That is the message from Oamaru artist and exiting business owner Philina den Dulk who closes her store Art on Thames, in the town’s main street, today.
"When I started my store, competition wasn’t even a word that entered my brain. I simply wanted to make beautiful things available to everyone, to do my own thing, work hard and stay humble, and support our amazing New Zealand artisans. Almost 11 years on and I believe I have wholeheartedly mastered that," she said.
Closing the business to focus on her health, Mrs den Dulk said she was now in a position to share her knowledge and also what she had created. She approached fellow businesswoman, Monique Lewis, from down the street at The Vault, who would stock many of the artists and brands she had.
"It's a win-win . . . her to grow her business with really cool brands that do well, it's also good for artists. It's also good ju-ju, what women should do. We don't have enough of women supporting women, it's too competitive. Stay humble and support other women," she said.
Post-business, as well as focusing on regaining her health, she would be back to her art in an almost full circle move. "I was a full-time artist and made a living out of it. Returning back to it . . . I get to paint for my own pleasure.
"I feel I’ve created a really cool business and closing on the peak is the way to do it. I’m making that choice to put me first," she said.
But she would miss being surrounded by such beautiful and colourful things, saying the store was her "happy place". She would also miss her customers and the artists, saying self-employment had been hard work but fun.
"It feels good to be able to pass on a huge amount of knowledge and product to another business and watch them grow. That's what I'm focused on at the moment, I don't know how I'm going to feel when I shut the door."
It was 2014 when Mrs den Dulk opened Art on Tyne in Oamaru’s historic precinct, marking the end of a two-year search and dream for the perfect space to display her work and that of other New Zealand artists, in the town. Two years ago, she moved from Tyne St to lower Thames St.
The retail industry was changing — the rise of online shopping had a major impact — and she encouraged people to shop locally.
"You really need to support your local businesses, go in and see what people have. A lot of people don’t set foot in these places," she said.
When it came to a business like hers, she believed ceramics had to be picked up and art work needed to be looked at. "It’s such a visual thing . . . I don’t know how you can buy things like this online."
