Opening Up

A Glimpse Inside Menomonie's Studio MLM

Rae Poynter, photos by Andrea Paulseth |

Studio MLM
Studio MLM, Menomonie

Are you looking for a company that has designed eco-friendly kitchen tools, builds websites, and can even set you up with overseas manufacturers? Perhaps and perhaps not. But that’s exactly what Studio MLM in Menomonie does. Located in a beautiful old Masonic Temple in downtown Menomonie, Studio MLM may be one of the area’s best-kept secrets. It’s a company that assists other businesses with every step of the business development process, from product design to launch, and they do it with style, creativity, and innovation. 

Micah Maraia is the owner and founder of Studio MLM. A graduate of UW-Stout, Maraia has now lived in Menomonie for more than 20 years. With a background in industrial design, he has designed and created a wide variety of products for many different businesses. In 2008 Maraia came up with the idea for a line of cord management products, which he launched into the company Dotz. Founding Dotz gave Maraia firsthand experience not only with product design but also with the entire process of taking an idea and turning it into a business.

Located in a beautiful old Masonic Temple in downtown Menomonie, Studio MLM may be one of the area’s best-kept secrets, assisting other businesses with product design and more.
Located in a beautiful old Masonic Temple in downtown Menomonie, Studio MLM may be one of the area’s best-kept secrets, assisting other businesses with product design and more.

“I’ve always been the type to figure out how to solve problems,” Maraia said. “In addition to Dotz, I did some consulting work on the side. People started coming to me asking if I could do the same thing for them and their idea that I did for mine.”

Now, Maraia is doing exactly that: Helping others turn their dreams into a reality through Studio MLM. The team works with clients on every level of business development, from naming and product design to brand strategy and sales. Some clients seek assistance with the entire process, while others may only seek consulting for one or two aspects. Either way, the team uses their design and business knowledge to help each unique brand be successful. 

An area of emphasis at Studio MLM is branding: Maraia said the team is not only supportive of strong brand integrity, but they are diehard believers in it, and they hire multidisciplinary talent to help with brand cohesion.

“Our team is a diverse group of creative thinkers,” Maraia said. “We’re problem-solvers, and we’re constantly wearing different hats to maximize the potential of each brand.”

While the team at Studio MLM work with many entrepreneurs and new businesses, they also work with established businesses: companies that come in with their own personality and legacy but are looking to rebrand or modernize. Maraia said their clients tend to be trusting and allow them to use their creative skills, but they also strive to honor the legacy and loyalty that established brand have built. 

The Studio MLM team plans to spread the word throughout the Chippewa Valley about their business. Maraia has worked hard to turn his own dreams into a reality, and the hope is to keep using innovation and creativity to help others do the same. 

“At Studio MLM, we’ve created a place that I really want to go to with people I want to work with,” said Maraia. “Our goal is to keep the dream alive.” 

 


For more information on Studio MLM, visit their website at studio-mlm.com

Best of Menomonie is brought to you by:

Westconsin Credit Union

Explore Menomonie

University of Wisconsin Stout

Best of Menomonie is brought to you by:

Westconsin Credit Union

Explore Menomonie

University of Wisconsin Stout