Success Story: Hensen’s Fur and Leather

From Corporate Career to Community Legacy: Heather Herzig Purchases Hensen’s Fur and Leather

Minot – After 30 years in corporate America, Heather Herzig was ready for a change. While visiting family in North Dakota, she stopped into Hensen’s Fur and Leather in Minot to purchase a pair of gloves. During that visit, she learned that longtime owners Richard and Dianne Hensen were preparing to retire, and what began as a routine shopping trip soon became a serious opportunity.

Founded more than 35 years ago, Hensen’s Fur and Leather has served the Minot community with fur and leather garments, along with supplies supporting powwow and ceremonial traditions. Recognizing both the opportunity and the importance of preserving a longstanding local business, Heather began exploring what it would take to purchase the store.

The decision required significant transition. Heather sold her home in Texas, retired from a 20-year career in property management and real estate, and relocated to North Dakota to pursue business ownership. She officially took over Hensen’s Fur and Leather on January 31, 2026.

Preparing for Ownership

Although Heather brought extensive professional experience, she had no prior retail ownership experience and was unfamiliar with the acquisition and financing process. After being referred to the Minot ND SBDC, she connected with Center Director Alan Gohary for guidance.

Through one-on-one advising, Alan assisted Heather with forming her LLC, developing a comprehensive business plan, preparing financial projections, and organizing the documentation required for lender review related to the purchase of the business. With those materials in place, she was able to approach her bank fully prepared.

“Getting help on a business plan from the SBDC was integral to securing funding to purchase and grow the business,” Heather said.

With a complete and organized package, the lending process moved forward smoothly, allowing her to finalize the purchase and transition into ownership.

Since taking ownership, Heather has focused on maintaining the store’s established customer base while beginning to expand outreach efforts. The business recently launched its first Facebook page and is working toward developing a website to increase visibility and connect with new customers.

Heather credits the guidance she received for helping her navigate unfamiliar territory and move forward with confidence. As she settles into ownership, she is focused on honoring the store’s long history while thoughtfully introducing new marketing efforts to support its next chapter in Minot.