About Verde

Verde Mountain located at 19 Main Street- Bristol, Vermont is a showcase for home improvement professionals. Addison Counties one stop home enhancement center. Our specialists can do it all for you! From Design to build Verde Mountain’s team can make your house all it deserves to be……

When artist Reed Prescott grew up as a high school student working on Main Street in Bristol he loved the energy a Downtown community had to offer. Now some 35 years later he has his own business there- Verde Mountain. “I grew up seeing my community from the view of Main Street and although the demographics have changed the individual character has not” says Prescott as he works on a landscape from one of his large store front windows.

Asked in April 2011 by friends Tom and Carol Wells to come and set up a pop-up gallery in one of the seven vacant retail location on Main Street Mr. Prescott like others felt a sickness common to most Downtown business districts. His passion for the community inspired him to do his part. “After a few weeks on the street I was reminded of the joy I felt years ago and asked myself- OK, now that I am here what can I do to stay here? One conversation led to another and what emerged is now Verde Mountain.”

Prescott known for his Vermont landscapes and his two winning Vermont Duck Stamps spent the next few weeks sitting in the Downtown window working on landscape paintings in full view of the public. As he watched the life flow of the village he knew he needed to let the creative side of his brain develop a plan.

Mentioning to Carol that he needed to find a way to stay on Main Street she recommended he bring in a picture framer and share the expense. Prescott told that to friend Nancy Luke, a skilled window treatment professional who said “that’s a great idea… I thought of asking a friend who reupholsters furniture and does my installations to go in with me on a space” After that conversation Prescott went back to his easel and let those conversations sink in. Out emerged Verde Mountain- a showcase for local home enhancement professionals.

“The concept just started to take shape and as I tested the idea with other business professionals everyone I talked to supported the idea so we went forward with it. Bristol, not unlike most communities has a vibrant off Main Street economy that is thriving that would benefit from having someone working on their behalf promoting their skills and that is what Verde Mountain does. The Downtown location and foot traffic is perfect for that.”

Prescott spent the next few months pulling together local talent and on September 1st opened his Main Street store. “The talent in this area would blow you away. Decorative painter and Bristol resident Daniel Pitman who did most of the decorative painting at the Stoweflake Spa in Stowe walked by my window one day and I made a mental note. Then Skimmer Hellier, one of the owners of Stark Mountain Custom Woodworking of New Haven whose business constructed the reception desk at the Burton Snowboards walked by. Nancy Luke brought to my attention that another Bristol resident Pam Carter who had a retail space “Keeping Good Company’ at Maple Tree Place in Williston would be a perfect fit. In a short period of time the concept took form. All busy business professionals who saw the benefit in being part of collaboration where each part could help each other grow. I already see Pam’s interior decorating skills and love hearing her conversation with Pittman about jobs that will need a painter. Verde Mountain seems to have a life all its own where the creative members seem to find benefits in the service and product members. The product member’s creativity seems to inspire the creative team’s ability and how that fits in the open market place. The service members make it so that by coming to one location you can go from design to completion while each member only focuses on the one skill they do best.”

The business uses the Downtown visibility more as an advertising medium than a retail location. Within view of downtown eateries like the well known Bobcat Cafe and Brewery, the Bakery, pizza and sub establishment, diner, and Chinese take-out, Verde Mountain is positioned perfectly for that visibility. Verde Mountain is a direct referral showcase where members can show their skills in a true to life format. Where home owners can come in and see how an 8 x 10 foot decoratively finished wall section gives you a truer example than a 2 foot display panel. Where you can see a custom made wet bar with an Oriental rug and Hubbardton Forge lights, molding and trim by a contractor, original oil painting and all accented with an interior decorators touch. It is a show place that feels like home, created by local businesses and where the contact information of the members is freely given to anyone who wants it. That is because Verde Mountain works by businesses paying an annual fee to be a part and supplies the space with products or they can enhance an area to show what service they have to offer. The fee covers the business expenses so they get 100% of any referral. It is as if they are part of a trade show for the whole year at a cost below most of your traditional advertising options. Prescott staffs the place and promotes what member businesses offer while turning part of the space into his working studio. A winning situation for everyone involved. “Now I am starting to see businesses considering branching out to this part of the valley wanting to come on board. There is no better way to test a possibly market area at minimal risk.”

Just 4 months after Prescott arrived on Main Street the seven empty buildings have been reduced to two. The street and community has a new life that shows what Yankee ingenuity, what a passion for the community, and what creative thinking can accomplish in any economy and he is thankful for being able to be a small part of the change.

 

 

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