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Becki Steier Studio

By Staff | Dec 4, 2016

Life is too short to live with a bad design.”

Those are the words Becki Steier lives by and that is no BS, unless you are talking about her new art gallery and graphic design studio. Then yes, that is BS.

BS Studio, that is.

Steier says the name of her studio holds two meanings they happen to be Steier’s initials, and it also happens to highlight her honesty when working with clients interested in her graphic designs.

Steier graduated in 2001 from the Art Institutes International of Minnesota with an associates degree in graphic design and print production. In 2004, she returned to her hometown of Blue Earth where she has worked as a graphic designer since.

With her many years of experience in publishing, sheet-fed printing, advertising and marketing, Steier seems to know her way around graphic designing; and last September, she took a giant leap into her own business venture.

Not only did Steier want to do her own graphic designing, she wanted to open a studio, which is now booming with local artists’s works. From fine art, to pottery, jewelry, writing, and even body care products, Steier boasts that 95 percent of her merchandise in her store is from Blue Earth artists.

“Those who are not from Blue Earth are from Faribault County, or pretty close to home,” says Steier.

She knew she wanted to start her own business for a few years, but had not decided what to put her savings towards. A new restaurant? A quaint little bistro for Blue Earth?

“I stuck to what I know and what I love,” says Steier. “So I opened the studio to not only showcase my own work, but the many hidden talents of our town.”

Steier is renting the corner property of Main and Sixth Street from Jim Pollard and has turned an empty storefront into a Main Street haven. Steier says she spent all spring and summer working diligently to get the store looking like new.

And now, with business hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m on Saturdays, Steier has been steadily bringing in business.

Now that Steier is moved in and business is growing for her, she says the local business atmosphere is a pleasant surprise.

“It was a slow start because of the Main Street construction, but now things are steady,” says Steier. “It is so nice to see support from the other stores on Main Street. Dikken’s, Michele’s and Classic Cuts have all sent business my way before, and it’s very appreciated. It’s nice to see support for each other and not competition.”

Steier says one of the highlights to BS?Studio is the array of quality, unique artistry items that she has in her store.

“These are unique items, and this whole idea is about all locally made stuff,” she says. “Somebody made this. Someone from our area spent their time and passion doing this for us. When you get a piece of art, you get a piece of that artist. They are truly one of a kind.”

Steier admits that some items are priced in the fine art price range because they are meant to be such. She says it took some convincing from some artists to share their works with the studio.

“There are pieces in here from artists that they really don’t want to sell,” says Steier. “They want someone to be invested in that piece as much as they are and that is so great to see and feel that passion come from these artists. They deserve that for sharing their great works with the studio.”

There are other hidden art treasures in Steier’s studio, and those artistic items are on Steier’s computer. When Steier is not busy talking fine art with her customers, she is working with customers all across the United States who are interested in her graphic design talents.

And, she says this is where she really gets to present her studio’s name.

“When I am working with a customer who is interested in my designs, I don’t give them any BS. I will tell my clients like it is to not only get the best quality out of what they want, but for the best price,” says Steier. “When I design something, I am designing it for my customer, not me. I want customers to come back again and again and again, so I make sure it is cost effective as well as making sure I am bringing their ideas to life.”

Whether it is birth announcements, wedding invitations, business promotions, billboards, fliers, or business cards, Steier has done it all.

Steier, who worked at Blue Earth Graphics before she began her own business, says she is grateful for the continuous working relationship with the printing shop located across the street from BS Studio.

“The group that works there are amazing people, and we are so thankful to have a printing shop in town,” she says. “We went from three local print shops down to one and I am very appreciative of their services. They are amazing.”

Steier says she owes one more huge debt of gratitude to two people: her parents, Tim and Barb Steier, who are the managers and owners of Blue Earth Aviation.

“My parents were supportive of the entire process and helped me so much with the tables and the redecorating in the studio,” says Steier whose two main display tables are re-purposed shed doors from her family’s farm.

“My mom was super helpful with everything, she and my dad spent weeks sanding and creating a lot of the tables and display pieces in the studio,” says Steier. “My friend Kelly Espeland helped with our tables, too.”

If graphic designing and having an open store with an artisanal array of items was not enough for Steier, she also hosts a number of craft classes including her weekly “Stitch and Bitch” sessions where members of the community are welcome to “escape the monotony of the work week and unwind” by bringing their knitting, crocheting, cross-stitch or any other small project they are working on.

Steier also has a number of local artists teaching classes at the studio as well, including Sara Albright of Sunshine Art Creations, who will be hosting a winter painting party on Dec. 19.

“There is still time to sign up for this awesome class and all the supplies are included,” says Steier. She hopes to continue to have local artists share their abilities with customers in the future.

To say Steier is excited about the prospects of the future for her studio is an understatement. She looks forward to the future of her studio and hopes for many years of success on Blue Earth’s Main Street.

And that is no BS.