Bailey Builds expands amid pandemic

By Abigail Blonigen

The coronavirus pandemic has hit local businesses and artists especially hard, with art fairs canceled and retail restrictions ever-changing. Yet, some business owners, like Duluth artist Anna Bailey, have found a silver lining in being able to slow down and focus on planning rather than doing.

“It was really hard to expand the business during 2020, to be honest,” Bailey said, “but our business was still moving forward in vision, purpose and direction.”

Bailey is a wood mosaic artist, creating unique designs out of reclaimed scrap wood. The idea came to her after making a couple patio chairs for her home. Not wanting to waste the leftover wood, she began to piece it together, and a new passion was born.

Bailey officially launched her wood art business five and a half years ago; her husband came on board full time nearly four years ago. They are now proud owners of Bailey Builds and Friends, a handcrafted market featuring their work along with other local artisans; Bailey Builds Gallery, a small, artsy space for special occasions; and Bailey Builds Makers Loft, an Airbnb vacation rental above the market.

The newest addition to the Bailey Builds empire is an old funeral home four blocks from the current location, which will soon be Bailey Builds Collective, a space where local artists will be able to rent workspace, connect with one another and showcase their work.

“One of the things we want to offer artists is the chance for them to sell their own work in collaboration with our retail,” she said.

To make up for the lost income from art fairs in 2020, the Baileys focused their efforts on retail and e-commerce. This resulted in huge growth, encouraging them to go forward with the expansion.

The Bailey Builds team also grew in 2020; they now