Anna and Nathanael Bailey, the husband-and-wife duo behind Duluth’s wood-art brand Bailey Builds, experienced a vendor’s nightmare just weeks before the Minnesota State Fair. Their custom-built fair booth—stored off-season in a shipping container—was mistakenly sold by the storage company holding it. Discovering that their entire building, including walls, flooring, signage, and lighting, had vanished left them scrambling with no backup and no plan B as opening day loomed.
The Baileys learned about the mishap via a call from the storage company: it had sold their container, thinking it belonged to someone else. With accurate plans to tap into their creative momentum and a booth set to showcase Anna’s signature wooden mosaics, the loss was staggering. They had relied on that structure for years, paying monthly storage fees to ensure it would be ready when the fair rolled around. Despite the shock, Anna took to Facebook to share the story with characteristic candor—and a touch of humor. “Well, here’s a story I didn’t think I’d be telling,” she wrote. She acknowledged that she and Nathanael would still make it to the fair, even if it looked very different this year. Inside the couple’s social updates, resilience shone through: they were “scrambling,” “problem-solving,” and trying to hold on to a sense of humor even as they faced a startup-level crisis with no lead time.
In the immediate aftermath, they contacted the storage company to assess the situation. The response came quickly: the company took responsibility, tracked down the container, and arranged for its return. The missing booth had been located in Iowa, and as of the latest update, it was on its way back to the fairgrounds. Relief was palpable. “We’re just so grateful it’s on its way,” Anna said, underscoring that the story already had a twist worth celebrating. As of now, Bailey Builds is confirmed to be back at the Minnesota State Fair, setting up on the north end of the grounds once more.
Anna’s wood mosaics and other handcrafted goods will again be on display starting August 21. Nathanael put it simply: “This year’s fair already has a story to tell. We’re just glad we’ll be there to tell it.”
Their journey from panic to resolution highlights the challenges and unpredictability many small vendors face. From the workshop in West Duluth where the Baileys started—in a transformed former funeral home —to the high of appearing on a reality TV show and the lows of losing everything with days to spare, this episode has been a dramatic reminder of what small-business resilience really looks like.
Through it all, the Baileys exemplified resourcefulness and flexibility, acting quickly to recover both the physical structure and their opportunity to connect with fairgoers in person. What began as a logistical disaster turned into a redemption arc, reinforcing why trusting the process—and trusting each other—matters so much.
The Minnesota State Fair now serves as a reminder that even amid chaos, creative spirits can find a way. Come opening day, Bailey Builds won’t just be selling beautiful art—they’ll be sharing a story of grit, grace, and unshakeable optimism.
