We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Elaine Madej. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Elaine below.

Elaine, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What can you share with us about the story behind how you found your key vendors?

The Red Door is unique, our business program is set up as a win -win situation. When I first took over the Red Door it was on a booth fee bases only. Since the start up, we found many artists that want to sell wholesale and some that prefer commission. We are very flexible. This also works for the customers because the artist can keep their prices lower. We have only sought out one artist that we found at the Lyons craft fair, everyone else found us. Most of our artists are first time sellers, their artwork is their hobby, therapy, escape. Most of them do not see the value in what they do, but what they do is incredible! We do not judge the artwork, everyone is welcome to sell their work as long as it is different from what we already have and is handmade, they set their prices and manage their inventory, we provide feedback, promotions, sales, space, displays, and the “business aspects” to them. We continue to grow, expand and learn. We are currently at 88 local artists.

Elaine, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have dappled in many varieties of careers, industries. I learned a lot about myself and found I gravitated to arts. I find myself more comfortable and relaxed in that atmosphere. I also realized that in all my career pursuits that I incorporated my art and love for art in everything I did. The Red Door is a collection of local artists along the front range, most are from Longmont and Hygiene. The most wonderful part of our shop is the age range is 17 to 88. When we first started, up to the COVID shut down, we would get the artists together, and to watch them interact and bounce ideas off of each other is amazing. The thrill of watching an artist develop and grow with their artwork is is so wonderful, the confidence and excitement they get from what they do, warms my heart and feeds my soul. That is what drives me. We are hoping to get back to our events and bring more creative & customer interactive events in the future.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

We have done some advertising in local newspapers, social media, flyers, emails. I think the best way we have expanded not only the clientele but also our vendors is honesty, a good business plan, great customer service, but most of all, word of mouth. The most effective advertising is satisfied customers.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I have always been very ridged and organized in my pursuits. I would set a plan and stick to it no matter what. The hardest thing about owning a retail store was to become more flexible, less structure and willing to take risks. The most important lesson was to learn to believe in the people involved, trust my instincts and have blind faith that every thing will work out. I am learning to recognize when something is not working as well as it could, and to tweak it or change course. That is a tough lesson, and I am still working on it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.reddoorartsandmore.com/
• Instagram: instagram.com/reddoorartsandmore/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reddoorartsandmore
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-red-door-arts-and-more-hygiene