We had the good fortune of connecting with Tracy Burnett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tracy, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started Mishi Lifestyle more from a feeling rather than a thought process…which came later. I had traveled extensively for my previous work and made intentional decisions to visit areas that had high concentrations of independent small businesses that included art galleries, home decor and clothing as well as restaurants. In doing this, I spoke to business owners about how and why they started their own businesses and gained a significant amount of inspiration while working in the corporate world. However in March of 2020, my work and travel came to an end with COVID-19’s impact. I felt presented with an opportunity to do something completely different. I was able to create, which up until that time I didn’t realize that I needed that outlet to thrive as a person. Once I knew that building Mishi was what I wanted for myself and my community, I formulated a business plan, the means to do it and what we would be offering to the community we’re in.
We’ve been in business now for about three and a half years and have enjoyed both the energy that our small team has created as well as the challenges we’ve met head on in that short time

What should our readers know about your business?
When I developed what values I wanted Mishi Lifestyle to represent, I felt very strongly about focusing mainly on makers and creators that we had a connection with. Most of our curated products are brought to us by makers that we’ve cultivated relationships with since we opened our doors in 2021. The values of these folks reflect our values and include being minority owned and designing & producing here in America. Our makers produce small batch production runs and give back to various charities. Curating our shop is no easy task! We conduct alot of research when deciding what products to bring into the fold of our inventory. Quality is of upmost importance to us and to our customers as they demand products that have a story behind them and are not simply mass produced. Anyone visiting our store in Lakewood Ohio gains a sense of being present in something created and curated so our hope is that they feel comfortable and welcomed!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When I have friends come in from out of town, we usually stay local to the westside of Cleveland. A great visit would include a coffee at Black Bird Bakery before taking a long walk in the Cleveland MetroParks right across the street. We’d have lunch and wine on the patio of Rocky River Wine Bar afterwards and a visit to Ritual next door. A visit from friends is always deserving of some self-care, right? So the circuit at Raw Esthetics or a pedicure at Sacred Hour really hits the spot.
In the evening, we like to clean up and go out for some fun. A fun drink at Amazonia is such a great time followed by dinner at one of SO many great places offered in the Cleveland area…but some favs would be Poppy, Mia Bella or Momocho. But if we’re in the mood to walk to dinner…Forage, Sarita and Harlow’s are always outstanding choices.
If my friends are staying for a longer period of time then an afternoon in downtown Chagrin Falls never fails to put smiles on their faces as well as a stop at Lingg on Chagrin Blvd. But before heading back to the westside, we’d have to stop at one of the museums around Wade Oval and some refreshments at L’Albatros!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The one really meaningful aspect I’d like to dedicate my tenacity as a business owner to is many of the other female -owned businesses in the Cleveland area. Once I opened my shop, I was immediately supported by these other entrepreneurs. From needing advice and expertise to fresh ideas and suggestions, they’ve been the rock for me.
Specifically, my neighbor, friend and local business owner, Maureen Koopman (Biograghie Studio, The CoLab and pop-up shop Home For The Holidays in Lakewood OH) has been the person who has stood by me and supported me even before I had a brick and mortar location. She has been a great connector to other business owners and inspired me to persevere despite barriers and obstacles that come with starting a new business.

Website: https://www.mishilifestyle.com

Instagram: @mishi_lakewood

Facebook: Mishi Lifestyle

Yelp: Mishi Lifestyle

Other: Pinterest: mishi_lifestyle
Google: Mishi Lifestyle

Image Credits
Final image: Rebecca Whitaker Art

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutOhio is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.