Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jackie Sanders. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jackie, 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?
Starting is always the hardest part, a blank slate, a maybe what-if. If you don’t jump you can get hurt, if you don’t start you can’t mess up. My start was an idea that marinated for years; what if I started a gallery? a handmade shop? a place for artists? The idea grew bigger and finally came out in a “what do you think about…” conversation with my husband. My husband is used to my many ideas, he was trepidatious, but with his support I knew I could figure out how to make it happen. We started looking at buildings to buy or spaces to lease. One needed way too much work, one was amazing but had multiple people looking at it, many were far out of our price range. I reached out to our downtown office and they sent me several good options. One in a brand new building right downtown and across from our newly renovated library. I had some money saved up from a year of doing art markets with my printmaking but still needed a loan to make the dream happen. Man, was I nervous and scared of all the things I didn’t know how to do, I still am quite a bit of the time. Would I have done it, knowing all that I would need to do to get where I am?? Maybe not, starting your own business is definitely not for the weak of will. It was a long process between getting the loan, signing the lease, setting up an LLC, finding insurance, building permits and on and on. I tackled each one, some with the help of my husband, friends, and family, and had to be willing to learn and step outside of my comfort zone.
Jackie, 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 long wanted to create a space that fosters creativity, celebrates art, community, and sustainability. I grew up around makers. My dad is a woodworker and musician, my mom sews, crochets, draws, and paints. When I was a child my mom owned a kiln to fire ceramics. I would watch my grandpa build in his workshop and my grandma making tiny dolls clothes on her sewing machine. Creating was in my blood and growing up learning about many different mediums I became a multi-passionate artist. I was a professional photographer and educator for many years and opened Little Known Art House, a small indie art gallery and handmade shop in March of 2025. We showcase local and mid-western artists where every piece brought in is carefully curated to inspire and engage the community. I’m very proud of what we’ve built and that in some small way are supporting artists and inspiring those who love handmade.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
“Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert
I found it a great read as a creative person. It helped me push beyond the boundaries of fear that I had created for myself and to lean into my natural curiosity.
“The Right Brain Business Plan: A Creative Visual Map for Success” by Jennifer Lee
As an artist learning business terminology felt overwhelming and difficult. I did a lot of research trying to find ways to understand starting a business in more of a visual way. “The Right Brain Business Plan” was such a huge help for me. It starts with vision boarding and walks you through the book using creative problem solving.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
At the age of 39 I had my first and only child. For us to have a baby was an undertaking both physically and financially. We knew there was a good chance she would probably be our only child so I wanted to spend as much time with her as I could. I left my career as a professional photographer to stay home with our daughter but I wasn’t ready for what big a change that would be. I loved our baby so very much but also felt like I completely lost my identity and was suddenly just Hazel’s mom. Exhausted, lost, and excruciatingly lonely. It took almost three years before I began to feel like myself again. I took a part-time job as a hostess at this cute little restaurant near our house, something I had never done before, and met some of the most amazing people. That job, and seeing a family with young kids, just like mine, thriving as a small business was one of the catalysts that made me feel like my idea of opening my own small business was possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.littleknownarthouse.com
- Instagram: @littleknownarthouse
