Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in arts but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Joe Bembridge, Founder of Gallery Merrick, located in Victoria, BC, CA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is Gallery Merrick, a contemporary art gallery & event venue in gorgeous Victoria, British Columbia. We feature Canadian artists in all stages of their careers, but our customers come from all over. Due to the exchange rate, Canadian artwork is very reasonably priced for US and overseas customers. Some people find us while on vacation in Victoria; others find us through our website. Our customers all seem to enjoy our collection of quirky and more off-beat work.
Tell us about yourself
I started my gallery in a smaller space in Nanaimo (about an hour and a half away from Victoria) 4 years ago. Before that, I had worked in commercial galleries, but this was my first time running a gallery myself. Before I started the gallery, I was living in Banff, Alberta, and had only visited Nanaimo briefly up until that point. I made the leap and opened Gallery Merrick on the main street in the downtown area.
My plan for the first five years was to build up a roster of artists and really just learn how to be a gallerist. Having a clear vision of what I wanted to accomplish in the short term helped motivate me to show up fully every day and clarify the most important things to work on.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
You know, a lot of people were skeptical when I first opened; several galleries had tried, struggled, and ultimately closed in that area before. I think that was just more motivation for myself, though. I knew that my gallery was different, and so was I. In 4 years, it was time to move to a bigger space in a bigger city. It took a lot of work, but I’m definitely proud of that.
I also feel that doing this throughout a pandemic that shut down almost all foot traffic and in-person openings was a pretty big accomplishment! We switched to virtual openings through Instagram and Facebook Live for a while and focused more on our online sales. The response was really positive, but we’re back to doing in-person events. Of course, people are welcome to check out the work in person at the gallery.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Have a clear vision of what the goal is for your business, both short and long-term.
- Consistency is everything; you must show up for yourself and your customers daily. (But don’t forget to take your days off & get some rest too).
- Don’t give up too quickly. Things typically take longer than you think they will.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Art is one of the best investments you can make! Beyond being very consistent in value, it’s something that you can enjoy every day, and you can’t really put a number on that.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.gallerymerrick.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gallerymerrick
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gallerymerrick/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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