We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Frankie Flores. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Frankie below.
Frankie, appreciate you joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?
Gallery or bust…! Never question your decision when your gut says it’s the right chioce.
The idea of owning and operating an art gallery came by not by choice but by necessity.
I currently live in an amazing area, update New York a town called Saratoga Springs home to the oldest equine thoroughbred track in the nation.
I moved here 22 years ago and left another amazing place (New Orleans) where I owned a small wholesale and distribution company selling local artists print and off corse my own prints and original creations. At its highest, my company sold to over 160 locations in and around the French quarter. I also had a home in Houston and a small shotgun style flat in the French Quarter. I was in my mid 20’s. Fast forward a bit…The devastation of hurricane Catrina rewrote my life’s path and flung me full-time to New York where I was already doing business and had a few friends. Along with people loosing there life’s worth, homes and life… I too lost everything I had created. I was one of the lucky ones because I was doing business in a few locations.
But I didn’t sway, I put on my thinking hat and marched on… Saratoga had a good tourist market and I decided to settle there. Bought a small property in the local Beekman Street Arts District and opened a frame shop and art gallery. Wasn’t to excited about retail. I came from a wholesale market which didn’t have hours…boy, was this an eye opener!
The artists District area wasn’t doing well and after a few years I moved my shop to Broadway, downtown Saratoga.
And with lots of marketing and new location the Art took off…..
I couldn’t create the work fast enough!
I am blessed to have a successful gallery in Saratoga but I’m still not crazy about the retail hours. I also have to make time to create and run the gallery, set up shows and market to the masses, hire part help for the busy seasons.
Also
A full time dad with 2 beautiful children Aurora 9 and Weston 7, who also love to paint and sell their works.
Im an artist
I’m a gallery owner
I’m an optimist
I’m a entrepreneur
Flores Gallery and Flores Art…The future looks great!
During that same time i had my wholesale bisness I also had another business in graphic design where I worked for clients such as Ogilvy & Mather and small creative companies where I accumulated over 60 professional awards for my designs. After over a decade I got bored and decided to followed my dream of becoming a full time painter.
Frankie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Flores Gallery / Saratoga Sells the art of Frankie Flores and has seasonal shows for up and coming local artists.
Flores Gallery also
Specializes in custom paintings for home or office, created by artist Frankie Flores
Equine, jazz, ballet, Americana, floral, landscapes and farm.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
Be real, be you and don’t look at people as potential clients but concentrate on building a report with everyone who you talk to about your work.
In my gallery, we pour wine and beer on the weekends and hope people just let loose and have a great time and conversation… we meet so many people that way and enjoy their company. Eventually it could lead to sales but that’s not the objective… you want people to get to know you and your work.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Put things in writing…!
In past years I have shared info and allowed for artist co-ops to flourish within my retail spaces or influence.
Not all artists or people in business you will meet are genuine.
Have contracts with all your dealings which will make life much easier for everyone involved.
Contact Info:
- Website: floresart7.com
- Facebook: Frankie Flores
- Twitter: frankieflores@floresgalleries