Everyone has a story about how they got started in retail. I love hearing or reading them because they show that you don’t necessarily need an MBA to start your own business.

The two women in this Boston.com article have found a great way to open their doors just one weekend a month. They devote the rest of their time to finding and refurbishing and eclectic assortment of antiques/collectibles. And they’re more than willing to negotiate price with shoppers, which gives them a great reputation among bargain hunters.

One of the ladies had owned a home store and was trying interior design. Her friend had been a designer for Disney. Both loved shopping at garage sales and flea markets. They let all their purchases accumulate in a Victorian house in a quaint village. Not content to just hold onto it all, they hit upon their business model: Fix it all up and sell it one weekend a month. They get to enjoy their other time pursuing their passion for discovering old merchandise, and make their money on that monthly weekend. Low overhead, minimal store design, constantly churned product mix. What a great combination.

The husband-wife owners of a children’s clothing store in Minnesota found one need and filled it with two. According to this article in the St. Cloud Times, the wife couldn’t find such a store in downtown St. Cloud, she decided to start one. Fortunately, her husband already had a photography studio downtown. Kids and photos — what a natural combination. Now the boutique is in the front of the store, and someone who can photograph them in their new clothes is just footsteps away.