For Arts Sake!!! Help us continue to share art!

Welcome, my name is Karen the owner of Salty Teacup which has been in business for just over 13 years.

I have hit a point where I need to ask for help.

The mission of Salty Teacup has always prioritized presenting the work of small artists, artisans & makers over profit. However the costs of doing business has finally exceeded my available means.

A recent break in was the proverbial straw that broke the camels back.

Over the years to keep the business running, I've sold my house, taken out government loans to get thru the pandemic & funded operations with credit cards. I recently took a part time job & work for the business for free.

The retail economic downturn that started late last Summer, came right as we were moving. Moving costs, plus damaged inventory due to a leaky roof piled onto regular overhead & debt costs. We also had to repair a broken furnace & a broken window in our old building. All money out while money in was dwindling. Our holiday sales were about 15% of even the first year of the pandemic. So that has left us with unusually high debt overhead, as normally that gets paid off after Christmas.

To pivot I had planned to start making jewelry inventory, however thieves stole approximately $3000 worth of jewelry making components & my laptop in our recent break in.

People have asked will insurance cover it. Theoretically yes, but insurance rates have been doubling and some people are even being dropped after too many claims. So Im saving filing an insurance claim for a catastrophic loss.

Funds from this fundraiser will go towards directly to reducing high interest credit card debt, purchasing inventory from small makers and artists, rent to keep our space open as a place to showcase local artists & makers.

Thank you in advance, your support of small makers, artists, artisans & designers is truly appreciated.