We are thrilled to share with you a wonderful write-up from the November 2014 issue of Cape Fear Living Magazine about our sister-business Eclipse! The article highlights many of the aspects of the boutique that makes Eclipse a “must shop” for local and regional artisans.
The concept of opening an artisan boutique, named Eclipse, was inspired by almost fifteen years of growth and success generated by Blue Moon Gift Shops, a sister business, located within the Racine Art Center. When the space adjoining Blue Moon became available in mid-2013, the owners of Blue Moon were driven by the desire to trail blaze yet another business in Wilmington. The vision was clear – a traditional art gallery that is not so traditional and thus Eclipse was the next celestial happening on Racine Drive.
The propitious opening of Eclipse was a perfect time to re-envision the idea of a traditional gallery approach. Upon entering Eclipse, customers are transported into a truly original space with decorative elements such as the stunning concrete floors stained to resemble molten copper. The floor highlights an artisan-made, circular copper front counter surrounded by original fine art and eclectic hand-crafted pieces including a flying stainless steel mermaid. After transforming the physical space, the staff began collecting an eclectic mix of fine art, custom furniture, as well as European antiques, a couture line of Italian handbags, and luxury Alpaca bedding, further setting it apart from a typical gallery. The unique look of Eclipse is matched only by the creativity of almost 100 featured artists; many of whom are local to Wilmington and the surrounding region with stories as intriguing and varied as the pieces they create.
Customers get the feel of a gallery without the traditional gallery protocol. The friendly and approachable staff of Eclipse, with backgrounds ranging from sales and interior design to fine art, enjoys engaging customers through a shared dialogue. This warm staff loves the opportunity to share information about an artist’s background, influences and motivations of the pieces located within the walls of Eclipse.
Every detail of Eclipse has been well thought out. From the placement of art, the pairing of items to create interesting vignettes in order to inspire the imagination of customers, and a consistently rotating body of work that continually attracts new talent. The vision of Eclipse extends to its philosophy of customer service. Eclipse strives for an exceptional and unparalleled focus on customer service in order to ensure that customers feel welcome and comfortable. This customer service is evident at every turn…from constant inclusion of new artists and artwork, to commissioned custom work, to assisting customers in finding exactly what they are looking for, and even complimentary gift wrapping. The staff works tirelessly to assist customers in locating a variety of hand-crafted items that accent the unique personalities of Eclipse’s customers. The personalized experience that customers receive goes as far as to assist in the creation of custom-made pieces in collaboration with the artists, as well as consultations for interior design.
Already voted the Best Art Gallery 2014 by Encore Magazine readers, the never ending array of artisans and goods will keep Eclipse a favorite in Wilmington. If your lifestyle demands a flair for the unique then Eclipse is a “must shop” locale for a truly one of a kind piece for your one of a kind lifestyle. But don’t take our word for it, come and experience Eclipse for yourself!