Farrell’s Frame And Design

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Obeying God

Dear Past, Thank you for all the lessons.

Dear Future,

We are ready!

Farrell’s Frame and Design specializes in custom framing and fine art printing. Our company turns 5 years old in November of 2020. For us, 2019— and do we even need to say 2020?—has been the time for change. We have been through ups, downs, personal life changes, professional life changes, and a complete shift in how we do business with our consumers. Overwhelming as it may have seemed, our unplanned journey took us exactly where we needed to be. Now that we are on the other side looking back at the trials and tribulations that have been 2019 and the first half of 2020, I would like to shout from the rooftops expressing the gratitude, excitement, and pride that relates to all of our recent “Good News.” (You see what I did there?)

In mid-2019, we made the hard decision to relocate our business for various reasons. While at the time it felt like a tragedy, with help from one of our clients, we turned the hunt into an adventure. The new location is an unconventional one for our business; we share a building with several law firms and other professional businesses. While we might be the business that doesn’t exactly fit in, we like to think of it as our bringing some life to the party. From the first day at our new location, our clients have been there to show their support, share advice, and share their confidence in us as we worked to get through the hurdles that presented themselves along the way. As of a few weeks ago, we officially deemed this our home by putting our multi-colored frames back up on the windows. It is a more refined version because we have grown as a company, but nonetheless, we now feel like we can honestly say, WE ARE BACK!

We are back and stronger than ever, with a powerhouse of a team that fell together accidentally, seamlessly, and again—just the way it needed to. In December, I had to close the shop due to what I thought was an illness; during that time, Virginia came by to try to place an order. She grew concerned when our store was closed for several days and approached me with the question, “Are you looking for

help?” The answer was yes. Virginia has a background in framing and in Rome, as she used to work at Meeks Picture House. It was evident after just one week of working together that it was going to be a harmonious working relationship, not to mention one that started at just the right time. Many of you may remember Antoneisha from when we first came to Rome: she helped us open the first location. Although we have had the greatest intentions of working together throughout the years, finding a cohesive schedule that worked for both parties has been difficult. Due to schedule changes demanded by COVID, we have come up with a plan that allows her ample time to focus on her art but also play a vital role in our business. Our newest member, Candiss, is a local photographer and is eager to learn more about framing and printing. She is as sharp as a tack and has already excelled at every task given to her. This group of women came together at a time when I was in dire need of not only help but also positivity, inspiration, and motivation as we began to fight our way through a global pandemic.

Let's get personal for a moment. Remember the illness we shut the store down for in December? It was not an illness at all! On December 31, we discovered that we were expecting. Fast forward to now, and we are over seven months pregnant with our first child, a baby girl who will be named Finlee Lynn. While being pregnant during a pandemic has been interesting, we are grateful for the extra time we have been able to spend soaking in this experience. Tying back into professional life, it is an absolute weight off my shoulders as a business owner to know that without a doubt while I am out on maternity leave, my team will be able to handle the shop, our clients, and day-to-day business.

With so much uncertainty going on in the world, I feel it is important to focus on the positive aspects: to work hard in order to jump hurdles, climb mountains, and adapt to our ever-changing environment. In the face of our most daunting time as a business, I humbled myself and asked for help. I was granted such blessings in return that I cannot express fully just how fortunate I feel: not only to have the individuals, the community, and the professional network surrounding me that I do, but also for blessings of another kind. If I have learned anything through this time of change, it is that hard work will get you far, but having faith, admitting you need help, and accepting that help from those around you will make the journey a lot smoother and enjoyable to be on.

I cannot thank you enough for the opportunity to tell our story of change, to allow us the ability to express a sincere thank you to our clients, friends, and family for sticking with us as we navigated a new path, and lastly, the chance to share our good news in a time when we all could use a little happiness.

Our new location is 519 Broad Street, Suite 101/103. For the time being, we are working on an appointment-only basis and will be extending appointment hours in the future. We appreciate your patience and your business throughout this transition, and we honestly cannot wait to show you what we have accomplished while riding this whirlwind of change.