Gray Duck Art
Chaska, Minnesota
Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do:
Maddy: Gray Duck Art
Photo by: Ann Marie Photography
Hi! My name is Maddy DePaul and I am the owner of a small biz called Gray Duck Art. We believe that everyone does in fact have a creative bone in their body, so we give them opportunities to use it. Our most popular product is a paint your own pet kit where you submit a photo of your furry friend, Gray Duck Art turns it into a paint by number, and ships you everything you need to paint a beautiful portrait of your pet. We love giving everyone the opportunity to be creative.
Let us know more about your business name - how did you come up with it?
Gray Duck Art because what is Duck, Duck, Goose?
Photo by: Ann Marie Photography
What is your signature style / item? How did it become so?
Our paint your own pet kits (ship anywhere in the US) and our paint your own pet class (mostly in the Twin Cities).
What makes your business unique to the industry?
One of my favorite ways our biz is unique is every canvas is hand drawn by local artists in the twin cities. Of course the other way it's unique is that every canvas is custom to your furry friend and is based off a photo that you submit.
What's been your biggest roadblock when it comes to business and how have you been able to overcome?
What a perfectly timed question. COVID-19 hands down. We are still working on overcoming it, however I have found that taking things day by day helps, and surviving COVID-19 as a small business is okay, we don't need to thrive during a pandemic. In some ways, surviving is thriving right now.
How has your business had to adapt amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic? What are you doing to navigate the situation?
Before COVID-19 hit, 80% of our sales were through our in-person classes, and 20% of our sales were through our shipped kits. We had to adapt overnight to 100% shipped kits. While I am incredibly grateful we have a product we can still sell during Covid, we have taken a huge hit. To navigate this we are taking things day by day and reminding ourselves that fall and winter are just around the corner, our busiest times of the year.
What is your favorite part of what you do?
2 things. 1. I love giving people (especially adults) the opportunity to get creative. We live in such a busy world and I believe it's so important to take a break and get creative. 2. I have always been an artist, however running a business is a little new to me. I got a business degree in college which has helped, but I have found I truly love the business side of things just as much as the art side.
What is your *must do* local activity?
All the breweries, I can't pick just one.
Where to find Gray Duck Art:
Website: grayduckart.com
Instagram: @grayduckart
Facebook: facebook.com/grayduckart/