, BECAUSE LAKE SUPERIOR IS THE NUMBER ONE REASON PEOPLE VISIT OUR AREA.

WHETHER IT BE FROM DULUTH UP TO THUNDER BAY, OR FROM ALONG THE SOUTH SHORE, THIS LAKE IS THE NUMBER ONE REASON WHY PEOPLE COME HERE.

AND OF COURSE THE NUMBER TWO REASON THEY COME HERE ACCORDING TO VISIT DULLUTH IS TO VISIT SOMEONE I KNOW.

THAT IS CODE FOR BRING THE KIDS TO SEE GRANDMA AND GRANDPA.

THE NUMBER THREE ACCORDING TO REDDIT THAT PEOPLE DO ON VACATION IS SHOP FOR LOCAL ITEMS , AND THAT IS THE GIFT SHOP.

WE WILL STAY HERE AT THE GREAT LAKES AQUARIUM AND VISIT THEIR GIFT SHOP.

WE WILL TALK ABOUT TOURISM UP THE NORTH SHORE WITH JANELLE FROM LAKE COUNTY.

BECAUSE THE FOURTH IS COMING UP, WE WILL TALK ABOUT YOUR FOURTH FEST CELEBRATION IN DULUTH.

WE HAVE THE HONORABLE JIM PAYNE MAYOR OF SUPERIOR TO TALK ABOUT THE GOINGS ON HIS CITY.

IN BETWEEN ALL OF THAT WE WILL ANSWER THE AGE-OLD QUESTION, WHERE DOES ALL THE STUFF IN THE GIFT SHOP COME FROM?

IT IS ALL THIS WEEK ON "IN BUSINESS."

I LIKE TO COME TO THE GREAT LAKES AQUARIUM BEFORE THEY OPEN.

THAT WAY I WON’T HAVE TO PUSH THE KIDS AWAY FROM THE WATER TABLE.

I GET TO PLAY BY MYSELF AND USE MY FAVORITE BOAT.

♪ I’M KEN BUEHLER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE ARE FINISHING OUT A TWO WEEK LOOK AT AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE REGION’S TOURISM INDUSTRY AND A CRITICAL MEANS OF SUSTAINING THE FINANCIAL SUCCESS OF TOURIST DESTINATIONS, ATTRACTIONS AND MUSEUMS.

THEIR GIFT SHOPS.

THIS IS PART TWO OF EXIT THROUGH THE GIFTSHOP.

WE BEGIN THIS WEEK’S IN BUSINESS AT THE GREAT LAKES AQUARIUM.

THEY HAVE A GIFT SHOP FOCUSED ON LAKE SUPERIOR AND ITS AQUATIC LIFE.

WE STAYED FOR A VISIT.

WE DECIDED TO HANG AROUND AT THE GREAT LAKES AQUARIUM BECAUSE IT’S SUCH A FUN PLACE TO BE AND THERE’S ALWAYS STUFF GOING ON, ESPECIALLY IN THE GIFT SHOP.

THE PURCHASING AND GIFT SHOP MANAGER FOR THE GREAT LAKES AQUARIUM, THANK YOU FOR OPENING YOUR SHOP TO US.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD THIS JOB?

>> FIVE YEARS.

>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU SEEN THE GIFT SHOP AT THE AQUARIUM CHANGE IN THOSE FIVE YEARS?

>> WHEN I FIRST CAME ON, IT WAS AFTER THEY REOPENED COVID, WHICH WAS DIFFICULT FOR MANY TOURISM INDUSTRIES.

I WAS DELIGHTED THAT WE TOOK OFF IN DULUTH.

KEN: WHAT BROUGHT ABOUT THAT BOOM, THE TOURISM OR THE STOCK IN THE SHOP?

>> IT WAS A MIX OF BOTH.

THE TOURISM IN OUR AREA PICKED UP AFTER COVID HAPPENED.

PEOPLE STARTED FLYING PLACES LESS.

