By Alisa Murray www.AlisaMurray.com Nationally recognized portrait artist and award-winning columnist.
Living the Sweet Life:
Paying attention to the God winks
T
he fun part about being an entrepreneur is the ability to constantly reset the bar for what you expect from yourself. The best part, though, is “knowing it’s right” based on paying attention to what I’ve written about many times before.... those “God winks!” For many years I have called and will continue to call Fort Bend my home. My studio has been exclusively run out of my home and that has an interesting history behind it as well. Over the years, I have carefully grown my business and have taken notice of ways how I can do better. There are many studios in our area, and each one caters to a specific client. I have purposefully created a special niche in my industry and by having defined and grown it, I am better able to position myself in ways that cater specifically to the clientele of my choice. Many of my clients knew that I had been looking for a second studio, one that felt like home to the babies and also was more central to clients traveling from across town. In fact, I have been looking for years. Part of what happens though, when you have a “God wink,” is that all of it just falls directly into place. Now, over the years in my writing I have discussed such “God winks”... like when I created the Hope and Inspiration Breast Cancer Calendar and in less than a month, it was printed and on television! Those kinds of moments in our lives can only be credited with the stamp of approval of a higher power. I ask no questions, but I certainly have made notes along the way when such things occur! This started with a little Facebook contest back in June where then, there were only 1,500 or so “fans” on my professional page. I decided to run a little contest, and within thirty days, the fan base had multiplied to over 8,000! People were calling from all over the country to be photographed by little ole’ me. Kinda overwhelming... I looked at Brian one night and said almost as if we were having a baby, “Honey, it’s time.” Then, he got up, went to the computer and looked up properties in Houston “just to check it out.” On his very first search, he
Birdie Blackburn and Alisa Murray.
found “the” property. Tribeca Lofts was the place, and up until then, we never knew it existed. Oh, we had looked all over town with many a realtor over years searching, and it was not until that evening this place revealed itself to us. Ahem.... do you know what I am trying to say? I said, “That’s it!” Brian looked at me a little in disbelief. “Ah, honey don’t you think I need to keep searching and see what else is available?” I looked at him and said, “Call whoever is in charge of that property, and get me in to see it ASAP.” We went to Tribeca Lofts, and the property manager, a sweet lady that reminds me of Paula Dean, asked if we wanted to take an application and “think about it.” I told her, “No, we’ll take it!” Tribeca Lofts was an old print press back in the 1930’s. The building has retained, in a city full of “charmless other stuff,” all the old, original architectural properties of a time gone by. It could not have been more perfect than if I had designed it myself! Speaking of designing..... Many of you know Birdie, owner of The Design Source. They are a full-service interior design showroom with a 5,000 square foot space located in the heart of Sugar Land. They offer custom furnishings, renovations and designer services. Birdie is a good friend of mine, and anytime I can fly with another woman entrepreneur, I do so. I called her and said, “How do you feel about having an extended showroom in the heart of Houston?” She and I then began working with Mel and planning the new studio space. What they have done is create a remarkable “homey Auntie A fort bend
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feel.” They hand-made pillows with fur and rhinestones....they hung red velvet curtains.... they even brought in an alligator table and a clock that said Paris (which ya’ll already know is only my most favorite place in the entire world to vacation!) Better yet, they did so within less than two weeks! My clients are so impressed with their designs, and by exposing their talent to the heart of Houston, hopefully The Design Source will be gaining a client base to further grow their business! Now, if all that hadn’t been a clear enough indication that this was “supposed to be,” I’ll tell you this. I wasn’t planning on even doing shoots there until September, and as soon as the word got out, I was booked! Clients have been literally squealing with delight that they have a second option to see me and for many, it’s a drive-time cut in half. What’s more is they all understand this second location is like my home. It is a private studio where they can expect impeccable artistry and attention to detail. Their experience, whether in the city at Tribeca or out in the country at my home, will always be the same, and this newest location offers me the ability to give my clients a very special opportunity to have the best of both worlds! We have also apprenticed portrait artists that will be exclusively at the Tribeca Lofts. I encourage all of you to consider visiting us for the holiday season where we will have an exclusive offering benefiting the Fort Bend Counter Women’s Center. Five percent of our “Mistletoe and Magic” all-inclusive portrait session package will be donated to the Center, and The Design Source is offering clients who have their holiday portraits done with us a 20% coupon for in-store items. And, if you mention Sweet Life or Alisa when you book an inhome consultation, you will receive $50 off of their consultation fee. By supporting two Fort Bend, womenowned businesses, you’ll be saving and giving back to our community this holiday season. Now, there’s an opportunity you don’t want to miss! Take Care of You!