Building a business, brick by brick: Des Moines, Iowa-based Tamdem Brick Gallery blends art, framing and a sense of community

Art Business News, March, 2004 by Cedric Rose

"[Anderson] didn't know me from Adam, but I walked into [Tandem Brick] and she was very accommodating. She showed me every detail of her operation," Lasansky said, adding that many of Mauricio Lasansky's prints are as large as 7 1/2 by 4 feet. "You have to know what you're doing in terms of handling paper that size. It's really a skill you have to have as a framer."

Aaron Tinder, a framer with Tandem Brick for several years, knows what it means to win customers' trust. He begins by providing them with the information they need to make informed decisions. Telling them that Tandem Brick uses only acid-free mats is a good place to start, Tinder said, because it leads to discussions of glass and backing materials.

To Tinder, honesty is of the utmost importance. "For example, if a piece doesn't need conservation glass, I won't try to sell it to a customer. It's more important in the long run to make sure that the customers know that they can trust you, regardless of how that might slightly affect your profit margin," he said.

The bottom line, Tinder explained, is that Tandem Brick Gallery's regular customers recognize it as a business that consistently offers excellent, personal service. "I know that sounds like we're just blowing our own horn," he said, "but Tandem Brick really is a good example of something that's becoming more difficult to find--a relatively small, independently owned business that is successful primarily because of the kind of service we provide."