We were lucky to catch up with Theresa Schierloh recently and have shared our conversation below.

Theresa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I have been a lifelong entrepreneur. When I was quite young I hosted garage sales in my neighborhood in Pennsylvania before moving to Michigan. The sale of handmade objects fascinates me and there is so much creativity involved in selling art. I in fact am an artist, so I took the name after of one of my prints to name the Dancing Eye. Being an artist or owning a business, some form of creativity was the only career path for me. After studying art in college, I realized most of my peers were in jobs to finance their life as an artist. They asked me to sell their art or help them get a job before I owned an art gallery myself. I knew in order to help others this was what I was supposed to be doing.
Looking at the artist first, then the customer has always been my approach. I do believe that you create your customer on your interest and relationships. I know all of my vendors personally and it keeps the job a passion.
My purpose in business is to help both vendors and customers think differently about what they might create as gifts, clothing or home decor in an area like Detroit, known for custom design and innovation.
Local history and local style has informed our artists to use media unique to the area. Our customers love nostalgia and the regional influence that my gallery has had to offer for the last 28 years.

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

At Dancing Eye Gallery we sell artist created gifts, cards, niche novelty items and also specialize in handmade tile and ceramics from mostly local artists. I worked in an art gallery for several years in Ann Arbor, Michigan before owning my own store in Northville, Michigan. The Dancing Eye Gallery opened in July, 1995.
I am an artist and finder of unique products for my customer base.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

“Start Small” is the advice I give to everyone starting a business. You will reinvent your business several times and need to save while building your plane in the air!

Have you ever had to pivot?

There have been so many pivots in the course of 28 years in business. The pandemic and having my daughter forced me to change my business, but brought me closer to my customers in a personal way.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.dancingeye.com
• Instagram: @dancingeyegallery
• Facebook: Dancing Eye Gallery
• Linkedin: Theresa Schierloh
• Twitter: @dancingeyegal

Image Credits
Kathleen Thompson, Northville, Michigan Photographer