…Here’s to 2021!
Last year was one for the record books and hopefully, lessons were learned to deter repeating.
As for Area 61 Gallery, we reopened in December 2019 in our new downtown City Center location in the heart of the tourism and convention hotels and the corporate business district. Even though art sales do not follow a typical retail sales model (aka sales increases directly related to holiday gifting), our local clients and gallery friends were as excited as we were to reopen after a two-year journey of lease negotiations and extended delays with the gallery space buildout.
We were very fortunate from December through February in the new year to preview what it could be like as we welcomed everyone back to a new gallery location stocked full of new work by our talented local gallery artists.
Then things got weird…Whose business plan could have predicted COVID-19 and a global pandemic?
We first stayed home to slow the spread. Then reopened in May when Tennessee guidelines for reopening safely by industry were created. Sourcing the required bleach cleaning products and sanitizer for public sanitizer stations became a scavenger hunt for a single small business competing with hotels, restaurants, healthcare, and other large businesses for the same resources.
We owe so much to our local clients for checking on us during the shutdown and buying local to keep us little guys around. And we cannot thank Visit Chattanooga – the Chattanooga Tourism Company (CTC) enough for their “We Love Local” goods and services auction to give back to the local culture that makes Chattanooga interesting to visit. CTC also hosted weekly community zoom video conferences with guests across various public health, business and industry channels providing valuable statewide data on the virus business impact, metrics from travel trends and predictions, sources for business tools like infrared thermometers, retail signage from the TN Department of Tourism and more. Weekly guests from our local attractions, hotels, restaurants, arts, and economic development agencies offered statistics, insights, and their best practices for all of us to survive.
Just as predicted by the Chattanooga Tourism Company, travel to visit family and in the drive-to markets returned first as people felt additional actions were being taken in the lodging industry to protect their health. Cabin fever-fueled weekend getaways increased. By July our city’s hotel occupancy was back up to 70%. Chattanooga’s attractions and outdoor amenities topped the itineraries of travelers from Atlanta, Asheville, Nashville, Huntsville, Birmingham, and other day-travel regions through the October school year fall break.
Out-of-town guests love collecting local, which is why we moved our gallery featuring artworks by Chattanooga-based and immediate surrounding area artists to the middle of the convention and business hotels – location, location applies. Even with the pandemic direct hit to our bottom line, our personal retirement, and operating capital, we are optimistic from those who’ve come into our gallery that we are in the right location when people are comfortable getting out again. Our “Shop Small, Buy Local” mentality and support for one another in our small business community provided the additional infusion of inspiration and perseverance just when we needed it most.
Thank you Chattanooga small business supporters, art lovers, our small business owner community and neighbors for your consideration, support, shared determination and camaraderie through 2020. Happy New Year & Cheers to 2021!