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

Niki, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think it takes to be successful?

Exceeding customers expectations is a goal I personally have as a business owner and an artist. I don’t waiver on my prices and when the job is complete I hope they feel the art was worth every penny!

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?

I have my BFA in fine art/painting and have really tried to make a living wage as an artist… the struggle was real. I surrendered to 15trs as a retail manager until two major back surgeries gave me a long enough pause to really think about life. Creating and painting is my happy. It has been with me as long as I could write. With the pause I was able to launch an LLC and tell companies with business cards and social media what I could offer. I now make a living painting. I do murals, feature walls, small spaces and faux finishes; specializing in faux wood on fiberglass hurricane impact doors. Every set of doors is a new masterpiece! It’s been six years as a business owner working for myself!

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Word of mouth! I dropped business cards at a lot of places and a few of them hand my card out often. It’s usually a client telling a neighbor, or someone I spoke to in a store or a restaurant. I think having 15trs as a store manager in retail has polished my people skills. Also I’m just nice!

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Positive life books and nearly all art books. I can’t recall specifics but many of them seem to offer tidbits of useful information over the years! Writing this now has me wanting to step into a book store!

Contact Info:

• Website: Nikipaint.com
• Instagram: Nikipaint
• Facebook: Nikipaint
• Other: Nikipaint LLC on google