Art shop owner faces hard times, but carries on

By Nick McCormac
Edited by Drew Daniels
Date posted: April 22, 2009

At The Art Elements, a paint-your-own pottery shop in Northeast Richland, Pattie Clark teaches everyone from children to adults how to turn a blank ceramic object into a decorated and individual piece of art.

And like most painting, people have to get a little dirty before they can appreciate their hard work. That remains Clark's outlook, though the first-time small-business owner has had to deal with an expensive failure, staff layoffs and a robbery.

Since opening the store on Hardscrabble Road in December 2007, she's seen her share of hard times. Toward the middle of last year, Clark invested $6,000 of her own money into a teen-themed night.

"We would only let teens in, give them free pizza and drinks, let them play whatever music they wanted, and we wouldn't charge them a studio fee, but it was a total bust," Clark said.

She had to lay off four employees and do away with the services of her accountant and janitor. Clark sought loans from various banks but was rejected.

Then, one night this January, Clark was closing the store when a man walked in and robbed her at gunpoint.

"After that, my friends and family suggested I rethink keeping the store open," she said.

But Clark, an art teacher for over 20 years, loved teaching people about art too much to close up shop.

Bob Pettit of the Small Business Development Center in Columbia said he's seen many small-business owners persevere, even during hard times.

"One of the hardest decisions a business owner can make is to pull the plug, so it doesn't surprise me to see people hanging on during tough times," he said.

Clark might also have been seeking bank loans at the worst time. Loans backed by the Small Business Administration decreased late last year, according to SBA data.

Petit said that from September until March, he saw few banks lending, but that things are starting to improve.

Lately, Clark's decision to keep the shop open has paid off. With spring break and Mother's Day close together, Clark is seeing people flowing back through the doors and expects even more during the summer.

"Families aren't taking as many big vacations and are looking for a fun way to kill some time, so we provide what they're looking for," Clark said.

Pieces at the shop range from $2.75 for smaller ceramics to $70 for larger objects. The studio fee, which covers all paint, glazing and firing, is $4 for students and military personnel and $6 for adults.

Despite the hardships and pitfalls, Clark has no regrets.

"If I had known what I would face to get to this point, I would have gone through with it, because I have that much faith and love for what I do," she said.

Cinnamon Ray Swires, a friend of Clark's who helped her through her hardships, says Clark is an "eternal optimist" who always feels at home in her shop.

"Pattie is accommodating to everyone, no matter what," Swires said. "This is her passion, and it's what she's worked for her whole life."

Swires said Clark's resiliency shows she's ready to face the future.

"She understands business and life can be fickle, but she takes it all in stride," Swires said.

Clark, who holds a K-12 art certification in the Carolinas and Georgia, still spends time helping local schools. She makes donations and recently hosted 48 teachers from Richland District 2 for art classes. Most of her employees are also students, including Josay Jackson, a Ridge View High School senior who works at the store as part of a work-for-credit program.

Jackson receives class credit for cleaning tables and washing brushes and makes sure all the paint bottles are filled without getting paid. But to her, like Clark, it's all part of the job.

"You have to do all the dirty work," Jackson said, "but in the end it all pays off."