Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Gonyo.
Hi Megan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am Megan Gonyo, creator of Palette Champagne and the company’s only represented artist. I’ve always enjoyed painting; it came easily to me and for many years, it was a fun hobby. It started as a side hustle to the full time day job.
In 2016, the name of Palette Champagne was added to represent my French heritage, a culture rich in art history, as well as the natural gold toned color palette I worked with at the time in my landscape paintings. I knew then that I didn’t want to be known by just my name as most other artists did because it was going to grow into something bigger than just me someday. I did receive criticism that this would be confusing and that I should instead stick to something like “Megan Gonyo Fine Art” because as one said, “unless you’re Bansky, people will be confused as to what you do.” But I actually loved hearing that because the intention was to be different with a memorable brand.
While I’m still working on the longer term vision and growth plan, Palette Champagne has ramped up to be a revenue generating business with a physical location in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis that serves as both an artist studio and a gallery which offers original, abstract paintings for sale.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth is in the eye of the beholder. I like the question, because no good story is without some aspect of conflict. But I believe that conflict is what ultimately drives the best outcomes because it forces us to get creative to solve problems, eliminate friction, and strategize with a business mindset. It also builds resilience. My story of conflict is not unlike others – the typical disbelief from friends that you can succeed, the financial risk of starting a business, and even the internal challenge of finding the strength to carry on with your passion even when others don’t understand it yet. It can feel lonely and your mind can play tricks on you if you let imposter syndrome control your thoughts. But the strategy to succeed is don’t doubt yourself and keep going. You started this thing for a reason, so remembering your why and believing in yourself is what keeps it all moving forward. If my journey was smooth, I’d probably be doing it wrong.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an artist and I produce abstract paintings. I work with both B2B (interior designers, real estate professionals, architects, art consulting firms) and B2C clients. The difference between me and other artists is really the business model behind Palette Champagne. Most artists are just that – they are the creatives behind the work. Selling work though for them requires a different kind of skill set; this is the business side of it. Most typically, artists need other resources like art gallery representation to reach the appropriate audience of buyers through gallery hosted exhibitions, art websites like Artsy.com, or auction houses which do not even work with individual artists.
Because of this long standing tradition of having a middleman to execute the business side of the industry, the price of original art is so high that it becomes inaccessible to most. I have experience at multiple software startup companies and as such, my entrepreneurial skills have set me up for success. I play all the roles of CEO, CRO, CMO, Website Designer, Customer Service representative, warehouse manager, and the IT guy. I also have my own studio and gallery space to be able to host my own gallery events. This is how I am able to keep the cost of products low and in line with what someone might pay for a mass produced print from West Elm, for example.
Even when compared to General Public Art, which is principled on a similar concept of producing specialized prints at a lower price point in order to make art more accessible, original art by Palette Champagne is comparable if not still less expensive. That’s not to say I wouldn’t ever work with companies like this to reach a wider audience and create greater efficiencies in operations and production. There’s something to be said for the partnership that these companies can offer to artists and it is indeed part of my growth strategy. But for now, I am keeping growth at a manageable pace so as not to lose control of the business and to continue having fun with it.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Minneapolis is a great city for small business! Lots of fashion and fitness boutiques, award winning restaurants, and a general aura of friendliness, creativity, and innovation. It’s a fun place to be an entrepreneur because when you surround yourself with hard working people doing cool things well, there’s an intrinsic motivation to continuously improve what you are doing too and it’s easy to feed off of one another’s success to grow collectively as a community. Every decision I’ve ever made in life is about the people, first and foremost.
I can’t speak negatively about Minneapolis! I’ve traveled to many other cities across the U.S. and even outside the country and yet I’ve been in Minneapolis for 14 years now because it has so much to offer. If I had to pick one thing that could be more favorable, it would be the size of the dating pool. Not sure that that whole situation is really ideal anywhere though? I don’t know.
Contact Info:
- Email: megan@palettechampagne.com
- Website: www.palettechampagne.com
- Instagram: @palettechampagne
Image Credits
Megan Gonyo
Katelyn Gonyo Photography
