Painted Tree Disappointment

Well…..what a ride.

When Painted Tree opened in Fort Wayne a few years ago, we were SO excited to be part of it. In the beginning, sales were amazing and it felt like such a great opportunity for small businesses like ours.

But over time, things slowly started to decline….and these past 6 months or so, it’s honestly just looked and felt so bad inside the store. On top of that, we weren’t even getting paid for items that we were selling. We spent months trying to get what we were owed, and it finally took filing with the BBB to receive our money.

And now today…..an email out of nowhere saying they’re closed for good. No warning. Just done. All locations across the US. I can’t say I’m surprised. And honestly, I’m not even that disappointed to be stepping away from what turned into a complete train wreck of a company. I’m just happy we were able to recover the money they owed us, some other vendors aren’t so fortunate and are still owed thousands and will probably never get paid.

Situations like this hit small businesses HARD. Behind every booth is a real person, a family, a dream, and income that people are counting on. When things like this happen – missed payments, no communication, sudden closure – it creates stress, financial strain, and a lot of uncertainty for so many.

So if you love shopping small, supporting makers, and being part of a creative community – now is the time we feel that support the most. Whether it’s sharing a post, making a purchase or simply reaching out with encouragement, it truly makes a difference. So thank you for showing up, supporting and wrapping your arms around businesses like ours when we need it most. You can still find Red Shed Designs at our booth inside Home Collective: 3209 Covington Rd, Fort Wayne, IN or online at our website or Etsy shop. Thank you for all of the support and people who shopped our booth at Painted Tree over the last several years, it means a lot to us!