#WIB – Q&A With Lisa King Owner Of Art Trader
1. Can you please tell us more about your business?
Art Trader is a platform that helps put control in the hands of clients who want to sell their art or acquire fresh pieces. Via relationships with collectors, galleries and interior designers, art will be advertised and promoted through social media. Once a piece is uploaded and reviewed for potential sale, it will be professionally assessed, photographed and where possible a certificate of authenticity obtained.
A target price will be agreed upon before the piece goes live. Clients can choose to leave their art piece with Art Trader, or retain it. Whichever is chosen, we will help buyers to view. Art Trader will act as broker between the buyer and seller, with each sale as unique as the art itself.
Managing several artists while residing in London and after living between the USA and UK for ten years, Lisa returned to Cape Town, South Africa, her home. There she started representing five artists.
She then went on to open “The Lisa King Gallery” which operated successfully for over fourteen years in the Cape Quarter district in Green Point, Cape Town.
This is where she and Pat, her beautiful mother, indulged their passion and studies for art, immersing themselves in the gallery.
Lisa also owns “The Lisa King Collection”, a ladies footwear business which has been running successfully since being founded in 2009. An opportunity in the market has allowed her to launch “Art Trader” for the buying and selling of pre-loved art as well as new. Lisa now works in collaboration with other art galleries, interior designers and art consultants.
Lisa’s favourite learning is that when it comes to art, beauty is always in the “Eyes of the Beholder”.
2. When, how and why did you start your business?
I started my first ART gallery in 2004, followed by my shoe business in 2009. Both opportunities came to me and I grabbed them.
3. What is your role in the business?
I own both the businesses. (2 ART galleries (Art Trader) and a Ladies Footwear business called “LKC”.
4. Where did you study and what did you study?
I studied at the AAA school of Advertising and studied various drama courses as well as “Shakespeare” with the “Juilliard School of Performing Arts in New York”
I did a 3 months semester with them in Los Angeles while residing there. I lived, modelled and studied for 7 years in LA followed by 2 years in London.
I started modelling at 14 years old. Was Miss Teen SA in 1989 and Runner up to Miss SA in 1992. Shot over 50 TV commercials and did TV and Film in SA and LA.
5. How did you finance your business?
I built up money over the years from my modelling career and bought my shoe business and built it from there.
6. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.
I now work in my one Sea Point ART gallery and filter people over to the other gallery next door. I run my shoe business from the Art gallery and clients set up appointments to see me.
Both art galleries and my shoe business are in the same building where I also reside.
7. How do you balance your home life and your work life?
I am a Libran so it is all about finding the right balance. I work full time, have 2 daughters and never stop! I am a AAA Energiser bunny and have a dear friend that helps me with lifts and a few other things. She is my angel and also “Lisa”.
8. What drives you and inspires you?
I have always been driven, ambitious and a hard worker. I love what I do and my work is NOT work. It is a pleasure and I am surrounded by creativity and beauty everyday! I love meeting the people that come in and give my very best in what I do.
9. Where and when do you have your best ideas?
New ideas always come to me. My brain never stops working. I believe in grabbing an opportunity that gets thrown at you, that you get excited about and see a gap in the market for.
10. Where and how do you market/advertise your business for sales leads?
I market on all my Social media platforms, to Estate Agents, Tour Operators and Interior designers. Word of mouth is also very powerful so I always give the best service I can.
11. What is next for your business?
Next for my business is to keep growing, getting better at what I do and to continue being more successful as I love what I do with the people I love most.
12. What advice would you give to female entrepreneurs hoping to start their own business?
Choose something you love, go for it, don’t give up, fight until the end, give the best you can of yourself and enjoy your days! Life is too short!
If you fall down, get up and keep going as there is always light at the end of the tunnel and hope around the corner. You HAVE to believe that to keep you going.
Find out more:
Art Trader: https://artrader.co.za/
The Lisa King Collection: https://www.thelisakingcollection.com/