Today’s interview is with local husband and wife artist duo, Rusty & Ingrid. These two have been a staple of the local arts scene since 2012. Their screen prints feature soothing colors and local landmarks that we all know and love. Keep reading to learn more about these small business owners.
What is the name of your business and where is it located?
Name: Rusty and Ingrid
Locations:
* Studio and Shop, 34 Front St in Salem, MA
* Shop, 8 Bearskin Neck, Rockport, MA
* Home Studio in Rockport, MA
What is your name and what town do you live in?
We are Rusty and Ingrid Kinnunen, a husband and wife artist team. We live in Rockport, Massachusetts with our 3 children, ages 10, 8, and 11 months.
What type of goods or services do you provide?
We design and handprint original screen printed artwork, all inspired by New England life.
How long have you been in business?
We have been in business since 2012.
Why did you choose to open a business on the North Shore?
We were living in Gloucester when we started our business. We worked out of our tiny condo in the beginning, printing on our kitchen table and selling our prints at outdoor markets on the weekends, both in Boston, and around the North Shore. Our first studio outside of our home was in Magnolia, in Gloucester. We opened our first brick and mortar retail shop 3 years ago in Rockport, moving our home there as well.
How has the COVID-19 crisis impacted your business?
Our business has been very impacted by the COVID-19 crisis as we have had to temporarily close both of our retail shops (in Salem and Rockport) and we had to let our 2 employees go, at least for the time being, which was extremely difficult to do.
Are you currently offering any delivery, shipping or curbside pick-up of your goods or services?
We have recently relaunched our online store, with a brand new collection of designs. We offer free shipping on all orders year round, as well as a limited-time 10% off sale right now. Curbside pickup is also available at our Rockport shop.
What is one way that the moms (or all residents) can help your business survive during this difficult time?
We understand that this is a hard time for many people in various ways, including being separated from friends and family. Whether shopping for meaningful gifts for loved ones who you miss, or making your own home more beautiful with affordable, original artwork, we really appreciate the support of our customers, especially now. Follow us on Instagram (@rustyandingrid) to learn about the latest releases, promotions, and giveaways. We are also posting activities for children, like hand-drawn coloring sheet downloads!
Name another business that could benefit from the support of the North Shore Moms community.
One Ocean One Love Shop, our friend and neighboring shop, in downtown Rockport!
On a lighter note, name one fun or relaxing way you are using your time at home during this crisis.
A fun, relaxing way we are using our time at home during this crisis, is carving out more intentional family-time with our children. We’ve been going for walks in the woods together, enjoying a movie night with popcorn, or playing board games.