THEY STARTED EXPLORING CLOSER TO HOME.

IT FELT MORE APPROACHABLE AND SAFE COMING OUT OF THE COVID ERA.

IT BROUGHT PEOPLE HERE IN DULUTH.

WE PULLED FROM A HUGE COMMUNITY.

KEN: SO YOU ARE DELIGHTED TO BE HERE.

>> IT IS AN AMAZING JOB.

WHEN I TOOK ON THIS POSITION, ONE THING I SAW AS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY IS WE PULL FROM SO MANY DIFFERENT TRAVEL AND TOURISM MARKETS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DO COME TO THE AQUARIUM.

BUT MANY OF OUR TOURISTS COME TO GO TO THE NORTH SHORE.

THEY COME TO THE DIFFERENT FACILITIES IN OUR AREA.

THEY COME FROM THE BEACH, FOR THE BRIDGE, THE BOATS.

WE PULL FROM SO MANY TOURIST MARKETS.

WHEN I CAME ON I FELT THAT WAS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR GIFT SHORE.

WE ARE NOT ONLY A GIFT STORE FOR THE GREAT LAKES AQUARIUM, WE ARE FOR OUR REGION AS WELL.

KEN: OUR SEGMENT IS CALLED EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP, DESIGNED HERE AT THE GREAT LAKES AQUARIUM.

WHAT DO THEY TAKE AWAY?

WHAT ARE THE NUMBER ONE ITEMS OF SOME OF THE BESTSELLERS YOU HAVE?

>> ABOUT 40% OF OUR BUSINESS IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO OUR AQUARIUM HERE, BUT EVERYTHING ELSE IS NORTH SHORE DULUTH MINNESOTA.

HONESTLY MY NUMBER ONE SELLER IS A SWEATSHIRT THAT SAYS "LAKE SUPERIOR."

KEN: HOW BIG A PORTION OF THE GIFT SHOP REVENUE GOES INTO THE AQUARIUM?

HOW BIG A PART OF ITS SUCCESS IS THE SUCCESS YOU HAVE AT THE GIFT SHOP?

>> 100% OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THE PURCHASES IN THE GIFT SHORE HELP SUPPORT OUR NONPROFIT.

IT IS FANTASTIC.

ROUGHLY ABOUT 55% OF EVERY DOLLAR THAT IS SPENT HERE AT THE GIFT STORE GOES BACK INTO OUR CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH.

KEN: JULES IS THE LEAD PURCHASER AND GIFT SHOP MANAGER AT THE GREAT LAKES AQUARIUM.

YOU HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST GIFT SHOPS IN THE AREA.

THAT HAS TO BE A LOT OF WORK.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING POST-COVID TO PRE-COVID.

WE HAVE DOUBLED OUR NUMBERS SINCE PRE-COVID.

THAT IS HOW MUCH LOCAL TOURISM STARTED BOOMING HER EIN OUR AREA , WHICH IS FANTASTIC.

KEN: HOW DO YOU FIND THE ITEMS YOU STOCK ON THE SHELVES?

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU ARE DOING YOUR PURCHASING OVER THE WINTER?

>> I DO SOME TRADESHOWS, SOME NATIONAL AND LOCAL TRADESHOWS.

I DO SEEK OUT DIFFERENT ARTISTS AND VENDORS.

I GO TO DIFFERENT LOCAL ARTS AND CRAFTS AND DIFFERENT SMALLER SHOPS, AND I REALLY LOOK FOR LOCAL ARTISTS THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE MISSION WE ARE GIVING HERE, BUT ALSO KEEP OUR MONEY IN THE LOCAL ARTIST’ POCKETS.

KEN: DO YOU HAVE SOME OF THE NAMES OF THOSE PEOPLE?

>> ONE OF MY FAVORITE LOCAL BRANDS I HAVE IN MY STORE IS A TEA COMPANY.

