Bill Farrell had an unusual inspiration for starting a family business: his oldest son’s art. Liam was just 7 years old when the family rounded up his artwork and put it to a vote; democracy dictated that his art would be printed on T-shirts. With that, the Farrells dove in head-first with no experience whatsoever into the apparel industry.
They met this challenge head-on by learning the basics at A La Carte Design in Wayzata and joining forces with Bill’s old high school friend Joel Baardseth, an artist armed with previous experience in the world of apparel. He consulted with the Farrells on how to build their line before officially becoming part of the team. Soon, the family was accepting art submissions from many young artists and made the brand all about youth art. After jumping through a few more hoops, they’re now sitting pretty in their own retail location in Uptown.
The Deephaven residents see the inclusion of their kids in their business as a way to build their creative prowess. “When kids see their art on a shirt, a mug, an iPhone cover or a canvas, their confidence skyrockets,” Bill Farrell says.
Because of this, the family has expanded their business to include a custom art service in their product offering. Moms, dads and grandparents will beam with pride as they show off their young artist’s talent displayed on their gadgets and apparel. Along with Farrell’s new Uptown digs, Impact of Excelsior sells Farrell’s premium men’s and women’s line while The Bungalow in Excelsior has sold the kids rashguard line.
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To learn more about the Bobiam Art Studio, call 763.222.3363.
