Tracy Graivier Bell & Robin Oldham
Both 38, founders of Smashing Times Inc. in Dallas
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Description: Smashing TimesInc., Dallas’ only mosaic gallery and retail mosaic studio,where Bell and Oldham custom-design pieces and allow customers tocreate mosaics of their own
Number of employees: 8
Start-up: 1999, for$50,000
Sales: Projections of$350,000 for 2001
Franchise plans: Firstfranchise scheduled to open in Boca Raton, Florida, by latefall
Celebrity clientele:Smashing Times has made custom mosaic tables for Cindy Crawford andSusan Sarandon and auctioned off celebrity-designed mosaics for theMake-A-Wish Foundation.
The joy of mosaic:“Mosaic has been around forever,” Bell says.”We’re bringing this art form into everyday life. A lot ofour business deals with memorabilia and sentimental stuff. Peoplebring us, say, a piece of china that was their grandmother’s.We help them recreate that into something they can use now to keepmemories alive.”
Hands-on: “We know [ourcustomers] by name,” Oldham says. “They like thatwe’re friendly, not the women in the back telling the employeeswhat to do. We’re out here grouting and gluing with them orhoisting birdbaths and heavy bags of tile around.”
Contact Source
- Smashing Times Inc.
(214) 363-2088, www.smashingtimes.com
Description: Smashing TimesInc., Dallas’ only mosaic gallery and retail mosaic studio,where Bell and Oldham custom-design pieces and allow customers tocreate mosaics of their own
Number of employees: 8
Start-up: 1999, for$50,000
Sales: Projections of$350,000 for 2001
Franchise plans: Firstfranchise scheduled to open in Boca Raton, Florida, by latefall
Celebrity clientele:Smashing Times has made custom mosaic tables for Cindy Crawford andSusan Sarandon and auctioned off celebrity-designed mosaics for theMake-A-Wish Foundation.
The joy of mosaic:“Mosaic has been around forever,” Bell says.”We’re bringing this art form into everyday life. A lot ofour business deals with memorabilia and sentimental stuff. Peoplebring us, say, a piece of china that was their grandmother’s.We help them recreate that into something they can use now to keepmemories alive.”
Hands-on: “We know [ourcustomers] by name,” Oldham says. “They like thatwe’re friendly, not the women in the back telling the employeeswhat to do. We’re out here grouting and gluing with them orhoisting birdbaths and heavy bags of tile around.”
Contact Source
- Smashing Times Inc.
(214) 363-2088, www.smashingtimes.com
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