Selling Art Supplies
and Promoting
Local Artists
We think of The Art Stop as an outlet to creativity on the East side of town! We are the only fine art supply store on the east side of Rochester. There was another art supply store in Webster that had closed up about five or six years before we had opened in 2003. We have customers from Ontario, Wayne county and Sodus. That made for a long drive to downtown Rochester or out to Henrietta. Not only do we carry artist grade materials, everyone who works in the store is an artist and can answer your questions or will find out the answer if they don’t know it! We are one of the first galleries in Webster and we promote local artists.
What the business does: Sale of fine art supplies as well as student grade art supplies, art instruction for children and adults, creative birthday parties, custom conservation framing and gallery of local artists.
Owner: Cindy Corrigan
Growth of business: We started out on the 2nd floor in a room about 1,000 square feet, with no display windows. The room was divided into retail, classroom area and office! We expanded a couple of years ago to the downstairs with two display windows. We added a gallery of all local artist work and put in a custom frame shop as well. Now the original space upstairs is a nice large studio and all together we have about 3,000 square feet. I started four years ago with a partner. We both had young children, so it worked out well. I bought out my partner in March and I am going on my own with the help of SCORE. My partner had an accounting background and I have an art degree so now I needed to learn the bookkeeping aspect of the business, and I needed to learn it fast!
When SCORE started to help: I called SCORE shortly before I bought my partner out. I knew I needed support and direction and sometimes just a second opinion. I had heard great things about SCORE and I knew they were affiliated with the SBA. I thought it was wonderful that all these people were willing to come and give free advice!
Enter SCORE: I met with Howard Daly and he got me to look at what area of the business was making the most profit, since we are so multi-faceted. He sat down with me to see where SCORE could help. I needed advice on where to spend my marketing dollars and advice on our current location. I also needed to learn QuickBooks. So I met with Jerry Braiman and we talked about various marketing ideas. He was very helpful. He let me know I could call him if I had any more questions and I did! I received a flyer from SCORE about a QuickBooks workshop, it was perfect timing!
The Art Stop is located at 10 North Avenue in the village of Webster.
The phone number is 585-872-5710.
Quotes about SCORE:
Cindy :“SCORE is the support system I needed, especially making a go of this business on my own. I feel very comfortable calling and asking questions, knowing that they will find the right person to give the answers. Everyone has their specialties and SCORE does a great job of matching their expertise with your business needs.”
If you have an existing business or are starting a new one, consider how your company may benefit from SCORE’s counseling. Call for a free counseling appointment at one of our many locations. While you are there, ask your SCORE counselor how you might tap into our 60-plus membership knowledge bank to further address your particular business and industry concerns.