THEY DO WILD RICE AND TEA COMPANY.

THEY DO GREAT THINGS FOR WILD RICE.

I GET TO LITERALLY PLAY WITH TOYS AND TALK TO KIDS AND FAMILIES ON VACATION ALL DAY LONG IT IT IS FANTASTIC.

KEN: IT IS SO MUCH FUN TO BE HERE.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE FUTURE FOR YOUR GIFT SHOP AND IN GENERAL?

>> I THINK ONLINE IS A BIG OPPORTUNITY.

BY THE END OF THIS YEAR WE HOPE TO GET OUR SHOP UP AND RUNNING ONLINE.

WHY IS THAT A BIG OPPORTUNITY?

BECAUSE YOU CAN JUMP ANYWHERE.

YOU CAN GO TO TARGET AND AMAZON, BUT YOU MIGHT AS WELL GO TO THE MUSEUMS AND AQUARIUMS THAT ARE NONPROFIT THAT ARE TRYING TO RAISE MONEY AND GIVE THEM COMMERCE.

BY OFFERING IT ONLINE, IT GIVES OUR NONLOCAL TOURIST THE ABILITY TO KEEP CONTRIBUTING TO THE OVERALL SUCCESS OF OUR NONPROFIT.

KEN: JULIE IS THE PURCHASER HERE AT THE GIFT SHOP AT THE GREAT LAKES AQUARIUM.

THANK YOU FOR BEING ON "IN BUSINESS."

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING.

♪ KEN: OF NOTE IS ANOTHER ATTRACTION’S GIFT SHOP UP THE SHORE THAT ALSO LOOKS TOWARDS LAKE SUPERIOR FOR MERCHANDISE INSPIRATION.

IT’S ONE OF THE LARGEST STORES OF ITS KIND AS WELL, AND THAT IS AT SPLIT ROCK LIGHTHOUSE.

WHILE WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE NORTH SHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR LET’S STAY IN BEAUTIFUL LAKE COUNTY AND VISIT WITH OUR FIRST SPECIAL GUEST.

JANELLE JONES IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LOVIN’ LAKE COUNTY.

IT IS A DMO, DESIGNATED MARKETING ORGANIZATION, AND IS TASKED WITH PROMOTING TOURISM IN LAKE COUNTY, HOME OF THE MOST VISITED STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY PARK IN MINNESOTA, SPLIT ROCK LIGHTHOUSE.

JANELLE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LOVIN LAKE COUNTY IS A RECENT CREATION AND ONE OF THE NEWEST DMO’S TO INSTITUTE A LODGING TAX .

HOW IMPORTANT WAS THAT TO PROMOTE TOURISM ON THE NORTH SHORE?

JANELLE: 1 IN 4 JOBS IN LAKE COUNTY IS IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY AND WE NEED TO KEEP IT GOING BECAUSE IT KEEPS OUR COMMUNITIES ALIVE.

KEN: EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT A LODGING TAX IS.

JANELLE: THE TOURISTS PAY IT WHEN THEY STAY IN OUR HOTELS.

THAT LODGING TAX COMES TO US AND WE GET TO USE IT FOR MARKETING THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

KEN: MARKETING IS THE JOB OF A DESIGNATED MARKETING ORGANIZATION LIKE YOURSELF.

ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY IS RAISED?

WHERE IS YOUR NUMBER ONE MARKET TO SPEND AND PROMOTE?

JANELLE: WE DID A LITTLE SPECIAL THING AS WE ADDED AN EXTRA 1% LODGING TAX FOR FESTIVALS AND EVENTS.

OVERALL WE TAKE IN ABOUT $1.5 MILLION AND WE GET TO SPEND A NICE CHUNK OF THAT ON FESTIVALS AND EVENTS.

OUR NUMBER ONE TARGET MARKET IS THE TWIN CITIES.

THAT IS WHERE MOST OF OUR VISITORS ARE COMING FROM.

