A number of artists and vendors are frustrated by late or missing payments from a Colchester business that sells their creations. They’re wondering what’s going on.
For Kristy Hughes, creating beautiful art is a passion.
“I do crystals and resin, and resin takes 24 hours to cure. So, each piece is days of work,” she said.
Her business, Purple Goddess Crystals and Gifts in Hebron, had been selling pieces at Gifts on the Green in Colchester, where she rented shelf space for a few months.
“It was my first experience selling my work at another location beyond my own website, Instagram, and farmers’ markets,” she said.
Hughes says she was supposed to get paid bi-monthly based on the sales of her art pieces while paying rent for the shelf space.
But the payments hit a snag. Hughes said she received a late payment due to Gifts on the Green, which said there was a banking glitch. The business acknowledged the issue in an email newsletter to artists and vendors back in January. It also laid out the upcoming payment schedule, with the next payment due in January this year.
Emails show Hughes asking the business in February about a missing January payment, with a worker responding that it would arrive by mid-March. She says she’s still waiting for that money.
“This money that we artists rely on is needed, especially in this economy,” Hughes said.
The business sent a statement that said, in part:
“We take our commitments to artists and vendors very seriously and maintain clear documentation of our business practices.” While it says it could not publicly discuss private business relationships…gifts on the green said artists and vendors are “compensated fairly and respectfully.”
In addition to sending NBC Connecticut an email response, the business has also been responding to artists online.
Another artist, Mary Lou Morrisette, who verified to NBC Connecticut that she sold candles at Gifts on the Green, left a Google review this month, frustrated about her missing payment.
The business, verified on Google, responded to her saying it was a delay caused by their accounting system. Morrisette says she received her payment in the mail on Monday.
So, what recourse do artists have if they’re in a dispute about payments? Attorney Jim Bergenn with Shipman and Goodwin says artists and vendors should read contracts closely and keep good records.
“Document everything. Don’t throw anything out,” he said.
He says that while going to court for payment disputes may not be cost-effective, Bergenn says the Hartford County Bar Association offers lawyer referrals to help answer any legal questions that may arise.
“Lawyers will give you half an hour for like 50 bucks or something,” he said.
Hughes says she has kept documentation herself and has already pulled her art from the store. She hopes this can be resolved by getting her missing payment.
“We’ve been very patient, and I’m just kind of looking for answers, communication, and money,” she said.
