Did I ever think I'd be taking over an art gallery? No. Did I dream of running my own retail space where I helped other artists make a living from their art? Yes.
What happened in December of 2024 can only be described as the universe (or whatever other worldly entity you believe in) giving me the biggest opportunity I've ever been handed.
I've worked at a local art gallery off and on since I was a high schooler. I interned there for a school project, worked there after graduation, moved home after college and worked there again, then after having my oldest and being a single mom at the time, needed a job that would support us, and also be flexible. They hired me without a second thought.
And thinking back, even then the universe was giving me exactly what I needed in the moment. I was meeting my newborn sons biological father (who basically gave up on us) at the local pizza parlor. As I'm walking in the door, alone, carrying a baby in a car seat, my old boss, from the gallery, was walking in too.
We chatted for a bit, and he was surprised to find the baby with me was mine. I can't remember exactly what was said, it was nearly eight years ago. But he offered me a job, and I took it. Working there for another two and half years before starting my own business.
Now, four years into running my pet portrait business, I realized I needed to expand. If I wanted to make my business our sole income, I needed a brick and mortar location with space for my printing machines, and somewhere to reach new customers.
So I asked the only people I knew, the owners of the art gallery, for their opinions, the pros and cons, and any advice they wanted to share with me.
Though he did give me advice initially, he sent a follow up email asking if I wanted to take over their gallery instead. I was over the moon. How could this be happening to me?
The excitement eventually wore off and I suddenly realized I'd have to get money together to buy their business, learn how to manage employees, accounts that handle more money then I've ever seen at one time, and keep track of thousands and thousands of unique one of a kind items they have for sale.
Now, I'm just in the beginning stages of this, the hard bits. The ones where I'm working six days a week, managing homeschool, my pet portrait business, coaching basketball, being a mom and a wife, and also squeezing in hours at the gallery learning all I can.
It's a tough road, but I know that at the end of it, it'll be worth every second I put into it. This is my dream, and I know it'll change my life, the life of my family, and the life of the artists that I'll be helping earn a living by selling their work.
And I'm eternally grateful for this opportunity. They trust me to continue the amazing gallery they already have, and possibly grow it more than they ever dreamed.
I'm so excited to keep working hard to make it happen!