KEN: LET’S TALK ABOUT THOSE FESTIVALS AND EVENTS.

I KNOW YOU ARE TRACKING HOW THEY ARE REACTING TO THE ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION.

WITH THAT EXTRA 1%, THERE IS INCENTIVE FOR YOU TO DO MORE FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR SUCCESSES OVER THE LAST YEARS?

>> AS FAR AS OUR MARKETING GOES WE HAD A FUN CAMPAIGN, ABLE TO HAVE GB LANE TO A WHOLE YEAR MUSIC CAMPAIGN, PROMOTING ALL THINGS THROUGHOUT LAKE COUNTY,.

WHICH IS A LOT OF FUN.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT A LOT OF EVENTS ON.

WE HAVE BEEN HANGING OUR HAT ON MUSIC.

THERE IS A LOT OF MUSIC VENUES HAPPENING ALMOST EVERY DAY IN LAKE COUNTY, ESPECIALLY IN THE PEAK SEASON.

WE WANT OUR VISITORS TO HAVE THE FUN THINGS TO DO WHEN THEY ARE UP THERE.

THERE IS ALWAYS MUSIC.

SOME ESTABLISHMENTS, WE HAVE A LOT OF FUN THINGS RIGHT NOW.

KEN: WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT.

JANELLE IS THE CEO OF LOVIN LAKE COUNTY.

SHE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LOVIN LAKE COUNTY AND IS WITH US TODAY ON "IN BUSINESS" TO TALK ABOUT THESE SUCCESSES YOU HAVE HAD PROMOTING SPECIAL EVENTS AND FESTIVALS.

HOW HAS THAT CHANGED THE IMAGE OF LAKE COUNTY?

JANELLE: IT HAS BEEN GREAT.

WE ARE TRYING TO BE NOT SUCH A DRIVE THROUGH.

WE HAVE BECOME A GOOD DESTINATION.

WE HAVE A LOT OF REASONS FOR PEOPLE TO STAY AND ENJOY SOME OF THE FUN AND MUSIC.

WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON, WHETHER IT IS FISHING CONTESTS OR FARMERS MARKETS, BIKE RACES, THINGS WE CAN GET BEHIND AND PROMOTE AND PUT ON.

THERE IS A LOT OF FUN THINGS HAPPENING.

KEN: HERE IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE SOME OF THE UPCOMING EVENTS.

JANELLE: SHOULD WE TALK ABOUT FOURTH OF JULY COMING UP?

WE HAVE THE OLDEST CITY BAND IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

THAT IS TRADITION.

AFTER THAT WILL BE LIVE MUSIC ON THE WATERFRONT,, SOME ADULT BEVERAGES AND FOOD GETTING READY FOR FIREWORKS.

THE WEEKEND AFTER THAT IS OUR HERITAGE DAYS.

THAT IS OUR BIG STREET DANCE ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

HERE IS A FREE SAMMY KERSHAW CONCERT JULY10.

DOWNTOWN TWO HARBORS.

THERE IS A LOT OF GREAT MUSIC HAPPENING UP THERE.

DURING THE SUMMERTIME THERE IS LIVE MUSIC ALMOST EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK.

INSIDE OR OUTSIDE.

I WOULD CHECK LOVIN LAKE COUNTY .COM FOR OUR EVENTS CALENDAR.

KEN: JANELLE JONES IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LOVIN’ LAKE COUNTY.

IT IS A DMO, SPECIAL GUEST ON "IN BUSINESS."

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

OUR GIFT SHOP TOUR ACROSS THE REGION BROUGHT UP AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

WHAT IS A TSHATSHKE?

SO, HERE’S YOUR WORD FOR TODAY.

TSHATSHKE IS BORROWED FROM A YIDDISH WORD, OF MANY DIFFERENT SPELLINGS, BUT THEY ALL MEAN THE SAME THING.

