On November 15, 2011 Blu Arch Collection will celebrate its one-year anniversary.

    What a year it has been!  Seems like just yesterday, we were scrambling to get our shelves and display tables ready, setting up the jewelry case and deciding where to set all the beautiful art pieces we had gathered.

    Neither Chuck nor I had ever been involved in retail, so the learning curve was steep.  We made a lot of mistakes, but, being brother and sister close in age, we had, I like to say, the same childhood.  The values of honesty, flexibility and fairness we absorbed as children have served as well. For most decisions, we follow an approach that works for us,  We discuss an idea and try it out  if it sounds feasible.  If it works, great.  If it doesn’t, no need to hang onto it, no matter whether it was Chuck’s idea or mine.  We don’t care about credit for a good idea or blame for a bad one.  (Though we do, I must admit, tease each other if an artist one of us was uncertain about turns out to be popular. :-)  )

    It’s been a year of hard work, but many delightful moments.  Some highlights: the first customer who walked through the door (she turned out to be an artist herself); our grand opening party with champagne, family and friends; our first artist’s opening with wine and cheese and Dan Cascardo’s colorful pieces.  Our first charity event will be held next month--a benefit for FAR Conservatory of Therapeutic and Performing Arts.

    Over the last year, we added several new artists and significantly increased inventory.  We upped our selections of hand-blown glass and popups books. For the holiday season, we have added two new jewelry lines. We love to talk with and listen to our wonderful customers, many of whom Chuck knows by name.  They include both out-of-staters who say they can’t find a store like Blu Arch at home and locals who are glad to see a store like ours in Birmingham.  Chuck has even been known to deliver a large or fragile piece in the local area.

    It’s hard to pick the ONE most gratifying aspect of the last year.  We are proud to be supporting artists, especially those who live and work in Michigan.  We love being a part of Birmingham’s lively downtown retail community.  We have provided opportunities for part time work--thanks to all of those who pitched in.

    But if I had to choose I would say that, for me, the most satisfying thing has been the positive comments made by nearly everyone who walks in our door: “your store is great,” “we need a store like this around here,” “you have beautiful pieces,” “the decor and display are stunning.”

    We began our adventure with a vision: to be the go-to place for contemporary art and design pieces, for the most part handmade and one of a kind, that are reasonably priced and great as home accessories or to give as gifts.

    I think we have succeeded in keeping true to that goal.  Every week, many new people come in and news of our store continues to spread by word-of-mouth. 

    On the 15th, we will drink champagne again.  Not only did we “get through” that tough first year, it was a year filled with joy and the promise of great success.

Last Friday was the kick-off for Daniel Cascardo’s one-man show at the Blu Arch Collection gallery.  Friday night, March 11th, over 100 people were at the store to enjoy Cascardo’s work and partake of wine and cheese and good company.

More party photos.

It was Blu Arch’s first event of this kind, and it was a great success.  Cascardo’s work is colorful and accessible.  His multimedia pizza boxes, painted tambourines and funky motor scooter were a particular hit, and a nice complement to his wall art.  Several in attendance were newly introduced to his work.

And for many, it was their first visit to Blu Arch.  We were delighted with the newcomers’ response to our place and with the opportunity to spread the word about the variety of contemporary artists we feature.

We plan hold more such events in the coming year.

Sure, we’ve been open since November 15, 2010, but with the holidays, we never got around to “officially” opening the store.   

On Tuesday, we were honored to have the Birmingham/Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce and local officials come by to help me cut the red ribbon.  Lots of photographs were taken, and new acquaintances made.  Look for a picture of the event in local papers.  

I had assumed that the “cutting” would be merely ceremonial. Much to my surprise, it involved a wide, long ribbon and the largest pair of scissors I’ve ever used.  And, luckily, sharp, too!