Before departing Michigan, we took the Ann Arbor road out of Plymouth to this vibrant and beautiful college town on the Huron River to visit Parrish Framing & Art. The owner, Randy Parrish operates this small shop in the Nickels Arcade right downtown. This looks just like an Arcade in the UK with the high ceiling, mixture of eclectic shops, old and new and the nice mixture of indoor/outdoor atmosphere. I selected Randy’s shop as one to visit as he has been quite dedicated to PPFA, our trade association. To give of your time and effort is no easy task while running a business…. it is especially difficult when you are the owner and only employee of that business – It requires some dedication to the concept of what you give comes back to you in dividends.
We had a great visit with Randy and noted that his business like others we had visited, had moved into a better location within his mall. It becomes apparent that successful retailers recognize how important location plays into survival and sales. When visiting Parrish Framing and Art, the first thing one would notice, regardless if you were in the trade or a potential customer is Randy’s focus on Michigan and US maps (many vintage) that he has made part of his shop’s identity. And I believe that this is a good thing as this type of specialization makes his business stand apart from the competition…
John Ranes examining the maps at Parrish Framing & Art
When you are the owner, framer, bookkeeper, janitor, there is no question that these many tasks put great burden on you, your time and enthusiasm. Continue reading
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