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Showing its true colors

Staff photo by Lois Kindle

Members of the Ruskin chamber board gather with business owners who donated labor or services and Southern Grace owner Frances Hereford at the completion of the makeover. From left are: Brian Hahn of Sherwin Williams; Chad Cossairt of South Shore Signs; Bobby Weimer of Weimer Mechanical Services; Patti Thornton, board president; John Smith; honorary mayor; Rob Silver, owner, Dynamic Painting; Melanie Morrison, executive director; Hereford; Tracy Cannon-Gray of South Shore Signs; Bill Hereford; in the back row are Darryl Redgrave of Dynamic Painting and Cheryl Russell of South Shore Signs.

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By LOIS KINDLE

lkindle@tampatrib.com

Published: October 21, 2009

RUSKIN - As consumers focus on the essentials these days, perhaps the businesses most hurt by the current recession are the local mom-and-pop stores.

And this concerns Melanie Morrison, executive director of the Ruskin Chamber of Commerce.

"A couple of months ago I was brainstorming with board members Denise Reiter and John Smith about ways to get members to think outside the box and come together for sharing ideas," Morrison said. "Then I got the idea the chamber could match members based on their needs and willingness to work with other businesses in a new and creative way.

"We tell members all the time if they are struggling, come talk with us and allow us to throw out ideas to help. After all, that's why (the chamber) is here."

Morrison said Frances Hereford, owner of Southern Grace Gifts & Home Accessories, mentioned recently how the economy had taken a toll on her business. So Morrison felt Hereford and Southern Grace would be the perfect "guinea pig" in the chamber's new Partners for Success program.

She asked Hereford point blank, "Would you be willing to paint your building?"

"I can't afford to do that right now," Hereford said.

But Morrison persisted, telling Hereford she had heard many people say they had never visited the shop because it looked like a tearoom or country cottage gift store.

"The outside of the building, in my opinion, was not a true reflection of what's inside," Morrison said.

A collaboration ensued between Morrison and several area business leaders to figure out a way to give Southern Grace a new look. Daniel Drohan and Brian Hahn of Sherwin Williams in Ruskin agreed to provide free paint; Rob Silver of Dynamic Painting in Brandon, free labor; Tracy Cannon-Gray of South Shore Signs in Ruskin, free signage; and Bobby Weimer of Weimer Mechanical Services, free reinforcement for the sign and installation.

Once the key players were in place, the project was completed in a few days. On Oct. 13, Hereford's shop had a new face, with bright colors and a whimsical sign.

"It's looks wonderful," Hereford said. "I can't thank everyone enough. This was totally unexpected."

"I feel very fortunate to have been in a position to help," said Silver, who is active with the Ruskin chamber and does a lot of community work with the Brandon Community Foundation. "When Melanie asked me, I didn't hesitate."

Sherwin Williams donated 30 gallons of paint to cover the building, which was formerly a drab gray, and he and his crew provided more than 70 hours of labor between prep work and painting.

"The job would have cost $3,000," Silver said.

Adding the sign brought the total value of the donation to $4,500.

Hereford hopes the new look will bring lots of traffic for her annual holiday open house Thursday through Saturday. In addition to viewing the latest in Christmas gift items and decor, Hereford will serve snacks and give a free gift to all who attend. Call (813) 641-0004.

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 627-4760.

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