Today we’d like to introduce you to Linda Tomassone Jerrell, Ian Jerrell and Claudio Tomassone.
Linda, Ian and Claudio, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was an actress and Ian was a fashion model when we met. We were about to get married, and grew tired of all the traveling and being apart all the time. We were looking to settle down and talking about finding a new career path with more stability. Conveniently, at the same time, my uncle was looking to retire from a life-long career as an art restorer and custom framer. He always dreamt of passing on the business to family and approached my father Claudio, who has always loved art.
So, when my father asked me if we were interested in going into business with him, Ian and I really felt that this was the opportunity we were looking for. It felt right to still be doing something artistic, and Ian had a passion for woodworking. The three of us picked up our lives as we knew them (my dad from Montreal Canada, and Ian and I from California), and met in Florida to learn the trade and pursue a new adventure with Heritage Art Galleries. We’ve been on this adventure for three years now…
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Definitely, it was not a smooth road. Our largest struggle was the unexpected passing of my uncle. For the first year and a half, Ian apprenticed with my uncle, Sam, and learned custom framing, while my dad and I learned all about the art and restoration. Sam was still aiming to retire but was working with us full time. We really enjoyed having him, teaching us the ins and outs of the business. His death was devastating to us.
We felt we still had so much to learn from him… It took the wind out of our sails, but we kept going. I think what really helped us was thinking that we wanted to make Sam proud. We feel that he is still guiding us, and we continue to grow and get stronger every day. Another challenge has been modernizing the business. Although Heritage Art Galleries has been around for over 35 years, the business had a huge inventory of fine art with no catalog, no website, and no reviews. In this aspect, it was like starting a whole new business.
Please tell us more about your services.
Heritage Art Galleries has been serving Florida since 1982. Don’t let our name fool you, we are more of an art shop than an art gallery. We like to say that this isn’t the type of gallery you would go to on a date, but it may be a place to take a date to buy them a really nice gift. LOL. We have a huge collection of originals and limited edition fine art prints from a wide variety of well-known artists.
Our specialties are custom framing, art restoration, and our newest addition, corporate art consulting. Custom framing is a lot of fun because the possibilities are endless. We love to help our clients think outside the box and frame objects that you wouldn’t otherwise consider hanging on your wall. We of course frame art, photos, and diplomas, but we also frame mirrors, sports jerseys, baby shoes, grandparents’ glasses, wedding bouquets – even your television!
I think what I’m most proud of is that we do this together as a family, and what sets us apart is our family approach. At least one of the three of us will serve you, everything is done in house, and we will ensure that you are thrilled with the final product. Another aspect that sets us apart is a fresh approach. Custom framing is an older industry and we are among some of the youngest people who do what we do. We bring a modern outlook and style to framing, while still working with your taste and budget.
What role has luck (good luck or bad luck) played in your life and business?
I think that my uncle passing was sheer bad luck, but it has pushed us a lot to grow and continue growing. We had to take things into our own hands. We are always honing our skills, and get better and better every day.
Contact Info:
- Address: 3811 NW 49th Street
Tamarac, FL 33309 - Website: www.heritageart.gallery
- Phone: 954-739-8975
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heritageartgalleries/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heritageartgalleries/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeritageArtFL
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/heritage-art-galleries-tamarac
- Other: https://g.page/heritageartgalleries
Image Credit:
All copyrights owned by Heritage Art Galleries inc.
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