Small business successes Among Culpeper’s established small
businesses is Village Frameworks. For more than three decades, the shop owned by Skip and Lou Price has been a shining example of a self-run business with deep local ties. “Aſt er being a self-
employed business owner for 34 years, there are a few things that we have learned and brought to the business world,” said Skip Price. “First, Culpeper has been a very great town for our business. T ey welcomed us with open arms when we opened our doors in September of 1990 in Meadowbrook Shopping Center. Our biggest decision was to move the business to 206 S. Main St., downtown, in September of 1999, our current location.” In the business, smiles abound as
Price Village Frameworks
customers seek the framing skills of the Prices. “A lot of those customers have become
longtime friends. We pride ourselves on the work we do and try our level best to do work, as if the framing that we do will be displayed
in our own home,” explained Price. T e term “community partner” applies
to businesses — like the Price’s — that help and nurture other local fi rms and families. T e bonds built within a community in good and bad economic times create resiliency and pride. “Some of the memories are being able
to raise our son in the business aſt er school and watching him become the man he is today. Family is most important. It has been great getting to know the other business owners in downtown Culpeper. T ey are a support group for all self-employed folks,” Price added. Over three decades of running a
successful business gives Price a valuable perspective. “T ere have been many changes in
the way business is done since we opened. Many of the vendors that we initially dealt with have closed their doors, causing us to scramble to meet our customer’s needs. Also, there have been turns in the economy that made it diffi cult to off er products as quickly as when we were fi rst in business,” said Price. “T e best thing is that we were able to change with the times and move
Tractors | Mowers | Handheld | UTV | Trailers
into the computer age. We invested in a computerized mat cutter that performs amazingly — if you put in the right information. T ere is only myself and my wife, Lou, that do the work. We have quite a few people who tell us that they could not work with their spouse. We recognize each other’s strengths, and the work gets done.” And the work will continue getting done,
with pride: “We still love what we do and can still do it, so we will continue until we can’t anymore. We look forward to creating many more memories.” Sharon Clark, owner of
the popular Pepperberries shop downtown, also has built a thriving enterprise embraced by the community. “Being a small business
owner has been amazing for the past 20 years. I had no idea how hard and rewarding it would be,” said Clark. “T e amount of time and energy you must put into it to be successful is certainly not for everyone. As one of my managers once told me, ‘You must balance the highs and lows. Don’t celebrate the highs too much and don’t
Clark Pepperberries
Retail Store & Service Center 16299 Allied Way, Culpeper, VA | 540.825.8371
CULPEPERCHAMBER.COM
etail Store & Service Center MON. - FRI. SAT. 8AM-12PM
7AM - 5PM CULPEPER CHAMBER COMMUNITY GUIDE | 17
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