07/19/2024
I've struggled as I have contemplated posting this over the past month, but it's time...
When I started this business seven years ago, it was a result of my father passing away and the idea of being able to work with my uncle to carry on the legacy that the two of them had begun several years before. Being that they both worked in the local copper mines, loved this community and enjoyed the idea of working with copper, and using their hands to create our truly inspiring art which has become a connection to our community, was an encouragement to me to pursue this endeavor.
After a few years of showcasing our copper artwork at Art Shows around the western US, I was fortunate to open Splash of Copper Art Gallery & Gifts in downtown Globe. It was this small business owners dream to watch it all come together with artwork of a few artist friends and our copper art when we opened our doors in December 2019.
That first month was exciting, but the next few months brought unexpected challenges. We persevered through Covid-19, shut-downs, mandates, supply shortages and social distancing. When business opened up again, people still hesitated to venture out and sales remained slow creating challenges to meet our own financial responsibilities. But, we regrouped and overcame over the next year.
Then, just a few months later, wildfires raged acres upon acres all around our community, closing roads and shutting off access to local businesses. The days were dim as sales were significantly impacted for several months. As we attempted to recover from this disaster, we were still trying to recover from the impact of Covid-19. Then, we encountered flooding....the effects of the wildfires the summer before created significant flooding and rockslides that closed roads and once again cut off access to our community for a couple of months.
Now, we continue to face challenging times with the current state of our Country's economy. The economic crisis with rising inflation, cost of groceries, gasoline, medications and just about everything else has certainly impacted my business as well as many other small businesses in our community and around the US. We are trying to keep up with the rising costs and attempting to compete with big box companies with little to no avail. So many things that consumers take for granted cost so much more today than they did just a few years ago. Yet, everyone seems to think that small businesses charge too much or their merchandise is overpriced. Everyday is a struggle to stay open, cover our expenses and provide a great place to shop with personalized customer service.
In addition to all of these challenges we've faced since opening our brick-n-mortar store, we've also faced personal financial challenges with my husband, Del's medical concerns. With two types of cancer, the past two years have brought an insurmountable amount of medical bills. He's been unable to continue working for the past two years and was forced to take early retirement after being denied disability. We spend several days each month at Mayo in Phoenix for him to have procedures, bloodwork, and doctor's appointments.
While we are grateful to still be in business, it pains me to say, we are barely hanging on. I am once again trying to do art shows to make ends meet and praying that I can keep the doors open. Road closures, hot temperatures and economic changes are making it tough.
How can you help our small business?
1. Shop at our store. We are open Monday-Saturday 10-5 and Sunday noon-5. You can order by phone (928) 793-3148 or message us on FB. We'll be happy to assist you.
2. Share our Facebook posts with your contacts. Write a positive review or comment.
This is a last stitch effort to keep our store open. We have a storewide Summer Clearance Sale going on! Stop in to check out the deals. If you haven't been in, you really have no idea of what you've been missing.
For those of you that pray for us, shop in our store and send us words of encouragement, we are so grateful.
Thank you!
