Our last summer at 221 W Washington
Hello friends,
Pending a miracle* this will be the last summer of U.P. Supply Co. in its current form, hopefully running through December.
Our wonderful and quirky home of nearly nine years (221 W Washington) is listed for sale. Given the seasonality of the shop and unknown timeline of a potential building sale, it makes the most sense to wrap up the next few months in a solid manner and use the slow winter to gear up for what’s next.
These last nine years have been an incredible and fulfilling journey. Prior to opening our doors with Paul in November 2017, I had never worked in retail. I was terrified and clueless of how to greet customers as they walked in. I’ve learned a lot since then, through all sorts of wins and losses along the way.
One thing is for certain, this very tiny shop has always punched well above its weight class.
Summers have always been memorable around here. In our first summer we raised $40,000 for the Keweenaw flood relief efforts. In our second summer we convinced Mountain Dew to make a custom label for the Upper Peninsula in a viral moment that generated over 90 news articles nationwide and a line halfway around the block. The next summer we survived a global pandemic. Another included filming a feature for CBS Sunday Morning. Summer days at the shop began with sunrise, often concluded with evening swims, and have contributed to a charmed life of owning a small downtown shop.
Between those summers, we built and grew 906 Day, Plaidurday, and had our hand in the Fresh Coast Film Festival. Personally, I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a business with a greater community impact to dollar ratio. We have absolutely crushed it for never being larger than a team of four.
When I moved back to Marquette in 2014, I had lunch with a friend and told her, “I want to make no small community impact.” I’ll let you be the judge of what came of that.
There is a massive list of acknowledgments and thank yous that will come with time. If you spent money at the shop, brought a friend, took time to look at the Sunrise Gallery, shared stories, delivered coffee—the list goes on and on—I am grateful for your support. Please know that a significant portion of each dollar spent at U.P. Supply Co. was distributed right back to local vendors, local coffee shops, fellow artists and designers, and stayed in this community.
U.P. Supply Co. has always been more than a retail shop; it has been a major artery in the community of Marquette.
As always, stay awesome, and watch more sunrises.
– Bugsy
*in the form of a few hundred thousand dollar windfall.
For more updates, be sure to follow @BugsySailor on Instagram and Facebook.
F.F.A.Q.
(Foreseeable Frequently Asked Questions)
What’s next for UPSCo?
Right now, the focus is to finish a strong summer season. Our e-commerce and wholesale operations aren’t going away. In fact, those will be getting more attention once the doors close. I look forward to exploring new retail spaces, releasing new products and campaigns that I’ve been eager to get to for years. I think you’re going to like them.
What about sunrise and the gallery?
I am still sunrising. The only thing changing right now is closing the brick and mortar space at 221. One of my top priorities is to find a new home for the Sunrise Gallery. For any business owners out there, it’s quite the draw, with good margins. I just need a 24-foot wall with strong foot traffic.
How can I help?
The most important thing you can do is come by the shop, bring a friend or two, and ideally spend a few bucks. I’ve always been a soft-sell marketing guy, but it’s time for a hard sell. The best time to shop at U.P. Supply Co. was yesterday, the second best time is today.
If you’ve never been in, I would really love to show you the Sunrise Gallery, which has become my life’s work. I don’t mean to be an alarmist, but let’s be real, it could be your last chance to see this work which has been featured nationally.
The sunrise cards also make great gifts.
Strapped for money? Hey, we get it. Support our world by showing up.
September 6 is 906 Day.
October 2 is Plaidurday.
October 15 is Fresh Coast Free.
What’s next for you?! I have so many questions.
For the time being I won’t be answering questions of what’s next. There will be a time and place to share more.
For now, let’s celebrate the last nine years and sell a lot of inventory.
Actually, come to the shop and I’ll answer one question for every $50 you spend (and you’ll have to sign an NDA).
I will add, though I’m sad to close the shop, I am looking forward to simplifying a life in which I tend to bite off more than I can chew.
Sorry, I’m new here, who are you?
My name is Bugsy Sailor, I founded Yooper Steez in 2008 which eventually became U.P. Supply Co., a brick and mortar store of nine years. Somewhere along the line it was coined that I was the Official Unofficial Ambassador of the Upper Peninsula. I fully leaned in. In that time I found unique ways to celebrate the Upper Peninsula. This began with creating the original Upper Peninsula silhouette tee (now seen everywhere), 906 Day, Plaidurday, lots of viral content including Yooper Singles, Lake Superior Sharks, pasty-infused t-shirts, Zamobonis, Mountain Dew, and salamanders. We may not have met, but if you love the Upper Peninsula, or Michigan, you’ve likely come across my work.
I have a pending sunrise order!
Yes, there are some pending orders. They are accounted for, in-hand, and I am slowly working through them as time allows.
Are you okay?
This is hard. I have poured an immeasurable amount of time and heart into U.P. Supply Co. that goes far beyond retail operations, especially the attention to detail (if you’re on a desktop computer, notice the mouse cursor). I’m certainly sad, stressed, and a little scared, though there is excitement for new creations. I am okay, but a coffee and cookie delivery to the shop wouldn’t hurt.
Are you leaving Marquette?!
Whoa, pump the brakes. This is home and I have a lot of unfinished business here (ahem, Fresh Coast Film Festival is two months away). Also, my soul is buried nearby in the depths of Lake Superior. However, after prioritizing my involvement in the community for the past decade, I’m now looking to devote more attention to my personal life. I even made the goal of going on one date this summer. Hey, there’s still a few weeks left.
Are you going to get a cat?
Depends on the date.
