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Know Your Client Base

College towns often have robust arts and cultural offerings that draw faculty, staff and other community members. In Davis, California, CRS Claire Black Slotton and her partners are adding to the local arts scene—and gaining clients in the process.

When Slotton and her partners opened up shop three years ago, they remodeled an office bungalow in the heart of Davis. They decided to make the conference room and reception area an exhibit space for artists.

“We have rotating art exhibits by local artists,” Slotton says, “and the Davis Downtown Association sponsors 2nd Friday ArtAbout,” a monthly self-guided art walk through galleries and businesses. Slotton cooks for the 50 to 70 people who come to an exhibit in her office, and she books local musicians to play.

While Slotton loves to cook and hang out with large groups of people, the art exhibits have helped her build her client base of University of California, Davis, faculty and staff.

“Over the years I’ve become friendly with the head of a particular department [at UC Davis], which is hiring extensively now, and all the new hires have been using me,” Slotton says.
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