Renee Leone, owner of Quark!, said she made her decision to move solely online after managing the brick and mortar store and the online sales website simultaneously.  

"I developed that landing page into a sales site and I’ve had that for over a year," Leone said. “Running both has been pretty challenging. It’s a small business so it’s really just me."

Leone said it was difficult to do both and when she took into account her work-life balance, she knew she needed a change. When it was time to renew her lease or let the building go, she reflected on her goals for Quark! and herself. She chose not to re-sign. 

"My goals as I’m developing Quark! were really to celebrate the sciences in our everyday lives and spark and inspire curiosity," She said. "I do that with the store by offering beautiful, artfully designed and useful items."

Leone said she won't pretend financials weren’t a part of the decision at all, but it was not the main reason for the change. 

Unlike the average retail store, Quark!’s product ideas are developed by the owner through her own personal experiences. With a background in science, art and travel, Leone’s products reflect who she is and what she’s excited to share with the world. 

Leone’s idea for a science inspired gift shop was sparked by a visit she made to England where she attended a science festival at Cambridge University. Upon returning to East Lansing, she pitched the idea to Michigan State University and ran the event for five years. 

"I got to see behind the closed doors of all the amazing things that were being researched and explored on campus," she said. "I had the privilege to help them share that with the general public without simplifying it but finding ways to communicate it."

After watching generations enjoy the festival, she noticed how much people loved the swag given out. She began thinking about how products with scientific sentiment could be marketed to sell and eventually opened the doors of Quark!. Using her background in science, she created products with a story. 

"The store inspires things that I’m curious about and interested in and I pursue those," Leone said. "Then I share those through the store and the products I have, the things that I discover and find exciting."

While Leone is excited her online store can read a wider audience, she will miss the social aspect the physical store provided her and the community. 

"Another goal for me was to hear the stories of the people that came in and find out what they’re curious about," Leone said. "I love sharing products that make people think about things and make them smile."

When customers would walk into the store, a common practice for Leone and her part-time employees was to walk around with them and explain the stories behind the products. Leone said she is trying to bring videos and in-depth content to her site to simulate this experience and interest through the screen. 

Leone is not the only one adapting after the swap. Zoology senior Jenna Sbeity started as a customer at Quark!, but began working there over the summer and stayed until their close in January. 

"I honestly have just always admired the store because of what they sell and the culture that Renee fostered in there of a curiosity and love for science," Sbeity said. "Renee is the best boss I’ve ever had."

Although she loved her job at Quark!, she said the decision was overall the right choice for Leone. 

"I was a little sad about it, but obviously we had talked about her reasoning and she'd been thinking about it for a while," Sbeity said. "I always tell customers that the store actually opened when I was a freshman and closed when I was a senior, so it was kind of a full circle moment. It is bittersweet, but for her, it was the right decision to make."

Sbeity said Leone’s products have always been high quality and she cares about her work. Not only is sustainability a priority, but Leone also supports small artists and small family businesses. Some of her products were sourced from Lansing businesses. 

Client of Quark! and friend of Leone, Carol Bidigare, said she often purchases unique products from the store for her friends and family. 

"I think the store created a curiosity because you see one thing and you start looking at it, then you look to the other side and you’re like 'oh my god what’s that?'" Bidigare said. "Then you're just stuck because you’re looking at everything."

As an entrepreneur herself, Bidigare said she thinks the move is great because, when running a business, you can change things that aren't working for you, whether it's the products or the platform. She admires how Leone started her business. 

"I love the fact that she has a passion for something and has pushed it to this level," Bidigare said. 

Bidigare said Quark! was a great fit for East Lansing because it fits into the atmosphere. With the college being across the street, so were the students, professors and parents who may have scientific interests. 

"I do recognize that things do tend to go the other way around, online and then in store, and it would be lovely to make that work but I wasn’t able to get that balance that I needed," Leone said. "I’m excited by the possibilities of going online. It's looking like it’s going to be able to provide me with that balance."