A SMALL, COLLECTABLE SOUVENIR OR ORNAMENTAL KNICKKNACK.

THE KIND OF THING FOUND IN GIFT SHOPS.

THE QUESTION WE HAD WAS WHERE DO ALL THESE TSHATSHKES, SOUVENIRS, MEMENTOS, KNICKKNACKS AND OTHER GIFT SHOP STUFF COME FROM?

HERE’S THE ANSWER.

THIS WEEK ON IN BUSINESS WE CONTINUE OUR LOOK INTO THE TOURISM INDUSTRY WHICH WAS KICKED OFF LAST WEEK WITH GRANDMA’S MARATHON.

WE ARE LOOKING AT A TINY PART OF IT BUT IMPORTANT PART OF IT.

THAT IS THE GIFT SHOP.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT TO THE ENTREPRENEUR, TO THE ATTRACTION, OR THE MUSEUM OR WHEREVER THE GIFT SHOP IS LOCATED?

WE VISITED GREAT GIFT SHOPS ACROSS THE REGION.

WE WERE AT TOM’S LOGGING CAMP, AT THE GREAT LAKES AQUARIUM WITH THE STIFFLY, ALSO THE LEE BONG CENTER IN SUPERIOR.

WE NOTICED THEY ALL HAVE A LOT OF STUFF.

WHERE DOES THAT STUFF COME FROM?

ONE OF THE PLACES IS ERICKSON POSTCARDS IN DULUTH, A COMPANY THAT NEXT YEAR WILL BE CELEBRATING ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY.

WITH US WE HAVE MITCH AND ERIC ERICKSON OF THE ERICKSON POSTCARD COMPANY.

ALTHOUGH THE POSTCARD MAY HAVE STARTED THE COMPANY, BUT THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY THE BULK OF WHAT YOU DO TODAY.

MITCH, HOW DID IT HAPPEN 50 YEARS AGO THAT THIS COMPANY GOT STARTED?

>> OUR PARENTS BOUGHT THE COMPANY FROM GALLAGHER’S.

IT WAS PRIMARILY POSTCARD PAPER PRODUCTS.

THEY STARTED TO WORK THE BUSINESS, BUILD THE BUSINESS, ADDED SOUVENIRS.

THEY RENTED DOWNTOWN FOR A COUPLE YEARS AND MOVED THE BUSINESS INTO OUR HOUSE.

WE HAD AN UNFINISHED BASEMENT.

IT STARTED THERE.

AS WE KEPT EXPANDING WE LOOKED TO THE GARAGE.

WE HAVE SOME STORAGE FACILITIES.

IN ’95 WE BOUGHT THIS BUILDING, AND SO WE HAVE BEEN HERE EVER SINCE.

KEN: YOUR PARENTS SAW THE CHANGE FROM WHAT GALLAGHER WAS DOING.

HE WAS A PHOTOGRAPHER.

HE WAS TAKING THESE BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS OF OUR AREA, MAKING THEM INTO POSTCARDS.

WHAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GOT THEM THINKING THERE IS MORE TO THIS THAN POSTCARDS?

>> THERE WERE SILVER NEAR SPOONS -- THERE WERE SOUVENIR SPOONS AT THE TIME, PHOTOGRAPHY STUFF.

I THINK THEY JUST DECIDED TO OPEN IT LITTLE BY LITTLE AND WENT FROM THERE.

KEN: NOW THAT YOU HAVE THIS ARRAY OF THINGS YOU OFFER TO GIFT SHOPS, VERY POPULAR ITEMS, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT ITEMS YOU WILL ADD TO YOUR INVENTORY, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT?

>> I THINK ABOUT DIFFERENT DESIGNS.

HOW DO WE WANT TO IMPROVE SOME OF THE DESIGN WORK WE HAVE ALREADY DONE.

WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL THE RED NOTEBOOK.

