In a time when we can't all gather around a table, we can still come together as a community. We're Open Indy is a partnership between WRTV and our local restaurants and businesses with one goal: getting them through this tough time. Every day, we will help shine a light on the businesses that make up our community by telling their stories and rallying around those who are keeping the grills going, the hospitals running, and the businesses operating.
INDIANAPOLIS — Two months into a stay-at-home order and most of us have been forced to find a hobby. That's business-saving news for Dannie Terrell, the owner of canvas painting spot Decor by Dannie.
"Surprisingly it has really brought a lot of customers that has boosted production and the sales within the business," Terrell said.
With so much sickness, death and uncertainty, canvas painting has become a temporary escape from reality for Terrell's customers.
"It's got a lot of people actually in the house with nothing really to do so with the paint kits it gives them something different to do," Terrell said.
RTV6 first introduced you to Decor by Dannie in December 2019. She's among the small business owners who opened a physical store front inside the W Street Shopping Center. With businesses closed for now and groups of people banned from sitting together, the Decor by Dannie business model was crippled. It left the entrepreneur worried.
"At first I was and then a brilliant idea came to do the paint kits," Terrell said. "Once the paint kits came I didn't even think about doing parties anymore."
Paint kits to-go has allowed this east side business to survive. Instead of having customers come in to pay, Terrell is serving up carryout orders of paint and a canvas she prepares herself. After putting in an order online, customers receive their orders while sitting in their cars. It's an option that Decor by Dannie will continue to use even after the stay-at-home order is lifted.
"As a businesswoman it forced me to create new ways to run my business," Terrell said.
