Now is the time to take your favorite pet images and have them transformed into a timeless work of art.  Deals like this don’t happen every day!  Come into The Cotton Company to meet Dick in person and to see some of his recent work.

Visit us in person at 306 South White St. Wake Forest NC.  We are open 7 days a week, 10-6 M-Th and 10-8 Fr-Sat.  1-6 on Sundays.  See you soon!

We recently have seen some happy press in our local news paper.  We have always known that The Cotton Company is a host for lots of interesting people to bring their business to life in Wake Forest – and now the big city decided to take notice.  The following is an article about long term Resident Artist Dick Larsen and his journey in this life as an artist.

Thank you for reading…

Saturday, Jan. 07, 2012

From ads to pets: a painter’s journey by Alex Granados

You know Wake Forest painter Dick Larsen. You don’t realize it, but you do. Remember that 1970s Tootsie Pop ad that asks how many licks it takes to get to the center? That’s Dick Larsen’s work. Larsen, 68, spent years in advertising, but if you met him today, you wouldn’t know it. In fact, you’d probably be coming to him with a photo of a pet, maybe a dog, and requesting a portrait. That’s his specialty these days: painting pets. Have a special dog? Maybe a cat? Heck, even a gerbil or rattlesnake? You can bring it down to Dick Larsen’s studio at The Cotton Company in Wake Forest and get him to duplicate its likeness in paint.

What started off with one random request has become a full-time business. Larsen spent years creating ads before ending up in North Carolina in the early 1990s. He’d always wanted to be a painter, but the realities of life led him to advertising. “I had to go make some real money and support my family,” he said. But in Raleigh, his wife had a job with an ad firm, and Larsen, fresh off a five-year stint at a Florida ad company, decided to devote himself to painting. His work used to be more eclectic, but a few years back, someone asked him to paint a pet and everything changed. “People really are hung up on their pets and they really enjoy having them around,” he said. “It’s a market all by itself.” Soon other people were requesting pet portraits, and six years ago, Larsen decided to dedicate himself to reproducing their favorite furry friends. The ratio of dog to cat requests is about 10 to 1. And when I mentioned a gerbil and rattlesnake before, I wasn’t just making that up. He’s done both at one time or another.

Go to his studio and you’ll see for yourself that his business is doing well. He sits at the easel studiously brushing away, surrounded all the while by an audience of painted dogs captive on canvas. Larsen’s successful new life almost came to an end four months ago. He woke up one morning and realized he couldn’t see out of his right eye. After a visit to a few medical professionals, Larsen discovered that he’d had a stroke in one eye. It blinded it permanently, but left his other eye basically unharmed. Still, Larsen wasn’t sure he could continue painting. He was determined to try. “It took a while to just get used to the fact that I’m not going to see anymore out of this eye,” he said. “Then I said, ‘Somehow, I have to figure out how to paint.’ ” He started back slowly, changing up his method and using tools, such as a magnifying glass, to help. Aware that his handicap might change the quality of the finished work, Larsen offered customers a money-back guarantee. If they weren’t satisfied, no charges applied. But Larsen’s talent is undiminished. His paintings still enthrall customers, and business is still coming through the door. Though Larsen realized the business potential in painting pets, he said he gets creative fulfillment from his work as well. “You get these animals with their feelings and sentiment and all this kind of stuff – it’s just entertaining to bring them out and make them smile,” he said. I’ve got an adopted 11-year-old Golden Retriever that talks to me when nobody’s looking. Maybe it’s time to take her to see Larsen.

Alex Granados writes about people, places and traditions in North Raleigh and beyond. Contact him at agranadoster@gmail.com.

These sales run through January 1st.  Each sale is listed in the vendor booth and also our staff has a record at the register.  We’ll be delighted to help you find the perfect items to round off your wish list in time for those New Year’s Eve parties!

Just look for the SALE signs – and don’t for get to look for the Buy Local signs as well.

http://www.thecottoncompany.net/

To reserve a date, a 50% deposit on the Room Rental Fee.

Monday – Thursday……………………$800

Sunday and Friday…………………….$1,250

Saturdays …………………………………$1,850

Table, Chair & Linen rentals apprx. $10 per confirmed guest.

This Fee merits you:

• Use of the Event Space, Private Dressing Room, and Kitchen Prep Area between 10am and 11pm for Set Up and the Event with 1 additional hour for Clean Up

• Assistance with Space Planning

• Wine & Beer Consultation and Invitation to Private Complimentary Wine Tasting

• Coordination with Outside Vendors & Companies during the Preceding Week

• Personal On-Call Contact for the Duration of your Event

If you are in need of Rented Tables, Tablecloths and Chairs, we offer competitive prices determined by the number of guests.

Please Call (919) 570-0087 or email events@thecottoncompany.net for additional information.

* Alcohol Costs Not Included.

