Marion, Iowa (KCRG) – Inside ‘Scout’ in Marion, you’ll find unique items and gifts from around the world. Running the store is a skill set owner, Nikki Kettelkamp, said she has had since she was a child.
“As a kid, I bargained for my toys and stuff and started a small business in second grade selling things I made,” Kettelkamp said. “I think I’ve always just had this bug.”
Now, his retail savvy gives him hope for the future — not just for his stores, but for Iowa’s economy as a whole.
“I’m still optimistic, but probably cautiously optimistic,” Kettelkamp said.
Caution comes from commodity prices, especially with President Donald Trump promising to enact tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen with the tariffs,” Kettelkamp said. “I work with a lot of brands from France, the Netherlands, Australia, Great Britain.”
“The members of the Iowa Business Council are extremely optimistic about the future of Iowa’s economy,” said Joe Murphy, president of the Iowa Business Council.
Murphy said overall, the election results boost the confidence of Iowa business owners.
“To go through the election in November and have a decisive result, I think that was really important,” Murphy said.
But it’s not all good.
The investigation also shows major concerns about the domestic supply chain and federal regulations – and Iowa’s higher-than-average tax rate.
But with Iowa reporting a record number of small businesses opening the past two years, Kettelkamp sees more hope than worry.
“Since I opened in 2018, I think there’s tons more here (at Uptown Marion) and it’s been really exciting to watch,” Kettelkamp said.
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