Entrepreneur Serene Bacigalupi’s Leroy’s Place gallery is funky, fun, and supports the work of local artists.

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Name of owner(s): Serene Bacigalupi 

Name of business: Leroy’s Place 

Years in business: 13, but brick and mortar for 3.5 years 

Bootstrapped or Loans, Friends and Family, Angel Investors, etc.: For years, I funded Leroy’s Place through selling my artwork at craft fairs and markets. As we took on larger creative projects like our films, I invested a small inheritance I received. Opening the brick-and-mortar stores required an outside investor. 

Social media handles: @Leroysplace (Instagram/Facebook/Twitter/YouTube) 

What is your “why” for starting your business? 

My mom has a wearable art business called Kiss of The Wolf; she has made beautiful hand-painted silk clothing since the 70s. My brother and I grew up at the craft fairs and museum shows where she exhibited her work. For me, it was a natural choice to create art and sell it. I was lucky to have a model for a successful art business. 

What is the significance of the name of your company? 

Leroy was my nickname for years, but I named the company Leroy’s Place before I knew it would become the umbrella for the crazy monster world it is today!  I always liked that the name gave me a little anonymity, like a pen name. I have since passed the name onto my son. 

Considering the fierce competition in today’s business world, how would you highlight your company’s competitive advantages? What makes your biz stand out from the crowd? 

Well, any creative business faces an uphill battle, but we have built a retail experience that is unique. To thrive, we believe retail must evolve. For us, that means creating an immersive environment that’s exciting to experience in person,  and a strong point of view in our curated handmade items. We also work a lot with humor, and let’s face it, everyone can appreciate a lighthearted escape these days! 

Who is your greatest support when facing hardship in business? Why? 

Like so many other small businesses, we faced huge challenges through COVID - it really put our entrepreneurial spirit to the test.  Despite the financial hurdles, my brother and I decided to pivot, and go into business together to open a second location of Leroy’s Place in New Orleans. Big business moves take a little faith, and I’m grateful to have a business partner that can help navigate all the peaks and valleys that come with risk. 

Have you experienced any challenges as a woman-owned business? If yes, can you describe? If not, why do you believe this is the case? 

Absolutely! The biggest challenge is that I’m often underestimated or spoken down to. It has been most apparent when negotiating contracts and leases. The best way to combat that is to be well researched and well prepared. There is nothing more empowering than responding to a diminutive comment with knowledge. 

What advice would you give your younger entrepreneurial self? 

Settle in! It’s a long road! There is no “finish line.” For me entrepreneurship is a lifelong process, and is always evolving. It’s a blessing and a challenge to be in the driver’s seat. It’s easy to find yourself bogged down in administrative tasks; make sure you are working toward a business model where you can be in a role that fulfills you. (And hire a bookkeeper! )

Does your biz support any causes/charities? 

Yes! We use many of the designs from our wholesale line to fundraise for a range of organizations. We make annual donations to Planned Parenthood, One Tree Planted, The Marsha P. Johnson Institute, The New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic, Feed the Second Line, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library,  the Church Street School for Music and Art, A Childhood For Children, and we continue to add more charity partners each year. We also work hard to curate other brands and products in our store that have a giveback initiative. 

What’s been your biggest entrepreneurial win? 

We are extremely proud of our Immersive Art Gallery in New Orleans. It was a long-term goal for my collaborators and I to have a presence on Royal Street among so many established galleries. The space represents a tremendous amount of work, and we are thrilled with the concept and design. 

Now for some fun questions: 

What’s your favorite metaphor for describing entrepreneurship? 

Time is money. Laughter is the best medicine. 

Top 3 places on the globe you WILL visit someday. Tokyo. Mexico City . Melbourne. 

Top 3 websites/blogs that you can’t imagine your day without and why..   YouTube for learning puppetry tips, Vimeo for exploring creative content, and Etsy for discovering makers. 

Top 3 web or mobile apps that make your workday more effective. Slack, Photoroom, Spotify

(Perhaps it could be 3 software programs?   Photoshop, Lightroom, Dropbox)     

Favorite woman-owned biz (other than your own!). We carry products by about 30 women-owned businesses, and I love them all! But I’d have to say my mom’s art business, Kiss of the Wolf, would be my top pick.