IT IS AN IDEA NOTEBOOK WHERE SOMETHING THAT POPS IN YOUR HEAD, YOU WRITE THAT IDEA DOWN AND GO BACK TO IT.

IT MIGHT BE MONTHS LATER OR NEVER, BUT IT IS SOMETHING WE ALWAYS USED TO MOVE FORWARD, WHAT PRODUCTS WE WANT TO ADD.

KEN: MITCH AND ERIC ERICKSON ARE THE OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF ERICKSON’S POSTCARD, GIFT SHOP SUPPLY COMPANY ACROSS A GREAT REGION IN THE NORTH.

HOW BIG OF AN AREA DO YOU COVER?

>> WE COVERED MINNESOTA AND NORTHERN WISCONSIN AND SOME OF MICHIGAN.

KEN: MUCH OF YOUR STUFF IS VERY LAKE SUPERIOR CENTRIC.

THAT HAS TO BE THE BIG DRAW.

>> RIGHT.

THE DULUTH, NORTH SHORE, SOUTH SHORE.

THAT IS WHERE WE CONCENTRATE MOST OF OUR EFFORTS.

KEN: WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR BEST SELLING ITEMS?

>> WE DO A LOT WITH SOUVENIR CUPS AND MAINTENANCE.

WE BRANCHED OUT YEARS AGO INTO TOYS.

WHATEVER WE CAN DECORATE.

KEN: HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT IN SELLING SOMETHING AT A GIFT SHOP?

YOU MANAGED THE INVENTORY.

IT HAS THE WORD DULUTH ON IT OR IT HAS A LOCATION.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT TO SALES?

>> VERY IMPORTANT.

WE LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO BECAUSE A LARGE PORTION OF OUR TOURISM INDUSTRY IS FROM THE TWIN CITIES, SO WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

AND LOCALIZING IS IMPORTANT.

KEN: WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THE FUTURE FOR GIFT SHOPS AND DESTINATIONS AND YOUR BUSINESS?

OPTIMISTIC FOR CONTINUED GROWTH?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

DOES NOT SEEM TO BE SLOWING DOWN.

JUST CHANGE DESIGNS AND IMPROVE ON WHAT WE ARE DOING AND WE GET A LOT OF IDEAS FROM CUSTOMERS AS WELL.

KEN: STARTED AS GALLAGHER POSTCARDS.

NOW ONE OF THE BIG SUPPLIERS TO THE GIFT SHOPS THAT ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF TOURISM AND THE COMPANIES THAT DEPEND ON TOURISM IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.

THIS IS "IN BUSINESS."

♪ OUR FIRST GUEST THIS WEEK ON IN BUSINESS TOOK US UP THE NORTH SHORE TO LAKE COUNTY FOR SOME FUN 4TH OF JULY EVENTS HAPPENING THERE.

CLOSER TO HOME THE UPCOMING CELEBRATION OF AMERICA’S 250TH INDEPENDENCE DAY HAS SIMILAR EVENTS GOING ON HERE IN DULUTH AND SUPERIOR.

WITH US IS TRACY LUNDEEN, THE PRESIDENT OF LUNDEEN PRODUCTIONS, TO TALK ABOUT FOURTHFEST AT BAYFRONT PARK IN DULUTH.

AND FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE, WE’RE PLEASED TO HAVE THE HONORABLE JIM PAINE, THE MAYOR OF SUPERIOR, TO LAY OUT THE FUN THEY’VE PLANNED FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY.

WELCOME TO "IN BUSINESS."

MAYOR, WHAT DOES THE FOURTH OF JULY LAYOUT LOOK LIKE IN SUPERIOR THIS YEAR?

MAYOR PAINE: YOU WANT TO SLEEP IN ON JULY 5.

WE HAVE OUR BIGGEST FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION PLANNED YET.

THIS HAS BEEN PERSONAL TO ME.

I STUDIED HISTORY IN COLLEGE AND HAVE BEEN PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN.

