Alpine Artisan Studios, located at 1170 W. 120th Ave., is a commercial, seasonal décor design manufacturer and installer of customer projects and art displays. We spoke with CFO Loni Gilfedder to learn more about the projects and products they create.
What can you tell us about your business?
Alpine Artisan (AA): We were originally founded in 1935 in Denver as Evergreen Specialties. We rebranded in 2009 to Alpine Artisan Studios when Jenn Vanini assumed ownership.
Who are your customers?
AA: We serve destination properties, indoor and outdoor shopping centers, resorts, airports, and botanic gardens.
What makes your business unique?
AA: Alpine is proud to be a woman-owned small business in Westminster. We are one of the few actual manufacturers of large-scale, custom holiday décor in the United States. Our shop has an experienced team of artisans, and our production consists of the following on-site shops: hand assembly, welding, paint, carpentry, and computer numerical control (CNC). It is amazing to see a client’s vision evolve to design and then to completion. Once completed, we often do the installations of the décor in Colorado and beyond. You can find our work not only in Colorado, but also in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and many other venues across the United States.
You’ve created some well-known projects at some top venues, what are some examples?
AA: We are fortunate to be a part of some incredibly creative projects in Colorado and beyond. Some of our clients and projects include:
- The City of Westminster – we did the 12’ soldiers, candy canes, and the large tree in front of City Hall
- We were commissioned by the Philadelphia Zoo in 2023 for a custom, giant 40’ animated light show penguin
- We manufacture and install approximately 80% of Colorado Class A shopping center market décor including The Orchard Town Center, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver International Airport, Cherry Creek Mall, Park Meadows Mall, Vail Resorts, and many more
- We’ve had 40 years of partnership with the Denver Debutante Ball and the Brown Palace
Why did you choose Westminster?
AA: We enjoy the community support we receive in Westminster. Our work can be seen throughout Colorado, but it starts in Westminster. We especially appreciate the support from the City of Westminster team that has helped us navigate these challenging past few years!
Which direction is your business heading and what’s on the horizon?
AA: In addition to holiday décor, we have expanded to work with a variety of venues on artistic installations. We have an incredible design staff and full-time artisans year-round, and we would like to continue to work on creative projects for the holidays and beyond!
You were recently awarded a Capital Improvement Grant by the City of Westminster to assist with the purchase of a new CNC router and accessories; how did this grant help your business?
AA: We were very fortunate to obtain the Westminster Grant for the purchase of our new computer numerical control (CNC) router in 2022. Our master carpenter is thrilled with how this tool has expanded our capabilities. Not only can we complete more detailed projects, but the time and money savings have also been great for the company. We have found that some projects that used to take an hour can now be completed in just 15 minutes.
For more information about the Capital Improvement Grant and to apply, visit our business resource webpage.
To learn more about how the City of Westminster can support your small business, visit our Economic Development webpage at www.westminstereconomicdevelopment.org.