SLO County News BlogGolf, Wine, Real Estate, Business & Travel NewsSeekers Glass GalleryMonday, November 29, 2004We ran across an article in The Tribune this morning that gives a good glimpse into the obstacles you may meet running a small business in San Luis Obispo County - dealing with earthquake damage, economic recessions, road closures, finding employees who can afford to live nearby, and even price hikes at local attractions like the Hearst Castle that affect business. We thought we'd share the article here since The Tribune failed to provide a link to their website.Lynda and Michael Adelson established their Cambria glass art gallery in 1981. Seekers Glass Gallery has earned a reputation as one of the world's most comprehensive sources for top quality American Studio Glass Art. In 2003, Seekers was named one of the "Top 100 Retailers of American Crafts" by Niche magazine, a national trade publication for craft retailers, for the ninth time. Last year, Adelson said Seekers stays competitive with big-city galleries by offering unique artwork and developing good relationships with artists and customers. The gallery also does not sell commissioned pieces, which helps keep costs down, and offers unlimited exchanges on unblemished pieces. While last year's slowing economy affected sales slightly, she said purchasing and selling less expensive artwork and using smart business strategies helped them stay afloat. "We have weathered three recessions and road closures, and we are still standing," she said. The gallery had a slow start this year, but business is up slightly from 2003, Adelson says. She declined to report annual sales, noting that they are in the low- to mid-seven figures. The gallery now has 20 employees, up from 19 last year. Seekers is always hiring, although Cambria's building moratorium and high gas prices make it difficult to find workers in the area, she said. The 2003 San Simeon Earthquake and increased admission prices to Hearst Castle has had a negative impact on business, she said. The gallery didn't make the Top 100 retailers list this year because the earthquake slowed down their purchasing, she added. "The earthquake couldn't have come at a worse time," she said. "Almost every piece over $1,000 was destroyed, so it took a lot of time to restore our gallery." Future plans include expanding the gallery's Web site catalog, which makes up 15 percent of their sales. She and her husband, Michael, may expand in the Newport Beach area. With the holidays approaching, Adelson is optimistic. The three days after Thanksgiving and most of December are their busiest times of year, she said. Earthquake slowed start of year at Seekers - Dawn Rapp, The Tribune Seekers Glass Gallery Read More
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