THE FOURTH OF JULY IS AN IMPORTANT HOLIDAY FOR US.

WE TRIED TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND ENTIRE DAY.

WE WILL KICK THINGS OFF WITH OUR BIGGEST FOURTH OF JULY PARADE YET, THINK LIKE THE MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE.

THAT WILL MOVE INTO A CAR SHOW DOWNTOWN AND EVERYTHING WILL END WITH LIVE MUSIC.

KEN: WHAT IS THE PARADE ROUTE AS THE FLOATS AND BANDS GO BY?

MAYOR PAINE: BELKNAP STREET.

IT WILL START ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE CITY AND WILL GO PAST.

KEN: TRACY LUNDEEN, THE PRESIDENT OF LUNDEEN PRODUCTIONS, FOURTHFEST FOR DULUTH.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE THIS YEAR?

TRACY: MORE THAN LAST YEAR WITH IT BEING THE 250TH.

WE WILL OPEN THE GATES AT 12:00 AND MUSIC WILL START AT 12:30.

WE HAVE THE PERPETUAL GUESTS FEATURING A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

WE HAVE STEPHEN DOING A PATRIOTIC SHOW.

THEN WE WILL MOVE ON TO SOUND INCORPORATED.

A NAME YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER FROM THE OLD DAYS.

A NEW GROUP CALLED SIREN.

WE WILL CONTINUE GOING THROUGH THE RED BULL BLUEGRASS COUNTRY BAND WITH THE MINNESOTA NATIONAL GUARD AND WILL WRAP IT UP WITH SOME SSCB, A RETURN OF OUR HEADLINERS FROM LAST YEAR WHO WERE SO POPULAR.

THEY ARE COMING BACK THIS YEAR.

OF COURSE MAGIC SHOWS.

THAT IS NEW THIS YEAR.

THE FIREWORKS DISPLAY IS GOING TO BE THE LARGEST FIREWORKS DISPLAY EVER PRESENTED ON THE DULUTH WATERFRONT.

KEN: THAT IS WHERE BAYFRONT FESTIVAL PARK IS AS WELL.

HOW DID FOURTH FEST GET STARTED?

TRACY: 1985.

AS YOU MAY RECALL.

[LAUGHTER] KEN: THIS MAY BE A LITTLE SELF-SERVING.

TRACY: THE MAYOR AT THE TIME THRUST ME INTO THE POSITION OF COMING UP WITH A FUN FOURTH OF JULY EVENT THAT WOULD LEAD INTO THE FIREWORKS, AND SO HE SAT ME DOWN WITH A GUY NAMED JEAN AND WE ARGUED MANY HOURS ABOUT WHAT THIS EVENT WOULD BE CALLED.

IN THE END WE CAME UP WITH THE NAME.

WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO CALL IT A FOURTH FEST.

WE KIND OF MOVED ALONG FROM THEIR, AND WITH OUR RADIO PARTNERS WHO WERE INVOLVED FROM DAY ONE, NONE OTHER THAN MR.

KEN MUELLER, WE DID SOME FUN STUFF.

KEN: YOU TALKED ABOUT YOUR HISTORY INTEREST AND HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR GREAT NATION?

HOW DOES THAT AFFECT HOW YOU PLAN FOR THIS BIG CELEBRATION IN SUPERIOR?

TRACY: IF YOU ARE MY AGE YOU GREW UP WITH OLDER FOLKS TALKING ABOUT THE BICENTENNIAL, SO IT IS EXCITING TO BE PART OF A NATIONAL PLANNING EVENT.

IT IS KIND OF AN AMERICAN PICNIC WHERE WE COME TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE AS ONE COUNTRY.

TO BE PART OF THE SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF AMERICAN HISTORY IS A REAL HONOR.

I CARRY THE NAME OF TWO FOUNDING FATHERS.

THIS HAS BEEN ALWAYS AN IMPORTANT HOLIDAY TO ME.

