Trina Owen is a transplant to Western North Carolina by way of Southern California. She is an artistic, creative soul who brings a passionate touch to her gallery and framing store located in Brevard, NC. The name of Trina’s store is 32 Broad Gallery and Framing and she makes it her personal mission to ensure that each client feels as though they are getting every dollars worth of her knowledge and expertise. Along with creating beautiful pieces, providing superior customer service is a top priority. She has a bubbly personality that is infectious and her creative ability is mesmerizing. It was a true pleasure interviewing her.
How did you become involved in the framing business?
I got a job in a custom framing art gallery. I am artistic but not a painter. I picked up on framing and other creative things quickly. It’s funny, I have no patience with life but I have patience with framing. And you need patience when it comes to framing.
Can you briefly explain the types of services and products you provide in your store?
Construction custom framing that is acid-free. It is museum quality framing. I will go to homes and take samples of framing with me and consult with a client on what looks best in the particular room they have in mind. But before I go to a house call I interview the client on the phone and find what their personality is like. If they like certain colors, what their job or hobbies are and anything that can give me insight into what they might want. That way I am prepared when I show up at the door and have some samples in mind to show them.
Can you describe your typical clientele?
Typical clientele is fifty five and older, mostly retired people to the area. The majority of my business comes through the doors from 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday. Majority of retired people don’t venture into the store on Saturday. So, I started closing up early on Saturdays.
Your business is centrally located in the heart of town; do you think your location helps your business?
It doesn’t hurt my business. However, I am a destination and foot traffic doesn’t bring in a lot of business. That is another reason why I close up early on Saturdays, because even those walking downtown on the weekend are doing just that, walking.
You also have artwork and pottery in your gallery, are they local artists?
They aren’t just local, they are artists represented here from all over North Carolina. The interesting thing is I consider the gallery frosting on top of the cupcake. The cupcake is my framing, which is the thing that pays the bills. The gallery is the frosting, which brings in extra income and draws in more clients.
Were there any barriers you faced starting your business in Brevard?
Of course, the city has certain regulations and it was quite difficult to find a store front that had parking close by. I would say though, that the most difficult thing for me was not knowing all local and state rules and regulations required of business owners.
Is there a lot of competition in the area?
I don’t see anyone in the area as real competition. I know I offer the best customer service compared to anyone around. I know that if any of my clients were ever unhappy then they wouldn’t return as my customer. I also know if I don’t satisfy my customers’ wants and needs to the utmost of my ability then I will lose them to my so called competition. I won’t let that happen.
Do you do any business to business work?
Of course I do. As a matter of fact the best way to do some of that is through bartering. Businesses need artwork or things framed in their businesses and I do it for them in exchange for say office supplies, window cleaning, coffee in some cases, and businesses allow me to advertise in their stores for free. Business to business is great advertising and is a great way to get the word out about my shop.
What is the best piece of advice you could give to someone about starting their own business in today’s precarious financial environment?
You are not going to be rich in the first year or two and you will also be eating a lot of Tums. There are days when the cash register may not open. You need to be prepared for not making a sale, hence having the Tums.
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