25 years and counting

Laura M celebrates milestone of business in the Platte Valley

An $189 sewing machine, a dream and $1,000.

That's what Laura Morrow started out with in 1976 when she made the decision to pursue her dream of being a fashion designer. Nobody can argue she's come a long since then and, in the past few months, everything has been coming up Laura M-as her brand is known.

On May 20, the small business owner was recognized as the Valley Service Organization's "Woman of Distinction". On June 14, she held an open house celebrating 25 years of business in the Platte Valley alongside fellow former-Cheyennite Cindy Loose. 

"It feels kind of overwhelming to be real honest," said Morrow. "I feel like I've put in a good 25 years, I feel like I've contributed to the community a lot as far as doing the different projects I have such as Festival of the Arts and a lot of the organizations I've helped support throughout the years."

If there's one thing Morrow is known for other than her sense of fashion, it is her selflessness when it comes to helping people both in the community and throughout the world. For a number of years, up until just recently, Morrow was involved with the Tres Islas Orphanage Fund.

"Donelle Manton-who is my angel, we met in 6th grade at the Assembly of God church-she got involved in Mazatlan. Her dad used to take her down there as a child all the time and so, to help out one of the Catholic orphanages, she would sell photographs when she was quite young and then donate that money. In 2004, my 50th birthday, I wanted to do something special," Morrow said. "I called her up and asked if there was anything she needed for the orphanage that she was working on and she said 'We really need help with the boys orphanage' they were just starting, which is Hogar San Pablo orphanage in Mazatlan."

So Morrow and nine of her best friends raised money-with the help of the Saratoga community-and went down to Mazatlan to help. Due to the money raised, Morrow and her friends were able to buy a hot water heater and industrial fridge for Hogar San Pablo orphanage. Ten years later, for her 60th birthday, Morrow raised funds-again with the help of the Saratoga community-to purchase sewing machines and supplies for FloreSer Orphanage to set up a sewing center.

While Hogar San Pablo is a boys orphanage, FloreSer Orphanage is for at-risk teenage girls. According to Morrow, the sewing center is still an integral part of the orphanage.

That selflessness has been shown to local residents as well. In 2012, when Typhoon Pablo decimated the Philipinne village where Eden Diorio's family lived. Then, in 2016, Morrow was heavily involved in fundraising for Garry Wood in his battle with non-hodgkins lymphoma.

"This community is so strong in all aspects of financial being that, when somebody gets hurt, they pull together," said Morrow. "So, the whole town is like a big family and I think that's part of what makes people want to come here and stay here."

Morrow ran her business in Cheyenne for 20 years, building it up to the point where she was selling to 100 stores in 25 states.

After obtaining a Small Business Administration loan for $10,000 in 1985, it seemed as if the sky was the limit for Morrow. It was all washed away in the flooding of August 1985, which flooded the basement of her store and destroyed all the material.

"Even though we still continued to grow, I had no hard assets," Morrow said. "I finally got to a point where I couldn't grow anymore and we were at almost a stand still and decided to close it down and see where my fate was. It took me to Oregon for about four-and-a-half years where I did retail management, which was still in the clothing business."

Morrow eventually returned to Cheyenne, but didn't want to start another business in her hometown. Instead, she relocated to Saratoga to "set up shop". In the 25 years she's been in business, the Laura M store has jumped around town. Originally starting where Laura M's Home on the Range is now, she moved to the current location of Bridge Street Bargains (114 E. Bridge Avenue) and was there for 11 years. Then, she set up shop in the small house next to St. Barnabas' Episcopal Church before finally landing back on Bridge Avenue where Laura M's Backroom is now located.

Morrow would end up buying the entire building-formerly Blackhawk Gallery-from Patti Lufkin with the help of "a couple of angels". Now, she has a proverbial kingdom which includes the Backroom, Home on the Range and Laura M Gallery. The latter includes not just clothing, but artwork from local and regional artists. For Morrow, art is an integral part of the Platte Valley.

"I think it's very important and that was partly why I took the whole gallery over when I bought the building from Patti Lufkin. Saratoga's been known as an art community," said Morrow. "We've got so many talented people in the Valley and have a feeling about the Valley. All of my artists that are in the gallery have some kind of attachment to it."

That passion for the arts is also why Morrow has put on the Festival of the Arts for seven years. Eight, if it weren't for the pandemic. The Festival of the Arts will begin July 1 with a gala and will be open to the public July 2 and July 3 at the Platte Valley Community Center.

After 25 years, Morrow hopes there's more to come.

"I hope that Laura M can continue on for a lot longer."

 

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