Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sheila McVeigh. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sheila, appreciate you joining us today. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your business and how did you resolve those issues?

I purchased Weems Gallery and Framing November 1, 2019. Weems had a great reputation for 40 years. I had been working in corporate america for most of my career and was ready for a change. I thought of all the businesses I could start or buy, which one would give me a better quality of life and more enjoyment. As a previous HR director, I dealt with a lot of employee issues on a daily basis no matter what company I worked for. It took a toll on my health and mental state. When I found Weems Gallery and Framing was for sale, it was an uh ha moment. Where else could I find a large collection of art in a local gallery where staff and customers were happy everyday? During my career, I had learned accounting, hr, technology, environment safety, insurance claims and more. I was highly confident that I could run this business, so I purchased it. Three months later, COVID hit. We were closed down 3 months my first year including my high season from Black Friday almost to Christmas the first year in business.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

For a few years before buying the gallery, I started learning every art medium in my down time at home. I wanted to know what it was like to make pottery, jewelry, wall art, sculptures, woodworking and metal work. What I liked about Weems Gallery and Framing was that it was mostly local art from New Mexico and customers were mostly local. In addition, since we were local and not tourist, our art and prices have a large range making it affordable for all. Combined with the steller reputation, Weems Gallery also offered framing and restoration services by professionals. The frame and restoration services department sets Weems apart from most galleries. It is rare to find a restoration master and framing experts with a gallery. We provide all the customers needs for art, framing and restoration.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Buying a business right before COVID provided many challenges. My staff were not allowed to be in the gallery for 3 whole months and we were closed down by the governor. I had a choice of close and lose the money I had paid for it or stay open and fight for it. My plans quickly changed to survival mode. I came in the entire 3 months and worked. I called customers to sell art and gift certificates. I shipped and delivered packages personally. I then created a sellable website for the business. I had artists drop off at the door and even picked up art from some of them.

During COVID, I applied for any and every loan, grant or other money I could get to stay afloat. I took very little in any payment for my time. I went into debt heavily during the first 3 years to stay open and pay back debt.

Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?

During the time we were closed, I reached out to the local Albuquerque Journal to ask if they would do a story on Weems Gallery staying open during COVID. They wrote a beautiful article on me and how I chose to stick it out and go into heavy debt instead to support my artists and staff. They also shared some of the kind acts of my artists that helped along the way. They offered discounts on their works and one even told me to keep their commission during the time we were closed.

A few months afterwards, I received an email in my spam from a director of Good Morning America. What I thought was a scam ended up giving me a lifeline. ABC’s Good Morning America did a serious of episodes where John Quinones drove through each state and highlighted businesses that were fighting to stay alive. They had read the local article in the Albuquerque Journal and chose Weems as one of the 2 businesses in Albuquerque to interview. This made a huge impact on my online sales.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://weemsgallery.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/weemsgallery
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/weemsgalley

Image Credits

my employee, Maria Lopez