Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Rader.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved everything related to art: creating, experimenting with different techniques, and playing with any new medium I could get my hands on. If I could do all the things, I would. All my years of dabbling with art confirmed two things for me: I want to be my boss and make things, whatever it takes. My primary source of artistic income started with making custom wood signs and continues to be one of the design services I offer today. After achieving relative success with my sign biz, I realized it was time to get serious about finding my brick-and-mortar establishment. Cutting, sanding, painting, staining & ripping down wood boards in my basement wasn’t going to cut it anymore. When I first saw the building I own in Pine River, I knew it was mine. I’m lucky enough to have found exactly what I needed to expand my business at exactly the right time and in exactly the right place. Pine River has always held a soft spot in my heart, and I knew years ago that it would only be a matter of time before it finds & embraces its identity. Even this last year, Pine River has made incredible leaps and bounds, and I’m excited to be a part of its growing community. The building I purchased also offered another big perk: a great spot on the main drag of the downtown area & big brilliant windows. Since I was already making custom signs and gifts, a full-fledged giftshop featuring other local makers, unique products, and fun decor made sense. And you need more places to shop in a small town. Although I’ve only been officially open for less than a year, the future looks bright for my little shop. Renovations will continue this year, and hopefully, one day, in addition to gifts and design services, I’ll also have a nice space for teaching art classes. Slowly but surely, a day at a time, I’m getting to do exactly what I set out to do, and I’m so thankful for the opportunities I’ve had to get me where I am today.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Ha, no. I’ve experienced my fair share of ups and downs, trials and errors, wins and losses, but that makes it all worth it. It’s made me truly appreciate how far I’ve come and how grateful I am for the people who have supported me. Failure keeps me humble, so that is good. I wouldn’t want my head to get too big 🙂
Thanks for sharing that. You could tell us more about your work.
Wood signs are definitely what I’m most known for, although it’s been an absolute pleasure to branch out into new artistic mediums. Stickers and custom logos have become a personal favorite of mine. Having the gift shop has allowed me so many opportunities to create new products. I get to meet with people one-on-one & discuss ideas for special gifts and custom pieces. I’m most proud of the reaction people have had to my shop. There has been so much kindness, excitement, and support from the community and shoppers alike. I love that I get to fill my shelves with products from other small businesses and makers and brag about how many creative individuals are in the area. The support blows me away. The shop is eclectic, but there’s also a lot of diversity in my products. I want it to be a memorable, fun place for people to visit.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
That about sums it all up! I’m a maker selling gifts, apparel, and local goods. I love my town.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/blacksheepdesigngift/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacksheepdesignandgift/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blacksheepdesignandgift/
