Getting right into it, I started my Mobile Sip & Paint business in 2019 and here I am in 2024 still running it. A lot of people call me to ask where I am located and whether they can book a class for two for the evening. In my mind, I do get a little disappointed sometimes since I know the only thing I can do is tell them unfortunately this business is not located anywhere but we bring the paint party to you, you need to book it at least one week in advance and you need at least 6 people so we can come out to you. So many requirements to meet before we can go any further. A lot of times I get replies like, "oh how nice, we will save your number and definitely call you when we are ready to schedule a paint party," and other times it's "oh thank you". No matter what the reply is, I always talk to the potential client like they are already my client and believe me, I have had people actually call me back months later to schedule paint parties, the reason they give me is, you sounded so great so we called you back.
Getting back into to why I started my business with this business model is mostly because of the convenience. Convenience for me so I can work around the schedule which best suits me and for the client in that they can have me come to their location to set up the paint party. Their big group of 6 or more people don't have to drive to another location for it. It is a win win for both of us.
Painting and everything related to art has been very close to my heart since I was a child and I could not let go of my creative side even as an adult, so I decided to transform what I love doing into a business. I love teaching, it brings me a lot of happiness when I see smiles on people's faces after they are done with their painting. That journey of painting from a blank canvas to creating something has it's own beauty and whether you are creatively inclined or not, I am so happy to bring out the artist in you.
Before I started my own business, I worked for a sip and paint business. I discovered how much I loved being around people and most of all helping them get in touch with their creative side. My business was born after I had my son who is now 6 years old. I just had to find a way of keeping this passion alive and that is when I came up with this business idea of starting a Mobile Sip & Paint company called Canvas & Brushes LLC.
Is this business still helping me keep my passion alive and obtaining me revenue? Yes, it is. As a mother of 2 now, it gives me the home and work life balance and with the amazing support from my husband, I am able to continue running my business. If you are thinking of turning your hobby or passion into a business, you don't need to think big, baby steps can help you accomplish that too.
Some questions you can ask yourself are what kind of product or service are you going to be providing? What materials and/or equipment will you need? How much capital do you need to start? Is this product or service something that people are looking to pay for? Are there any competitors out there doing the same thing and if so, look at what they are doing. What will you charge for your product or service? Who is your target audience? How are you going to market your business? How much business do you have to generate to break even? Will you be able to sustain your monthly expenses? Will you need to hire people? These are just some of them, there are many other logistics to think about when it comes to starting out a business. Brainstorming is a great way to jot down some of the ideas. I do a lot of it. Sometimes writing things down helps you think out of the box.
Remember, there will always be obstacles in the process of starting a business. As they say, Rome was not built in a day and it will take a lot of trial and error to get things moving smoothly. You have to keep being positive and remember that even if you make a little progress initially, it is still progress. That is what counts. I made it official when I registered my business as an LLC. Our family accountant helped me set it up. I couldn't afford to pay someone to design my business website so I did it on my own using WIX and learnt so much in the process. It can get a little demotivating sometimes when you don't see yourself earning steady income like you would if you had a job but reminding yourself of how far you have come and how much more you can accomplish is what you should remind yourself. As I mentioned before, make positive talk your best friend and do not give up. Talk to your friends about your business (not all the time) but just mentioning what you do can get the ball rolling. A lot of my friends have hired me for my paint party services and referred their friends and family my business.
The last thing I will mention in this post is networking. You should be willing to talk to people and give them an amazing vibe that they don't feel like looking else where for services similar to yours. Don't forget the social media presence as well. A lot of people use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc.
As I always tell my 6 year old, one good deed, one smile, one kind gesture goes a long way. So make your business go a long way with that personal touch. I hope you all enjoyed reading this post. Have a beautiful week and don't be afraid to transform that hobby or passion into a business! You can do it. Feel free to write to me if you have any questions.
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