On March 9th we returned to the studio after several fantastic weeks at the Philadelphia Flower Show. We had such a wonderful time seeing so many familiar faces, hearing customer stories and having an opportunity to do what we love: help our customers celebrate and mark life's important milestones and provide our customers with a tangible way to give hope, bring joy, and encourage others. We would have never guessed that by the end of that week there would be restrictions for large gatherings of people in our state and that within two weeks of returning home our whole nation would be transformed by shelter in place orders.
Since the Michigan governor's "Stay Home, Stay Safe" executive order was issued, our business has taken on a new reality. Our once bustling studio and gallery that included eight painters, two potters and support staff, are now swathed in stillness and quiet. Although our gallery and studio have been closed to the public in compliance with our state's executive order, we are still taking orders through our website.
How do we make it all work?
We count on weekly Zoom meetings for planning and inspiration. In order to keep our essential employees safe and healthy we follow a schedule and guidelines that allow only one artist to work at a time. Our work area is meticulously cleaned and sanitized.
Because of these restrictions custom orders will take a little longer to fill. We are however also offering you the possibility of immediate, ready to ship choices featured each week in our newsletters.
Why is this so important?
During this unprecedented time we feel even more passionate about our purpose than ever before. We consider it a privilege to partner with our customers in giving hope, bringing joy and encouraging others through tangible pieces of art. We recognize that in this time of physical isolation connecting with others is essential. This makes the giving of personalized gifts that much more appreciated and treasured!
And At the same time you are helping support our small business and are a great encouragement to us!
We are excited to introduce you to our newest gift for graduates, featured in our newsletter this week. As seniors experience sadness and loss, missing out on once in a lifetime experiences with friends, our hope is that our "Bee in Touch" phone holder will help them (and others of all ages) remain connected.
