Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in fine arts but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Douglas Reynolds, owner, and director of Douglas Reynolds Gallery, located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

The Douglas Reynolds Gallery was established in 1995. We specialize in historical and contemporary Northwest Coast Indigenous art. The gallery showcases museum-quality pieces and artworks, including contemporary masks, totem poles, bentwood boxes, sculptures, gold and silver jewelry alongside early historical objects. As director and owner, I have thirty-five years of experience dealing with Northwest Coastal Indigenous art. The gallery offers pieces by well-known artists such as Bill Reid, Robert Davidson, Jim Hart, Don Yeomans, and Beau Dick. Works by many of these artists can be found in museums and private collections worldwide. We pride ourselves on a unique collection of works and friendly, knowledgeable consultants and staff.

Tell us about yourself

I have a Degree in Commerce from the University of British Columbia with a Minor in Japanese. I was living in Asia in the mid-1980s and wanted a change, so I came back home to Vancouver. I started working in a Northwest Coast gallery which was, needless to say, a complete career change. After working for five years in a commercial gallery and an additional two years for a native non-profit, I decided to take a leap and opened my own gallery in 1995. I found the process to be quite organic. In the Nineties, I met artists who became personal friends. They showed me their artwork and introduced me to their community. My love for the art form grew, and so did the friendships. My work and social lives melded, and I felt lucky that I was able to create something that I was hugely passionate about. Each day is different at work as I love being very hands-on. One day I will be doing business with a museum or corporation; the next, I will be sourcing a cedar log for a totem pole commission. There is no typical day, and even after 28 years of opening the gallery, I am still learning new things.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I think to run a business for 28 years that continues to be viable, interesting, and successful in Vancouver is my biggest accomplishment. I began when all stores were brick and mortar. I've seen neighbors come and go, and unfortunately, the South Granville gallery scene has gone to the wayside as well. That being said, I am still here, and our storefront is still very practical. The world has changed since I first opened in the 90's correspondence was done by developed film photographs, letter mail, and phone calls. I've been able to modernize with changing technology and styles of artwork over the years. I think the downfall of most small businesses is to get complacent and fall behind. For example, I never let the market turmoil of 9/11 or the stock market crash of 2008 get me down. We've kept moving forward. We worked harder to find a way to keep business relevant when others sat back and used market conditions as an excuse for a drop in sales and/or profits. I think the accomplishment I am most proud of is the number of people I have been able to support over my career… and vice versa. As a business owner, I have to think of the bottom line, but I've also always thought about ways to help support my artists during slower economic times, as in many ways, it is like dealing with family.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

My hardest challenge is dealing with conflict. No matter how you try to avoid it, you cannot run a business with staff, artists, and clients without the occasional disagreement. I think to learn your weaknesses and force yourself to confront them. For me, it was conflicting. For others, it might be diplomacy, running the back end of the business, or dealing with clients. As an entrepreneur, you are obviously accomplished in many areas, as running a small business is a juggling act. You know what you're good at. Focus on at least a degree of competence in areas that you lack success in, and realize that not everything will be your greatest strength.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

My first tip is a question, do you love what you are about to do? My business is all-consuming, but it isn't the hours at work that lead to success; it's the hours at home. It is the fact that to become viable and successful; your business will likely become an integral part of your life - so you better love what you're doing.

Secondly, can you reinvent the wheel? They always say if it isn't broken, don't fix it, but you can modify it. An artist who is naturally talented but doesn't put in hours to practice their technique will likely not make it as an artist; the same is true for a small business owner. Sometimes, if you sit idle and complacent, things move ahead before you take notice, and then you're wasting time catching up.

Thirdly, know your clients and the business you want to create. Treat your clients well, and you will attract new ones. I was told most retail companies lose 10% of their clients annually. People reach a point where they do not need another piece, and they move on to other things. In short, to grow your clientele, you need to attract at least 15% new clients annually. Think how you can creatively find new clients, something our competitors don't do? We had an artist, Phil Grey, paint a 40x50' mural on the side of our building this year which made the street look like an extension to the gallery.

The city helped fund it; it is a public art and is an extension to the gallery, which has brought in more foot traffic. Your business, like anything, will either shrink or grow. It is rarely static.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

The art world is a crazy one, and being in such a specific niche of the art world makes it even more interesting. I have the pleasure of dealing with clients who are generally in a good mood. For the most part, everyone is happy when they are looking to buy something for their home, a piece of jewelry to gift, etc. I am lucky in that my gallery allows me to build long-standing relationships with many of my clients. I am not the only seller of northwest coast art, but the experience of purchasing it from me is one they won't get if they purchase it elsewhere. Make yourself a brand even if you are a small business.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://douglasreynoldsgallery.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/douglasreynoldsgallery/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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