‘I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life..’

“I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life—and I’ve never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.” Georgia O’Keefe

I couldn’t have said it better than Georgia.

It is late afternoon on Small Business Saturday as I write, and I’m working in our art gallery in Caernarfon. It’s quiet with only half a dozen visitors in over 6-hours. That’s a pattern that we’ve lived with for several months.

We opened the gallery at the heart of the covid pandemic in August 2020. The relief felt by so many having been locked down for months and their subsequent freedom resulted in a surge of sales of art. Our early buyers talked about spending their holiday savings on their favourite artwork. Those undertaking DIY projects, extensions or moving house wanted that signature piece for the living room. The message was clear – our collectors were celebrating their freedom with a bit of retail therapy.

Since October, we’ve experienced a real slow down. Inflation, interest rates and increasing energy costs have sapped our customers’ confidence. As an indie business, we are reliant on our local customers and regular visits to the gallery, with the purchases that follow. Talking to our fellow small businesses in arts, retail, and hospitality, we’re all experiencing the same pinch. Hoping for a late surge in Christmas sales to tied us over the bleak winter months until Spring.

I believe it is going to get better now inflation has halved and we should see interest rates reduce in the new year.

I’m a perennial optimist.

I’ve never been one to wait for things to happen to me – I’m motivated to take the initiative, to devise new consumer offers and drive them forward. That’s why in 2023, we launched our picture framing service for artists, opened our arts Atelier and Cocktail bar Y Segontiwm in the summer and most recently launched our online art store www.lifefullcolour.co.uk.  I’ve invested in Caernarfon for the long term and I’m only 3 ½ years in to my 15-year strategy. I’ve made lots of friends in the last four years and feel I’m becoming part of the community here. Great foundations to build upon.

Lots more to come from us in 2024 – stay in touch, we aim to bring new creative delights to you.

Nadolig Llawen,

Sara