Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew and Andria Eden.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Andrew and I opened the doors of Hang Steady two years ago, but the dreaming and planning started way before that. I spent my college years working part-time at a frame shop to combine my love for art and design in a concrete way, in order to pay some bills and make ends meet. It wasn’t long before I told myself I’d be opening a frame shop of my own someday.
Not long after graduation, I moved from home on the east coast to Los Angeles, where I quickly settled into a 9 to 5; corporate benefits, the whole 9 yards. I was moving up, earning trust and gaining responsibility, but something inside me kept coming back to the satisfaction I found in designing frames. I started working weekends at a local shop to scratch the itch, but I still felt that one day I’d be doing it for myself.
Somewhere in there, the corporate grind became about all I could handle, and I made the choice that I thought would bring me stability and happiness; leaving the frame shop and focusing on my office job. It felt like a safety net that I’d be fulfilled knowing that I had a secure job at an important firm, but it didn’t quite pan out that way.
I met my husband, Andrew, in that time, and we had such a natural, easy chemistry that it wasn’t long before we were listening to vinyl and telling each other all about ourselves. I told him about wanting to own a frame shop, he told me he wanted to be an entrepreneur, so our conversations started there. But it wasn’t until I’d said for the umpteenth time how much I wanted to open a frame shop that he rather exasperatedly said, “So let’s do it, already!” There was actually still a lot of planning, saving and dreaming that happened after that, but that was the moment it became real for both of us when we knew we were going into business together.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The first year was physically and emotionally demanding. Working in a frame shop doesn’t translate directly to owning and operating your own business, so the learning curve was steep. I was still working full time while we did all the prep work and leg work just to get the doors open. Figuring out the logistics of deliveries, day to day operations, accounts payable and receivable, which one of us was going to wear which hats – there were so many decisions and never enough time.
Not to mention, there are the challenges that any small business opening a brick and mortar location today might face. There’s potential competition from huge chains and industrial producers, and so much of retail is now online. What we had thought, and what we have found, is that people are searching for more community based, local businesses with character and personality, as an alternative to faceless experiences with big box stores and online shopping. We think that in this day and age, people are seeking out meaningful interactions and collaborations, and where else are they going to get it, if not from the independent mom and pop shops where owners genuinely care about what they’re doing, and who they’re doing it for.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Hang Steady Frame Design story. Tell us more about the business.
We are a custom frame design shop specializing in creative collaboration to provide the proper blend of style and function for each piece of art that comes through our door. Our design philosophy is about helping our customers to enhance and showcase their art in a way that’s more than just utilitarian. We want to design something that will not only be protective and well-engineered but will also bring people a ton of joy to look at, each and every day, knowing that they played their part in creating it.
To get the creative juices flowing, we put a lot of work into our studio space, to make it warm and inviting. Whether it’s the record selection and turntable that’s constantly spinning some of our favorite tunes, the local art on our walls, or the comfy seating, we really hope it’s a place that provides equal parts comfort and inspiration.
We seek out frames from independent, custom frame makers to go with our more mass produced lines, and their bespoke creations really help us to dream up stand out designs. The care and attention given by them matches our own, and yields results far more unique than what you normally can get at the big box stores. By offering one of a kind designs using high quality, hand-crafted frames, we’re able to provide a different experience for our customers and their art. When our customers begin to see all of the exciting options and possibilities they have for showcasing their art, they start to get excited, which really gets us excited, too! It’s a satisfying reminder of why we do what we do, and a great source of pride for us, as well.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
We have been so fortunate all along the way. First and foremost, we feel so lucky to have the opportunity to work with each other every day, growing our relationship and our business stride for stride. We hit the jackpot in having family help, with siblings of each of us contributing their time, energy, and good humor to keep us moving forward through the late nights. Shout out also to the industry that we’re in. The community of framers is one that wholeheartedly exemplifies community over competition. Our vendors, fellow framers, and the artisan frame makers we work with have welcomed us and cheered us on from the very beginning. Our lives have truly been enriched by the amazing relationships we’ve forged in such a short amount of time. And luckiest of all was landing in SoRo (South Robertson) amidst a close-knit community of art lovers. They have had street festivals celebrating their brick and mortar small businesses, art shows, and an art festival since we moved in, and many people who have expressed their appreciation for our work and presence in their community and what we represent. We couldn’t have hoped for things to start out any better.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2863 S Robertson Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90034 - Website: www.hangsteady.com
- Phone: 323-484-1012
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hangsteady/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HangSteady/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/hang-steady-frame-design-los-angeles
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/hangsteady/
Image Credit:
Hang Steady Frame Design and Fuze Branding
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