We recently connected with Aly Stacy and have shared our conversation below.

Aly , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Being an entrepreneur and successful business person is likely made up of a whole lot of risk taking, big and small. Without the risks, bumps and falls how would we ever land where we are suppose to be and fully appreciate where we have landed? Some of my biggest “fails” were also my greatest learning lessons, and once I picked myself back up from it, I was stronger and smarter than I was before.

I think the greatest risk, I have taken so far, as a business person, was opening The Collective, an art gallery, boutique, gift shop, showcasing and supporting 140 plus artists, including myself and my work.

I started making accessories and clothing and launched my line over 15 years ago. I frequented the art show circuit, fine tuned my product and presentation and made a living creating my art and passion, selling to stores and my awesome clients at art shows and online. Looking back now, I suppose that was one of my first big risks and leaps.

I knew that someday I may switch to a more brick and mortar, retail location vibe, but I didn’t see that until way into my future. Cue life and the universe with it’s funny ways.

In February of 2020, 2 weeks before Covid hit, I said yes to The Collective and started building the space, not really knowing exactly how I was going to pull it off, but believing I would. Employing my husband and children for help and support.

The world, as we knew it, shut down. It was a pretty scary time for us all. Launching a business during this time seemed slightly insane. But we pushed forward and The Collective officially opened in June of 2020. It became a blessing for many artists, as their normal avenue for selling was cancelled. The curated collection of work was unique and we began attracting customers from all over, who would drive out to see us.
Business is not always easy, and despite my efforts, many things were not fitting together in our current location, so I began looking for a new place for The Collective to call home.

In June of 2022 we picked the Collective up and moved it to an inviting space in Columbia-Tusculum. I believed in the space I had built, the amazing talent of artists I housed and my mission to connect people to art. So we pushed forward.

The rollercoaster ride was intense, but I couldn’t be happier with where we landed. The community is amazing and incredibly supportive. Our established customers and clients are still coming to see us, and we have gained so many more genuine connections in our new space so far. All of our fellow business owners on our strip are lovely and I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better fit.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi! My name is Aly Stacy. I was born and raised in Cincinnati to a family full of entrepreneurs and creatives. I grew up in the film business and on set, among other things, working in the art department as a young adult. This constant immersion in the arts played a big role in where I ended up and my passions, I believe.

Wife to my best friend Beau and mother to 3 amazing humans, Magic, Freyah and Kheelan. I also own and operate 2 small businesses, KreativeMindz and The Collective..

I am the owner/designer and creator at KreativeMindz, a slow fashion brand. I design and create unique and sustainable clothing and accessories for all shapes, sizes and walks of life consciously and ethically, from the source of fabric to production. I’ve been running around the Cincinnati area most of my life. KreativeMindz is best known for a headband I call the Head Hugger and one of my skirt designs called the Sunburst Skirt.

My studio is situated in the back of my store, The Collective, which houses the works of over 140 fellow artists. I opened that in 2020 and just moved it to Columbia-Tusculum in July. I am the owner/curator and artist wrangler at The Collective, which is often referred to as a gallery, boutique, gift shop. We feature fine art to fine craft and everything in between, housing mostly local artists, but some special regional ones too. The Collective is a vibe, a shopping experience. You will likely be inspired when you come for a visit. At least I hope so. It was one of my intentions when setting the space. This space is my vision. It’s pretty neat to see something in your head and then bring it to fruition in real life.

I am passionate about the arts, supporting small and local, sustainable and slow fashion, community, connecting people to the arts, and so many things in between. This passion and commitment to my core values shines through in my companies, and I am very proud of that.

Often times people think we are a large company. But we are family owned and operated. I am the mastermind and I’m grateful to my husband and kiddos for stepping up, helping out and being a part of what I’ve dreamed up and we’ve created.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I am a firm believer in listening to the universe. I truly try and trust in the process and individual journey. So when the idea of The Collective sort of presented itself to me, I believed in the vision wholeheartedly.

Opening an art gallery, in a small town, in the middle of covid shutdown was enough to build resilience in anyone I would say. I knew I was a resilient lady, but that first year open taught me a lot about myself and my mission for The Collective. Unfortunately we did not feel fully embraced or celebrated where we were and sometimes people you trust in businesses aren’t who they claim to be. The negatives began to outweigh the positives. So I decided to pick up this immense collection, in a space we had sunk so much into, and move it somewhere new that felt better and more a home for ourselves and all the artists we represent. In June of 2022, just 2 years after we opened, my trusty tribe and I carefully packed up everyones art and began moving it to our new home, being met with hurdles and speed bumps with each step.

Rebuilding a new space, while packing up the old one, proved to be quite a journey. Every day felt like an obstacle as we continued to have to deal with shady characters and unforeseen circumstances. Life is a rollercoaster, there is no doubt. So many lessons were learned on that ride. Thinking back on it now, it was one of those times in life that just felt a little unbelievable.

During the build out and move, we lost my husbands sister, his only sibling, suddenly. Family comes first in our world and so we had to push things back, to allow time to grieve and process.
I thought I might crumble from the pressure to get out of the old space and get the new one set, continue to run two businesses and be a supportive wife and mother.

My ambitious plan of reopening within a month of our move, was clearly unattainable, as we navigated grief in this already emotional train ride. And so I accepted I had to push the opening back once again. We continued to work hard and navigate life.

One week before our new opening date, my entire family came down with covid. Acceptance set in once again, as I had to push back the opening once more. There were times throughout that journey I thought we might never reopen.

We continued to push forward and work together as a family and team rebuilding our space into an even more amazing showcase of the artists we house. We had some wonderful family and friends step up and help out during this time too. We were finally able to reopen The Collective at the end of July 2022. It was quite a feat to get moved and opened in just 2 months really. Although we are still fine tuning things, we couldn’t be happier in our new space. That journey taught myself, and my entire family, how truly resilient we are.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

It says it on our sign. Buy. Local. Art. Shop Small and Local.
Tell your friends and family about your favorite small businesses.
If you do social media, like and share your favorite small business posts.
Create avenues for artists, creatives and everyone in-between to learn and thrive.
Support each other and the community you are part of.
The whole ‘I do a happy dance when you purchase from my small business’ is a real thing. ❤️

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thecollective513.com and https://kreativemindzshop.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecollective513/ and https://www.instagram.com/kreativemindzbiz/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCollective513/ and https://www.facebook.com/kreativemindzbiz/