Main Street Innovators: Local Visionaries Reimagining Retail
Join us!
The Center for Entrepreneurship at Monmouth University in collaboration with Beyond Main and Coasst, are excited to invite you to Main Street Innovators: Local Visionaries Reimagining Retail.
🏬 Main Street Innovators: Local Visionaries Reimagining Retail
Join us for an evening of insights, inspiration and connections as we host a panel discussion with four visionary local entrepreneurs who are redefining what it means to run a brick-and-mortar business in today's digital age.
This event offers a unique opportunity to hear firsthand from the minds behind Steady Hand Cafe, District Refillery, and Fleur de Mer as they share their journeys of building distinctive brands, fostering community connections, and scaling with purpose.
Our panelists will share their experiences navigating the challenges and triumphs of the modern retail business, offering valuable lessons for aspiring and established entrepreneurs alike.
We'll explore topics such as:
Creating memorable brand experiences that transcend physical spaces
Building loyal communities that become brand ambassadors
Developing sustainable business models that allow for meaningful growth
Balancing online presence with creating authentic in-person connections
Innovating within traditional retail and service models
Featured Main Street Innovators
Steady Hand Cafe - Reimagining the coffee experience through thoughtful sourcing, community spaces, and multi-channel distribution that extends their brand beyond their physical location.
District Refillery - Pioneering the zero-waste retail movement with an innovative business model that educates consumers while providing sustainable alternatives to everyday products.
Fleur de Mer - Elevating traditional floristry through design innovation and experiential retail, creating memorable moments that bloom beyond the bouquet.
🗺️ Location
The Center for Entrepreneurship at Monmouth University Follow @monmouthentrepreneur on IG.
📋 Event Schedule
6:30pm Connecting and networking hosted by Coasst
7:00pm Panel & interactive Q&A moderated by Beyond Main
👥 Panelist Bios
Ashley Burk, founder of Steady Hand Cafe
Ashley Burk (she/her) is a creative entrepreneur with a knack for blending coffee, community, and creativity into everything she does. As the founder of Steady Hand Cafe, she’s built more than just a coffee brand—it’s a reflection of her love for hospitality, creativity, and intentionality.
After a decade in the coffee industry, Ashley launched Steady Hand Cafe in 2020, using the unexpected downtime of the COVID-19 quarantine to bring specialty coffee directly to people’s homes. What started as delivering bottled lattes quickly evolved into a mobile coffee business, complete with two traveling carts that popped up in collaboration with other small businesses. Without a brick-and-mortar space, she found new ways to expand her reach, developing bottled versions of her most popular drinks and launching The Good Good—a line of barista-crafted syrups inspired by cocktails, culinary nostalgia, and the magic of a well-balanced drink.
Through every stage of growth, Ashley has remained committed to building an experience that feels personal, creative, and deeply connected to the community.
Before coffee, Ashley’s journey took her through culinary school at the Culinary Institute of America, before taking a sharp turn into sign painting, fiber art, and community-driven creative workshops under the name Steady Hand Creative. Whether she’s mixing up new flavors, crafting up creative coffee drinks or painting a sign by hand, her approach is always the same: thoughtful, playful, and rooted in intentionality.
Connect with Steady Hand Cafe on Instagram.
Dana Weiss, founder of District Refillery & Co
Dana Weiss is a passionate advocate for sustainable living and the visionary behind District Refillery & Co., a zero-waste grocery and refill shop in Point Pleasant, NJ. With a mission to make sustainability effortless and accessible, Dana has created a community-driven space where customers can shop for high-quality, organic pantry staples, non-toxic home and personal care products, and locally sourced goods—all without unnecessary packaging or waste.
Founded on the belief that small, everyday choices can lead to meaningful environmental impact, District Refillery & Co. is more than just a store; it’s a movement. By empowering customers to refill rather than repurchase, choose reusable over disposable, and support local artisans and farmers, Dana is redefining what it means to shop consciously.
Her approach to business is deeply rooted in community, education, and innovation. Whether hosting workshops, collaborating with local makers, or curating a selection of responsibly sourced products, Dana is committed to making low-waste living practical and inspiring.
Connect with District Refillery on Instagram.
Michelle & Emily Costa, Co-owners of Fleur de Mer
Michelle Costa is co-owner of Fleur de Mer Flower Bar and Boutique. Michelle, an alumnus of Monmouth University, majored in Journalism and Public Relations with a minor in English. She began her career working with fashion publications like Harper's Bazaar and Town & Country which led her to an extensive corporate background in luxury public relations representing brands like Cartier, Ralph Lauren and Moncler to name a few.
While executing high-end events for major brands, Michelle fell in love with floral design and found herself working holidays and weekends at a family friend's flower shop. It was knee deep into rose thorns that her passion for working with flowers came alive.
She often dreamt about opening a curated boutique in her hometown, especially with her sister as her partner. The concept was simple. Offer a new and youthful approach to what a flower shop can be. So much more than fresh flowers, but a hub for like minded individuals and a space for community growth. She prides herself in making meaningful connections with Fleur de Mer's clients and forming authentic relationships.
When not playing with flowers, Michelle still helps to consult emerging fashion, jewelry and hospitality brands through thoughtful communication strategy.
Emily Costa is co-owner of Fleur de Mer, a modern, experience-based flower shop offering daily florals, gifts, clothing, mobile flower bar experiences, an event space, and more. She is passionate about creating a safe and fun space for people of all ages to experience the joy of florals.
With a decade of digital marketing experience, she brings a unique perspective to marketing by connecting with customers on social media and optimizing Fleur de Mer's web presence to be approachable and engaging.
She graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with an associate's degree in Fashion Business Management and a bachelor’s degree in Advertising, Marketing, and Communications. Her passion for digital marketing and branding began in high school and college when she built her own fashion brand, Rebel Redefined. She gained further experience through internships at Nylon Magazine, Korres Skincare and Batallure Beauty.
Today, in addition to running Fleur de Mer, she provides marketing services to individuals, brands, and companies of all sizes. Her offerings include web design, social media services, and advertising with a particular focus on supporting mental health clinicians and treatment centers through strategic growth and an empathetic approach.
Connect with Fleur de Mer on Instagram.
💫 In collaboration with
Coasst is a platform supporting small businesses & entrepreneurs through ➡️Connection ➡️Collaboration ➡️Community.
Beyond Main is a shop local online marketplace whose mission is to help small businesses deliver on the shopping needs and expectations of consumers today.