Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabrielle Shelley.
Hi Gabrielle, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Replicate started as a revelation in the living room in 2022, spending an evening with my roommates and all of our animals.
I was looking for a way to start working for myself, and get out of the daily grind of realizing someone else’s dream. It all made sense. I had a background in art, design, and printing; Lancaster was a blossoming artist hub; And yet there was not a local fine art printer. That was going to be me!
I worked for nearly a year to research, plan, and save for the initial startup supplies. The original plan was to start out of my home, in the spare room. But an opportunity presented itself in a private and fairly affordable studio in downtown Lancaster. Nestled above Endo Cafe, and across the street from Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, I jumped on the opportunity.
So in the spring of 2023, I started printing for artists with a desk, 2 fold up tables, and one 13″ photo printer. My first customer was my boyfriend, of course. But word spread, and I gained new clients. I upgraded my printer and furniture. I made a sample book with the paper I used at the time. And in a year, I was offered a spot in a soon-to-be artist space and gallery. I have been at The Lancaster Art Vault since before it officially opened. I have upgraded and added printers, expanded my client base, and began to nail down how to run a business and provide the best service. I have now served over 120 artists, and completed over 600 print jobs. And I can’t wait to add more!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There will always be struggles, when you try to open and run a business by yourself with basically no money.
Financial struggles are the most worrying, because the whole point is to be able to support myself. Repairs, taxes, and unexpected expenses can really test your patience. I have been very lucky to have a partner who supports me in more ways than one. And as I learn more, and build my business, I have become more confident in the financial stability and growth of my business. One day I hope to properly file my taxes the first time around.
The next biggest hurdle is gaining and keeping clients. Marketing is very important, but the word-of-mouth that comes from good work has been my hero. Good work really speaks for itself, and it has been what keeps people coming back and telling others.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Replicate is a boutique-style giclée print studio located in downtown Lancaster. Using high quality materials and pigment printers, Replicate creates fine art reproductions and digital prints for artists at every level and medium, from Lancaster and beyond. Other services include scanning, proofs, free local pickup, and free consultations.
Creating a beautiful and true-to-the-original print of artwork is so important for the reputation of not only myself, but the artist and the community. Not every consumer of art can afford originals. Fine art prints allow everyone to access art to display, and give artists a meaningful source of income. I believe the prints artists offer should be of a quality that represents them as well as their originals. From Replicate, you can expect high quality work, at a fair price, with the knowledge, care, and expertise you need. Work will be handled by an artist, and checked by an artist’s eye. So clients can rest assured their investment will be worth it.
This business prides itself on being woman-built, owned, and operated. Replicate upholds its values of uplifting marginalized members of the community, and will not print any AI generated, or offensive imagery. Being a micro business affords me the option to be selective, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Luck is only the half of it.
The rest is hours sitting in front of a laptop, comparing paper prices and scouring for prospective clients.
I believe I am lucky to be where I am today, regardless.
Pricing:
- Per square inch
- Dependent on paper
- Scans per piece
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.replicateprint.com/
- Instagram: replicateprint
Image Credits
Headshot-Glenn Usdin
