Marion Shop Named Finalist in Iowa Small Business Competition
By KCRG Staff
Published: Oct. 1, 2026 at 7:58 PM GMT+2 | Updated: 6 hours ago
The Purple Wagon, a baby store in Marion, Iowa, has been named a finalist in Main Street Iowa’s Open 4 Business competition, vying for a $25,000 grand prize.
Shop founder Karlee Peters is competing against four other small businesses across Iowa. Finalists are evaluated based on business innovation, community impact, growth potential, revenue, and long-term stability.
The Purple Wagon recently expanded into a larger corner building in Marion's downtown, revitalizing a vacant space. According to Lacey Schroeder, Director of the Uptown Marion Main Street Program, this success benefits the entire district.
“They have built a business that people have grown up with, and now they have the space to grow with those customers,” she stated.
The final presentation and judging will take place on October 5th in Osceola.
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