It all started with a cup of coffee and a little Instagram magic. Jill Dudzinski—then the owner of hello ruby—and Katie Lakin of Little Mango were two Omaha-based entrepreneurs with mobile boutiques (picture a fashion truck meets a vintage camper—yes, it was as fabulous as it sounds).

The two began meeting monthly to swap ideas, plan pop-ups, and share their best small biz secrets. What started as friendly chats over lattes quickly blossomed into something more: a mission to uplift local shop owners, celebrate creativity, and build a strong, supportive small business community.

Today, Jill has sold hello ruby and works her magic as a boutique consultant, podcaster, and vendor curator, helping other shops shine bright. Katie continues to run Little Mango, and now rents the pair’s former HQ—lovingly reimagined as The Corner, a sweet space for pop-ups, collabs, and community connection.

Through it all, A Local Collective remains rooted in what started it all: connection, collaboration, and really good coffee.