From the moment you walk in, we encourage you to make the Event Gallery yours.  From stringing lights along our bannister outside or decorating the staircase leading up to The Event Gallery, we want the whole experience to feel like you invited your friends and families to the party that only you could have thrown.  That extra level of personality and charm that only The Cotton Company can offer in terms of freedom in decorations.

We’ve seen everything from a ceiling full of paper lanterns to a full on decorated arbor brought in for a ceremony.  Later this year, a couple is extending our existing twinkle lit wall as to capture more of that charm!  One resounding comment I hear from potential clients as they look over photographs of The Event Gallery dressed up is that we can accommodate just about anything.  We strive to foster an environment where imaginations can run wild and that dream really can come true.

Come by and tour The Cotton Company; come start dreaming up your upcoming event with Chris Tatem, our Event Director.  He’s more than happy to make your dreams come true.

The Cotton Company’s Event Gallery has you covered!

Have your wedding ceremony and your reception in the same location.

The Cotton Company is just minutes from North Raleigh.

With today’s economy brides are looking for wonderful wedding receptions spots that fit their budget.

An inexpensive wedding is becoming an important factor in many marriages.

Take a look at the video below to see a few clips from a wedding reception that was held at the Cotton Company.

Video Production by Vibrant Flow Video

Beautiful Wedding Cake from a reception held at the Cotton Company

Host your Wedding Reception at the Cotton Company!

Visit The Cotton Company This Labor Day Weekend – Open Sundays.

Love Your Pet!!

What do you call a pig that does karate? A Pork Chop! What do you call a cow in an earthquake? A Milkshake! What do you get when you cross a bear and a skunk? Winnie the ‘pe-u’!    Yes, We’re Open for Labor Day!  Open Monday, 10am to 4pm    ____________________________________ Calling All Responsible,     Loving Pet Owners!!         In Honor of Responsible Pet Owner Month,The Cotton Company’s Resident Artist Dick Larsen will be giving away an 11×14 Custom Pet Portrait. To Enter Bring in a Photo of your Pet with your Name, Phone #, Address, Email and Pet’s name written on the back. A $220 Value! ____________________________ Other Great Products for Animal Lovers…. _____________________________________________________ Enjoy Monday again with…    Chicks’ Coffee Clique    our Cotton Company/Coffee Company Connection      Come by for a Complimentary Sample of Gourmet Iced Coffee while you shop Monday mornings!   Courtesy of Wake Forest Coffee Company _____________________________________________________ The Cotton Company 306 S. White Street, Wake Forest, NC – 919-570-0087 Monday – Thursday 10 AM – 6 PM | Friday & Saturday 10 AM – 8PM Sunday 1 – 6 PM Find Us On Facebook

QUESTION:

Elizabeth,

I am working on an article for the newsletter about the Downtown as an incubator. The focus will be on how Ginger was at the Cotton Company and now she is opening her new studio. Would you be willing to answer a couple of questions? There are great examples how you and the Cotton Company have led to success in other areas of downtown! Below are the questions. Please let me know if you have any questions.

1. Several vendors from the Cotton Company have opened their own stores. When opening the Cotton Company, was a goal to become an incubator?

2. If it was not a direct goal, how do you feel about it now?

3. I have heard that ‘such and such” was also a vendor at one time. Can you please confirm that?

4. Any other thoughts on the Cotton Company as an incubator.

Thanks for all your help!!

Maggie

ANSWER:

“It was not conceived as a goal at the time, but we very quickly realized our potential in that respect. So far we have spun off jeweler Janie Eagle Roberts, retailer Michael Beecham of the Red Door Interiors, Jeanine Beckstrom of Haven at North Hills and now Ginger Meek Allen who is preparing to open her Lede Studio. I think also Laura Cashwell and her antique store but ask her to confirm.

We are thrilled to be able to help small businesses test and tweak their concepts before going out on their own. Many Cotton Company vendors start in retail with little to no experience and by starting in a venue like The Cotton Company can learn the business with a much smaller investment and less risk. We work with vendors closely to help them reach their maximum potential. We already have an established customer base and traffic and they know very quickly if the product is desirable to the customer or not. Because of the smaller investment they can make changes more easily whereas if they had started in a storefront they may not be in a position to react due to being financially strapped. We like to say that our vendors get voted on at The Cotton Company by the customers who come every day and vote with their wallets as to whether or not they want a vendor to stay.

The Cotton Company also helped spur downtown development of other retail businesses by being the first real retail anchor the street has had in many, many years. Our existence gave others the confidence to open their won retail store front and we were able to lease to a much better mix of unique, niche retailers after the opening of The Cotton Company that were afraid to make the leap prior to our opening.

On the flip side we also are home to many small business owners who have had their own store fronts and now prefer to let us do the managerial aspect and they can concentrate on the parts they like best, buying and merchandising product. Currently Mary White of Creative Gifts, Debbi Capps of House Warming’s and Jean Skinner of Indulgences are vendors who at one time had their own storefront and now prefer a less hectic lifestyle of being at The Cotton Company.

Hope that helps!”

Elizabeth