We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Debra Pearce a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Debra, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
In my youth, I was creative – drawing, painting, knitting, crochet, macrame, duck carving. And then I finished school, got a full time job and my career took over my life. A workaholic, I built a successfull career in sales and marketing managing brands at a head office level with retail accounts across the Country. My passion for art was always there though and I collected unique pieces when I travelled.
I realized that even though I had a successful business, it was no longer fulfilling. Covid changed supplier – retailer relationships. Many buyer changes, no more in-person meetings and no relationships. Everything that is important to an entrepreneur had changed.
I knew in early 2023 that I had to make some changes. I needed to add creativity to my life and find something that was fulfilling.
And so the journey began.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
The journey. I started drawing and playing with watercolours in the spring of 2023. WOW, I couldn’t believe how happy it made me. It didn’t matter that I wasn’t very good, all that mattered was how it made me feel. With the help of online classes and youtube video’s, I kept at it. I started attending art shows and couldn’t believe how many talented people there are out there. I wanted to be part of this crazy eccentric artists community.
How do I get involved?
I felt that the Oakville/Burlington/Halton area needed a vibrant, contemporary, inspired art gallery with original works that were affordable for everyone. I wanted to offer original pieces for the person just starting their art collection to bigger more expensive pieces for the established collector.
And that’s what I set out to do.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
So I decided to open an art gallery – what now? I had commitments from artists to join me in the journey so I just had to find the right location. Sounds easy – not so. I started with looking at places to lease. They were all too big or too small, not the right location, 5 year lease, so expensive. I was getting frustrated. I kept asking myself – how can it be so difficult to find the right spot?
Then I decided to buy and the journey began.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
Luckily, I have a successful career that allowed me to have the downpayment for the purchase of my unit and the ability to fund it until the gallery gets established. I’ve dealt with the same bank since I started my own brand management company so they were good to work with to get the financing required for the purchase.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bludoggallery.com
- Instagram: blu_dog_gallery
- Facebook: Blu Dog Art Gallery