BUT IT IS A CHANCE ALSO TO SHOW THE NEXT GENERATION WHAT COMMUNITY LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE AND THAT WE SHARE A HISTORY THAT GOES BACK 250 YEARS AND OWE A DEBT TO FUTURE GENERATIONS TO CONTINUE MAKING IT THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

KEN: WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FAVORITE PART ABOUT THIS YEAR’S CELEBRATION WILL BE?

>> FOR ME IT WILL BE GOING TO BED AT THE END.

IT WILL BE A VERY LONG DAY.

I AM A SUPERIOR KID, SO I DON’T DO SO WELL IN THE HEAT.

I THINK THE PARADE, I DREAD IT EVERY YEAR, BECAUSE IT IS SO MUCH WORK BUT I TRY TO MEET AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY KIDS.

KEN: THAT PARADE GOES DOWN BELKNAP.

WHAT TIME DOES THAT START?

MAYOR PAINE: 11:00 A.M.. THEN WE GO TO DOWNTOWN FOR THE CAR SHOW, THEN BY 4:00 OR 5:00 WE WILL HAVE EVENTS KICKING OFF AT PARTNERS ISLAND.

A LOT OF MUSIC ACTS AND THE DEBUT OF OUR HARBOR COTTAGES.

BUILT IN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR VENDORS THAT DON’T HAVE FOOD TRUCKS, SO EVERYONE CAN GET A CHANCE TO START UP A BUSINESS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BIGGEST FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR.

KEN: I KNOW THESE ARE NOT LITTLE ORDINANCES, BUT I HAVE TO ASK THIS QUESTION BECAUSE THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND MINNESOTA HAVE DIFFERENT RULES AND REGULATIONS.

I WILL ASK YOU BOTH, IN YOUR OPINION, WHO HAS THE BEST FIREWORKS FOR SALE, SUPERIOR AND WISCONSIN, OR DULUTH MINNESOTA?

YOU DON’T HAVE TO KNOW THE EXACT ANSWER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

TRACY?

TRACY: THANKS.

[LAUGHTER] I’M NOT GOING TO GET INTO A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I THINK WISCONSIN LAWS ARE MORE FAVORABLE TO HAVING GOOD FIREWORKS THAN THE MINNESOTA LAWS.

BUT I AM NO EXPERT, SO THINGS MIGHT HAVE CHANGED.

I WILL GIVE THAT ONE TO YOU UNOFFICIALLY, BECAUSE I HAVE NO AUTHORITY.

MAYOR PAINE: I WILL DO MY DUTY AND REMIND FOLKS THAT WHILE FIREWORKS ARE ILLEGAL IN WISCONSIN, THE CITY OF SUPERIOR DOES NOT ALLOW FIREWORKS THAT YOU IN THE AIR.

IF THEY SHOOT IN THE AIR, THEY ARE ILLEGAL.

I WILL SAY TRY TO WRAP IT UP BY 11:30.

SOME OF US HAVE TO WORK IN THE MORNING.

KEN: THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR PUTTING ON SOME GREAT FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS.

I KNOW THE RESIDENTS OF THE TWIN PORTS WILL ENJOY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING ON "IN BUSINESS."

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR FIREWORKS THAT YOU ARE CAREFUL WITH THEM, SAFE WITH THEM, AND BE VERY RESPECTFUL OF THE NEIGHBORS DOG.

I AM KEN BUEHLER.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING IN BUSINESS.

IF YOU MISSED ANY PARTS OF TONIGHT’S SHOW, YOU CAN ALWAYS WATCH IT AT PBSNORTH.ORG OR LISTEN ON MONDAYS AT 5:30 PM ON THE NORTH 1033.

AND IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR A FUTURE STORY ON IN BUSINESS, WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU, EMAIL US AT ASK@PBSNORTH.ORG.

THANKS AGAIN FOR WATCHING AND UNTIL NEXT TIME LET’S TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.

♪