As a former employee of
Beyond the Wall poster shop in East Lansing, Laura Hall seized the opportunity to take over the place in 2008, when the previous owner informed her that the East Lansing and Ann Arbor locations of the Pennsylvania-based chain were closing.
“I've always wanted to own my own business, so it was the perfect opportunity for me,” says Hall.
She has been running her local art and retail business,
Agog Arts, at the same location at 225 E. Grand River Avenue, and recently celebrated a year in business.
Although Hall still provides services and products similar to that of Beyond the Wall, she has incorporated local artists into the mix with a line of handmade jewelry, ceramics, original photography, by featuring an artist every month and by participating in the First Sunday Gallery Walk.
All of Agog Arts’ inventory is also listed online and can be ordered online. “All of the proceeds of the sales online of local art go directly to the artist,” says Hall.
“Being an artist myself, I know it is difficult to get your art out to the public, and when I took ownership of the store that was my first goal, to have a venue for local artists to display and sell their artwork.”
Source: Laura Hall, Agog Arts
Suban Nur Cooley, interim development news editor, can be reached here.
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