ANDREW PRESTON
Preston Arts Center
DEREK INGERSOLL
Pacers and Racers
BUSINESS
ISSUE
222 6th St.
Jeffersonville
3048 Bardstown Road
Louisville
prestonartscenter.com
812.946.5353
What motivates you? While there is no single motivation, the greatest
I have is sharing. I see sharing as a great spark for contact with others, for
the exchange of ideas, for showing that we care for each other and want
what’s best. Art (whatever that means to you) is a remarkable field with
many benefits, personal, emotional, mental, social, etc. To share something
so good, productive, and thoughtful with others brings something positive
and hopeful to the table.
What is the biggest professional risk you have taken? The biggest
professional risk I’ve taken is opening the Jeffersonville Preston Arts Center.
It’s no secret that owning a small business has always been difficult, but doing
it in a century when consumers have a world of choices and a portal to those
choices in their pocket, it presents a whole list of challenges to meet and
overcome. When we visited what would become known as NoCo Arts and
Cultural District in Jeffersonville in Aug of 2018, we saw an opportunity in
its early stages and knew that nothing ventured means nothing gained. The
support and kindness of the people of Jeffersonville has been exceptionally
encouraging, and we can’t wait to see more and more folks stopping in,
taking classes and participating in our events.
What’s the most rewarding thing about what you do for a living? The
most rewarding part of what I do for a living is seeing someone I’ve assisted
in the store take a project somewhere they couldn’t have before due to
limits in understanding of materials and technique, or even a lack of belief
in themselves. Bonus points for when one of our staff takes the initiative
and helps the customer achieve this on their own. This pertains to both our
classrooms and our salesfloor, which is essentially a big open classroom
space depending on how you think about it.
3602 Northgate Court
New Albany
pacersandracers.com
812.948.7865
What motivates you? Having a store environment that both the customers
and employees enjoy being at. Over the years, so many retailers have
abandoned the charm and service in favor of being profit driven. As a small
business, it’s been great to be able to focus on our community and stay true
to what has made us successful – which is service. It’s not hard to be kind to
people and treat everyone like family.
What is the biggest professional risk you have taken? I fell into my role
here at Pacers and Racers, so I am fortunate to not have much risk now, but
I have done a wide variety of things over the years. I was a working musician
for a good while, so all of that was risky in a sense there was such a large part
of your career that was out of your hands, no matter how much effort you
put into it. I feel I have been pretty lucky in the risk department.
What’s the most rewarding thing about what you do for a living? It
would have to be helping others. Everyone is unique, so you not only get to
meet all types of great people, but you get to help their feet out while doing
it. Finding the right pair of shoes requires us to ask questions about what
they do in those shoes. Not a week goes by that I am not amazed by the
life of one of our customers. Everyone is on their own journey, and I am so
thankful that folks wear our shoes for that journey.
EXTOL : THE BUSINESS ISSUE 2019
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