05/16/2023
❤️Wanted to give a quick (long) update. ❤️
Here are some questions you may have:
1. Will you rebuild the corner where All About Art, The She Shed, and Coffee Corner were located prior to the fire October 2022?
Answer: We owned the corner building that housed these three businesses. We are currently at a stand still with the rebuild. We have architect drawings (that are fabulous) for the rebuild and have been hard at work figuring out exactly how to move forward. After months of panning and research, we are not currently in the financial position to move forward. Cost per square foot is high, interest rates are high, and funding opportunities are limited at this time.
2. What are we doing to in the mean time regarding the building? Dirt Hole?
Answer: As of now, we are working with several organizations to research and find creative funding solutions (grants, low interest funding, lower cost for rebuild, etc.). This process takes time.
As far as the vacant lot (dirt hole) we are waiting to see what options are possible before making a final decision. We do not plan to keep it that way any longer than is absolutely necessary. We want a beautiful corner as much as you all do! We miss is desperately!❤️
3. Is All About Art reopening?
As of now we are going mobile. As we do not have a brick and mortar option (that makes sense) I will be offering on site paint parties beginning this summer. Be on the look out for all the info. 😊🎨
As for a long term reopening in the brick and mortar, we are prayerful that we will have that opportunity.
4. What about the She Shed and Coffee Corner?
Answer: Coffee Corner has just announced that they will be opening (presumably in the fall) in the Serendipity By Kei building. We are thrilled for them! ❤️ The She Shed is also lacking a proper brick and mortar location, so it is currently on hold.
5. What about the fundraiser money?
Answer: First, I want to thank everyone for all of your support following the fire! We were and are still overwhelmed with gratitude!
For total transparency purposes, I would like to share some numbers with you. 😊
A Go Fund Me was set up by a family friend to support The She Shed and All About Art.
That go fund me raised 22k in just a few days and weeks. We were overwhelmed!
There was a separate fund set up by our downtown organization that raised right at 30k, 20k of which was raised through our painting fundraiser put on following the fire at The Warehouse Downtown. This downtown fund was divided 5 ways to support all five businesses and individuals effected by the fire.
Though 34k (22k from the personal go fund me and 12k for AAA and The She Shed from the downtown fund) sounds like a great deal of money, the reality is that we have had many, many, many, expenses related to the fire.
We had spent several thousand dollars just the few weeks and days before for all the inventory for Christmas (on the All About Art and She Shed side.) We also had several thousand dollars in refunds that had to be done for customers who had prepaid classes.
In addition to the expenses needed to be paid, we had some debts related to Covid that we were still paying down.
I share this to let you know that though a great deal was raised, it has in reality helped us break even. We have not profited in anyway from this event. We are sooooo very grateful for the opportunity to not be paying debts for a business that is not functioning at the moment. This has brought great peace to our families and we would not have been able to do it without your financial support.
6. What about Insurance?
Answer: This is a great question. We had insurance on the building, AAA contents, and The She She contents.
Unfortunately, like many small business owners, We were insured for “pre-Covid” pricing.
As cost of inventory, expenses, loans related to Covid and debts, we were not properly insured for todays prices and expenses.
Had all of this happened in 2020, financially we would be in a very different (better) position to move forward.
This is why we are so thankful for the “break even” funding we received through the fundraisers.
7. What’s next?
Answer: Honestly, we are not sure. We are praying for a way forward. We are trusting that God will reveal (with our due diligence) what the next right step is.
This has been one of the most challenging times in my life and the not knowing what will happen next can be very overwhelming, discouraging, and anxiety inducing.
But, thankfully, we have a community that cares, a wonderful church family, a relationship with our God and there is great peace in knowing that this will work out for the best.
I am so thankful for our customers and for your support over the last several months.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to reach out!
I will be posting soon about All About Art mobile opportunities! So stay tuned! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
