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

Hi Kim, thanks for joining us today. Do you think folks should manage their own social media or hire a professional? What do you do?

Working as a professional photographer in the past has made the instagram platform a fun and easy platform for me to embrace. Also, I was a communications major and took a lot of creative writing and journalism classes which helped me learn to write in a concise fashion. I do all my own social media posts and promotions on instagram and Facebook. Instagram is our most effective platform because it appeals to a visually oriented audience so showing our artwork there is a perfect match.

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

Sophiella Gallery is located in the heart of historic downtown Mobile, AL. The gallery is known as “Downtown Mobile’s Fine Art Gallery”. Owner and Gallerist, Kim Kelly, represents over 40 artists–from the Gulf Coast and beyond. The gallery offers paintings in numerous sizes and styles. Sophiella also sells sculpture and ceramic creations. The corral of artists range from emerging to established in the field.

Sophiella also serves as a community meeting place and cultural center. Hosting public events on a regular basis, the gallery was the recipient of Main Street Mobile’s “Engaging Third Space” award. Acknowledging the gallery as a peaceful, safe, and engaging place to spend time, away from home or work.

The name “Sophiella” was given to the gallery in recognition of the grandmothers names of the gallery owner and her husband. “Sophie” and “Ella” were joined together to make a unique and memorable name, if challenging at first!

Sophiella rents their beautiful gallery for private events and also works with individuals to create custom commissioned paintings for its clients.

Let’s move on to buying businesses – can you talk to us about your experience with business acquisitions?

My husband (Clark Kelly) and I bought the historic building (built in the mid 1800’s) that houses Sophiella Gallery. The upstairs had been a call-center in the 1970s and 80’s arranged with small cubicles and green shag carpeting. We held our breath and dove in–wearing protective garb and facemasks–we cleared the space….revealing a room with beautiful light, exposed beams, chiseled plaster and brick walls!

The downstairs (which became the gallery space) had most recently held an insurance company but we’ve had older patrons tell us that it had been a shoe store at one time.

How’d you meet your business partner?

My business partner is my husband. He has bought and sold businesses but had never bought one for me. I had been out of the work place for over twenty years–raising children and working as a freelance portrait photographer. I specialized in black and white film–shooting children’s portraits and printing in my own darkroom.

When we opened Sophiella, I had a big learning curve, especially in regards to our art software and technology in general. But sticking with it each day, despite fear and frustration, has led me to a place where I now feel comfortable and really thrive. In fact, it never feels like work. It feels like “wow, I GET TO do this!”

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: @sophiellagallery
• Facebook: Sophiella Gallery

Image Credits
Chad Riley for head shot