Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Paul.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My hubby, Chad, and I opened the shop in 2007 as an art gallery to showcase local artists. I had my studio in back and customers could pier in from a loft space.
Art leads in time to more developed vignettes, sofas, side tables and eventually smaller gifts items. With a heavy focus on the fundamentals of art, inventive merchandising followed. It all just snowballed into the store that we are today. In 2012 we outgrew the first location and moved two doors down to our current 3,000 square foot space. Today we’re known for design savvy gifts, flora and our love of merchandising. We just had no idea where we were headed when we opened ten years ago. In fact, our ignorance was probably our greatest asset. It’s been a wild ride and no one is more surprised at the transformation than us.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Since we were so ignorant to retail when we started, just opening and running the store was a huge undertaking. Even mundane tasks that are completed effortlessly today were major struggles at the time.
Doubling our size and moving locations seven years in was absolutely crazy too. In that way, our own success and trying to scale the business has provided for the biggest challenge. It’s been a roller coaster and totally tested my stamina.
On that note, keeping the business going at the level that people have come to expect is the next major challenge. It’s tough going and we get tired, especially now that we have a family and two not-so-little rascals to chase around at home. We aren’t the young bucks that opened the shop ten years ago. That said, then as now, there’s no relaxing and basking. Maintaining the quality that people have come to expect is constant work.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Pigment – what should we know?
I hope we’re known for our merchandising, for thoughtful gifts, for working with small makers & artists whenever we can.
When it comes to merchandising, I can’t help but geek out over every section of the store. There’s no difference between a visual display and a painting for me. It’s the same process of composition, color, focal points etc. My background teaching really influences how we build our displays. I’ve had the pleasure of teaching art history and color theory at Mesa College for the past sixteen years. At one point I taught drawing and other courses at three institutions simultaneously–Southwestern College, Point Loma Nazarene and even a short stint at UCSD extension while continuing to teach at Mesa. This was all while owning Pigment. As the store has grown, I’ve had to taper down on my teaching schedule and I’ve hired other talented artists to help maintain the aesthetic at the store. The challenge to impress customers with the next display really keeps us going.
Good displays hinge on good product and we work tirelessly to source new items and discover new talent. We take great pride in supporting other small vendors.
From day one, the store was about supporting local artists. In fact, sales from my own work spawned the endeavor into retail in the first place. We sold my work just doors from Pigment for five years before opening Pigment. The relationships forged with the artists in the community continues to be the back bone of the shop today. We’re always on the lookout for new talent and approaching people who hadn’t even considered the prospect of working with a store. We rely heavily on word of mouth and are eternally grateful to the network of supporters that continue to encourage their talented friends and family to reach out to us. We have a special admiration for anyone who is willing to put their work out there for us to see and review. It can be really nerve-racking to put your work out there and we feel so fortunate every time we get a submission. New talent keeps us unique and different and on the cutting edge with up and comers. We’re so proud to see our vendors grow their businesses and feel privileged to play even a small role in their success. Those moments are the rewards that make the challenges of owning a business worthwhile.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Stamina, strong work ethic, innovation, ignorance (at times), empathy, diplomacy.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3801 30th St
San Diego, CA 92104 - Website: www.ShopPigment.com
- Phone: 619.501,6318
- Email: Amy@ShopPigment.com / Megan@ShopPigment.com
- Instagram: @ShopPigment
- Facebook: @ShopPigment
- Twitter: @ShopPigment
- Yelp: @ShopPigment
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
