Serendipity And My Art
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
Canada
April 15, 2017 6:53am CST
I got a phone call from the store in Niagara OnThe Lake (NOTL) saying my art was moving so fast, they wanted more as soon as I could deliver.
I had two boxes of my painted slate ready to go to another store, that I had been thinking I needed to get out of . I love the store but it was the long drive to deliver.
That store was one I discovered while skiing all winter. I was visiting the town a few hours away from my home every week all winter to ski....then I had knee surgery. No more skiing for me. For the first few years I traveled with my friends when they skied. Finally I stopped because it hurt my heart to watch my friends ski when I couldn't.
Then it became a chore to drive that far on my own to deliver art. Often my husband or my best girlfriend would go with me and we would make it a day...
The store in NOTL had to shut down for Reconstruction. The building was torn down and the new building should have been open in a few months. But while digging in the dirt under the old building they found pottery, and bones so it came to a screaming stop...until the government can check it out for historical reasons.
In the meantime the owner of the business opened on the main street of NOTL. It was amazing how much more business she had on the main street compared to around the corner, so when the business next to her closed she took both of the stores in the building.
Because of the big windows showing off my art they started to fly out of the store. I was selling 20 - 30 times the amount of art on the main street than on the side street, she was keeping me very busy and I knew I had to focus on her store and no other.
So Thursday I delivered the art that was going to the far away store to NOTL and I had a heart to heart with the owner of the store far away. We will meet in May to end our business together. She was very understanding.
The photo above I took yesterday when I delivered my art. If you are ever in NOTL and if you are curious what I do you can stop by and check out the store.
NOTL is just 40 minutes from my house and we could meet at Starbucks down the street for coffee or tea....
13 people like this
14 responses
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
16 Apr 17
i hope the other/farther store would do the same, since she said every item is handmade by local artists, just not enough traffic
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
16 Apr 17
Thank you, I am happy with the way things are going, No more stress too. @marlina
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
16 Apr 17
@hereandthere the far away store is busy all winter but not so much in the spring and summer. Fall is pretty busy because people visit to see the fall colors. It is a wonderful store just too far away for me now...
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
15 Apr 17
I wish you had an online store so I could shop for your items!
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
16 Apr 17
@PainsOnSlate I can understand that - that's why I never bothered with ebay. I prefer selling stuff locally. Have a nice Easter
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
16 Apr 17
Pottery and bones? Now it might be years, if ever before they reopen.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
16 Apr 17
@PainsOnSlate Wow! Imagine working on one of those digs.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
18 Apr 17
@PatZAnthony I can't even imagine digging for bones but it is done all the time for history.
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
16 Apr 17
It took well over a year before the dig discovered it was not historical, it was modern trash - the bones were from food..They also found glass... Near my town a new division of housing was being built and they dug up bones and it was a native burial site. The houses stopped, it took years to document every bone and body and all was replace in the exact place it came from, covered and that land is now a huge park.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
19 Apr 17
The window is one of the reason my art sells so fast.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
19 Apr 17
@PainsOnSlate I was sure about this, I had a friend who owned a fashion store. She told me that what she put in the window were the clothes she immediately sold.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
20 Apr 17
@LadyDuck It has really made a difference in my sales...I've been there delivering and see the people gathering around the window to read my signs...
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
15 Apr 17
It was hard to leave from her store so far away, I really like her and her store is awesome, but I need to send my art to the local store. April first I brought her a lot and she had only 4 left before I delivered...and April is a slow month...
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
18 Apr 17
@HazySue my slate is too heavy to send in any way or form, that and it breaks if not handled with care. also shipping is expensive - I'd rather have in a local store.
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39265)
• Gouverneur, New York
17 Apr 17
@PainsOnSlate Now that the business has started to become great at the store closer to you it just makes sense to pull out of the one that is further awqay. Did you ever think of sending your art to her?
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
15 Apr 17
outstanding I"m glad your art is selling like hotcakes.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
15 Apr 17
me too, its crazy how fast they are going...
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
15 Apr 17
@fishtiger58 I went from $50 a month to over a thousand per month during the summer, Blew me away!
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
15 Apr 17
@PainsOnSlate You know what they say Marilyn, location location location
2 people like this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
15 Apr 17
Is that on the Canadian side or American? If it were on the American side I'd say I'll come up in a few weeks.
I can't get onto the Canadian side right now though.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
15 Apr 17
Niagara On the Lake is Canada, if you get a chance let me know.
@Shellyann36 (11383)
• United States
19 Apr 17
@PainsOnSlate that is a neat looking store! I would stop and browse if I were on vacation in that area. Glad that you are getting plenty of business.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
20 Apr 17
Thank you, if you get across the border NOTL is very near Niagara Falls.
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
16 Apr 17
I paint almost every day for a few hours, some days if I'm listening to a good book I can paint all day. I just finished Jodi Picouit's "Small Great Things". I had a hard time turning it off, As I write on the slate I can't listen to the book because I make to many spelling mistakes because my mind is on the book...I feel relieved to be out of the other store now.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
15 Apr 17
I have thought for a couple of years of leaving but hubby encouraged me to keep it going, now that the local store is doing so well I told him I could paint and let them sit in the other store or they can move fast here - he got the picture...And the owner was very kind and understood...
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
16 Apr 17
@JudyEv I doubt I will ever go back to that store just because of the distance. Her shop is delightful and every item in it is hand made by local artists but she doesn't have the traffic that the other one has now . I can't supply both only because there is not enough hours in my days, I appreciate her for taking my art back when I was there all winter and I will remain a friend of hers and visit when i can. I will happy be her friend and I am pleased she is so understanding.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381739)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Apr 17
@PainsOnSlate It's always good to leave on good terms. You never know. You might want to go back there at some point.
2 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
15 Apr 17
That is great that you art is selling so quickly. Looks like a beautiful place.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
15 Apr 17
I'm happy too so now I can work on the art for the store that sells the most.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
15 Apr 17
@PainsOnSlate that is great so it all works out good for you
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
15 Apr 17
I am relieved I don't have to take that trip 5 or 6 times a year, the cost of gas alone is a saving now that I will have to make only one more trip in may to collect everything she hasn't sold.
1 person likes this
@manasamanu (3797)
• Bangalore, India
16 Apr 17
Its good that your works are moving well. Keep going and do the good job.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
16 Apr 17
I love doing it and love selling them so I am happy with the store.
1 person likes this
@manasamanu (3797)
• Bangalore, India
16 Apr 17
@PainsOnSlate Satisfaction is the real happiness in life and you have found that in your work.
1 person likes this
@kaylee1234 (113)
•
25 Apr 17
Wow, amazing how busy things got for you, you obviously do fantastic work. That's how it goes in business, one minute things can be slow and then you can get so many orders, you handled your busy schedule so very well, Thank you for your support on my work, have a great day, big hugs from Cathy XO
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
26 Apr 17
Got another a call today they want more, I have a stash done for them but I am also thinking of uping the price, and will discuss it with the owner when I see her, I think the price I have now was good for the store on the side street but I think I can up it a bit without hurting the buyer or the owner and me... stay tuned...
