[goosepimple]

I'm seriously thinking of opening an art gallery, art shop, picture framers and café.  I was an architect for years then went into teaching at art collage for over a decade and I'm teaching art to adults locally.  I've always wanted to open my own gallery and have started looking around at properties coming on the market, the plan to do it with someone else who is interested in doing the food side. It's not going to be a 'craft' type gallery, more paintings, prints, odd antiques and art books, art materials etc. and it will be fairly large (not a hole in the wall type shop).
 
Do you know of any particularly nice ones I could google?
 
Anything else to add on running a business I should really think about?
 
Thanks in advance.

[benandjerry]

To help generate money if thinking of doing antiques / collectables.  You could rent 'shop space' to dealers (like my OH) and sell his stuff. Just a thought.

[doganjo]

Business plan, business plan, business plan! 

Cash flow statements 

Keep all receipts 

I'm sure you know all that already! 

[Roxy]

Our local café has an upstairs art gallery - think they display artists work, and then have a commission if it sells.  Also one of the local pubs has an upstairs room dedicated to art displays.  Seems food/drink and art go together, so you could be on to something. Good luck with your venture

[Ideation]

If you are going to do picture framing, perhaps a print buisness could also be an expansion?

My other half used to run a gallery, that also did art work shops and lessons etc, for local schools, special needs groups, private parties etc. It went down really well. And was always booked up!

[ellied]

The man that ran art classes s in Newburgh is trying to sell up due to ill health.  His big townhouse has several rooms let as studios and is next door to the Steeple venue which has an artist in residence, further workshops and group rooms. 

There are 2 local galleries, several crafter's and a vibrant arts and crafts community if you feel like a move that is all for sale and a wool shop directly opposite is up for lease or sale. with the owner still running her felting workshop next door.

Steeple had 3 weekly art classes this man ran so all options open here if you wanted to move!

[john and helen]

i agree with doganjo, get a good business plan together, this will help you as you go along, and give you targets to aim for..

think about what will make your art gallery different  to others , more appealing,.maybe paint workshops, painting group, snack bar is good..but you are entering food and hygiene, so certain things will be needed..but still doable

as for the actual gallery..location location location… the high street will be to expensive, outer town/village will be to quiet, ….competition…see what is already in the area, …..website,  art materials, local painting comps…

it really depends on how much energy you want to put into the business

[goosepimple]

Thanks all, that was all really positive and really appreciated.
 
I've been thinking about it all for a really really long time now so have thought about most of what has been mentioned and the classes I'm running at the moment at posh venues nearby are going really well.
 
Was really interested in what you wrote ellied and I'm going to look it up - I know Newburgh (one of these places you always think should be really popular, such a great location) as I'm from Dundee originally.  Taking over an existing business helps enormously, a few people have mentioned I should try and do that.
 
Thank you all so much for your replies.  I'm a worker (aren't all smallholders?)so    will let you know what happens (but it may take a bit longer yet).  Thanx
 
 

[ellied]

Www.Strachan art house.com sorry all lower case and I don't know how to copy and paste a link on hudl!  John Strachan is a lovely man but health issues mean he wants to move to nearer his son in Edinburgh.

The empty shop over the road was www.twistfibrecraft.co.UK the owner Laura lives in a flat above and is keeping the basement for her business so the main shop is pref to lease but she would sell. Hence both sides the high street available.

Oh and several Tasers and an active orchard group and new food cooperative nearby!  Cup of tea here if you want to come up and look.

[hafod]

I think it's a great idea. Our local council runs business start up courses. I think they were 2 hour sessions, once a week over about 2 months covering everything from marketing to tax/ finance and writing a business plan. Although I already knew some of the theory I found the sessions really useful as you find out what other people are doing and learn from them too. It also gave my access to the staff in charge of business support at the council and they signposted me towards some grants and networking groups - so I would highly recommend it if they do a similar thing in your area.
Good luck!

[in the hills]

 

Have a quick look at these. Sorry I don't know how to post a link  but you'll find them easy enough.

Brooks Art Wales ..... in it's infancy as a business

Chapel Crafts ...... Mid Wales   (Pammy is a professional artist .... though it's called 'crafts')



Just local to me but guess it's good to look how other people are doing things


HTH

[shygirl]

theres a nice art gallery/cafe at aviemore wildlife park. its quite small but adjacent to their bigger noisy family cafe. it is really nice. if its too far to have a nosy there may be shots online.

[Anke]

Well you have got "Flat Cat" just down the road - but I don't know how much more café than art gallery it is - the coffee is usually nice, cakes are far too nice... , but I cannot afford any of the art usually on sale  No idea if they do classes, workshops or similar.

I think you have to be fairly near a town/city which has a good proportion of early retirees, as this is the group of people most likely to have time and cash for any kind of art classes. So Gala may not the place, but Melrose could be? But you may want to move somewhere else anyway...

[goosepimple]

Thanks ellied and in the hills, I'll look them up this evening.

Thanks to hafod, I've already been to Business Gateway which are truly ace at giving info and morning group gatherings for various small business reasons (and include a throw in sandwich lunch).  They're super useful.

Know Flat Cat only too well Anke, and their cake repertoire and know the owners very well too, so need to keep away from them not to hiss them off.  Melrose is full to the brim with coffee shops and the units are all quite small, I want big.  Have my eye on somewhere at the moment but know there are others interested so will have to sit and wait it out.  It's a good time to get somewhere pricewise but it's that location location ....

[Lesley Silvester]

Good luck with it.