Bessie Mae's ...

 Our beginnings started in 1998 in a showcase in a antique mall in Atlanta, Ga. When we became empty nesters, we moved to the beautiful town of Dahlonega in the North Georgia mountains. We looked around for the perfect place to move our business and found a very small cottage 5 miles east of Dahlonega, next to the Old Dyer Store. After 4 years in the cottage we moved into the Old Dyer Store. It was much bigger and Cheryl had more room to work her magic. The name Bessie Mae's comes from my maternal Grandmother. She was widowed at 34 years old with 6 kids. She kept the farm in south Georgia for several years. She had 16 grandchildren. I am her second granddaughter. She left this world in January of 1991, at 81.

Our website offers only a sample of the wonderful selection we have in our store. Bessie Mae's offers four rooms that reflect our hand picked items and wonderful vintage atmosphere. The store is a unique experience for every visitor. There are very few old mercantiles left in the south, so we feel honored to be able to present our products in such a treasured environment!

The Sign Farm

 I have always been creative. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my ability to stay one step ahead of all the people who want to copy you. Believe me, if you go into any creative business you better be ready for that! Even when I was a kid, I would make things to give away for birthdays or try to sell.

 I didn’t start making money at it until I was stationed in Adak, Alaska while I was in the Navy in 1990. That was a very isolated place and I needed something to keep me out of trouble. (that part makes me giggle, remembering the trouble that is).

My aunt Joyce really was my inspiration. She always made us something cute for Christmas gifts and I just loved crafts. So I started making things. At first it was just for me to kill time. But then people started asking me to make them one. “I’ll pay you for it” was all it took for me to get the craft bug.

 Eventually I left that island and got married. I had 6 horses and our jobs couldn’t feed all those horses and us too. So this is where I really got busy. I started selling my crafts wholesale to the local flower shops. Eventually I started doing what we called “big” craft shows. It was during this time that I realized I loved making the signs the best. I had always loved sayings, even as a kid. I had collected hundreds of sayings by this time.

We stopped doing craft shows when my son started kindergarten (2003). We couldn’t have Ty out of school that long every month so this is where the mail order business you know today came from.

The Sign Farm has evolved through so many stages, it is crazy when you look back at it. Nothing happens overnight that is going to last. This economy has been tough the last year and a half. Companies we have known for years shutting their doors.

When it first became apparent that the economy was “tanking” I said we are just going to hunker down and hang on til this passes. (this really is how I talk) Well, after a year it became apparent that was a bad idea. So I started talking to our customers asking how can we make things easier for them. I took every suggestion to heart. If it could be done, I was going to do it! And for the most part I did.

I say that we are still in business because I am too stupid to give up. But the truth is I love it and can’t imaging doing anything else. I think that is the key to any success. I have the military to thank for my work ethic and discipline that I use everyday. Never be afraid of hard work and if you believe in yourself you can make anything happen.

One of my favorite saying is “determination is born out of frustration”. I am one determined individual!

Yvette Teele The Sign Farm