About Inspired
Inspired is your local boutique for this season’s hand-selected home décor and women’s fashion. Bringing you unique gifts for every holiday, birthday, and life event.
About the Owner
Christina Schwab was born and raised on a farm in southwestern Minnesota. Her husband, Randy, is a dairy farmer, and they have two children who can often be found in the store helping their mom. Upon graduating college from Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN, Christina held banking jobs in lending, customer service and as an investment rep. She later went to work for a State Farm agent but her dream of owning her own gift business was never far from her mind. When the New Ulm Area Chamber hosted a series of seminars geared towards business start-ups, she didn’t have anything to lose by gaining more information. Little did she know that these seminars would ignite her passion, and she began to pursue the prospect of opening her own business.
What inspires Christina? “First and foremost, it’s my family. My husband works relentlessly seven days a week to care for his livestock, crops & equipment without complaint and still makes our family a priority. My daughter has a fearlessness about her and wants to try everything. My son makes me laugh every single day. I get rejuvenated when I am out in nature and love to see new places. To sum it up, I would say I’m inspired by everyday life and new experiences.”
History
The building where Inspired is located has a history dating back to 1893, where it began as F. J. Backer Harness Shop. Fred Backer was born in Seibelsdorf, Bavaria, Germany and moved to Milford Township in 1872. He began as an apprentice with another harness maker in New Ulm before opening his own business. The F. J. Backer Harness Shop carried all kinds of horse goods, trunks and leather goods.
In 1931, Charles Janni, purchased a half interest in the business, and became sole owner in 1937, when the name changed to Charles F. Janni Harness Shop.
Together Backer and Janni employed an apprentice named Ralph Vogelpohl at the age of 17. Vogelpohl and Janni formed a partnership in 1945, and in 1960 Vogelpohl bought Janni’s interest in the business and named the shop Vogelpohl’s. The store continued to carry leather goods, luggage and had added a complete line of gifts about 1952. In 1976, Ralph Vogelpohl sold the business to his son, Bradley. The shop still provided leather goods and grew the gift business.
Curt and Donna Lambrecht purchased Vogelpohl’s in 1983 and renamed the shop Lambrecht’s Gifts. They continued to expand the product offerings to home décor, silk floral, and clothing.
When Christina Schwab purchased the business in 2017, she renamed it Inspired, the first time in the building’s history the name of the owner was not used in the business name. Although the business has been in continuous operation since 1893, Schwab is only the fifth family to operate the business and only the fourth family to own the building.
