Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Eddy.
Hi Kelly, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have always been crafty and tried my hand at many creative ventures, in fact it has become a little joke between my husband and I. For the 30 years we’ve been married, I’ve been saying I would find a way to make money with my projects and crafts. Most recently before opening the studio in 2019, I had been hand painting and selling religious and inspirational artwork at a shop in the tourist town of Frankenmuth. After discovering Board & Brush through a friend, it was very clear that this was the natural next step. I fell in love with the brand, business model and style of the franchise and thought even if I had designed it myself – it couldn’t be a more perfect fit. I was still working full time as an OT at the time, and thought I would continue to do that until the studio really took off but that quickly changed as the studio was busy from the start and was way more involved than expected. So it became my full time gig right away.
I would say how we got where we are today, is a multi faceted answer. We poured our heart, souls and all our time into it. We hired an amazing staff who loved the brand right away too, and worked hard to help us build it. Many of that original staff is still with us and have become like family. They are loyal and hard-working, and we trust when we are not there make it a happy & helpful place just like we do. I think a big part of how we are still around 7 years later, is that we make the studio a warm & welcoming place to escape the real world for a few hours, find your creative side, laugh & DIY with friends, and just relax while you make a beautiful piece of home decor.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh not a smooth road. We opened in 2019, and then came covid, We were closed for 98 days in 2020 and laid everyone off! It was terrifying and hard. We had to pivot and find a way to still have cash coming in. So David and I were making projects for customers and trying anything we could come up with to sell instead of workshops! and then of course wood went crazy high prices and that was frustrating too and did not go back down for a long time, or all the way back to the previous price ever!
The current economy and cost of EVERYTHING is a challenge for all small businesses
Owning a small business is all-consuming and can take over your life! It is hard & exhausting to never have your to-do list completed. It has taken a toll on our marriage in some ways, and taken us away from family things at times.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Board & Brush Creative Studio?
At Board & Brush, we combine the joy of wine and paint with the classic timelessness of wooden signs. Our instructor-led DIY wood sign workshops allow you to combine your creativity and willingness to learn new skills. We provide you with the instruction, materials and design for you to distress, sand, stain, paint, and customize your personalized piece of art!
I think what sets us apart from other DIY businesses, is that because we are very hands on, instructor led and use stencils- it is actually something everyone can do! From your 5 year old to your husband to your grandma. It is actually hard to mess it up. And also we offer projects that you can use in your home practically, and beautiful home decor pieces that you love!
I am very proud of the way our brand encourages our customers to become comfortable with DIY and find their inner creative even if they think they are NOT artsy at all! We hear that all the time…The other thing I am most proud of is the warm, welcoming and happy place we have created, Our staff is so wonderful and helpful, and has supported our vision from Day 1 of the kind of studio we wanted to be. We all truly love the customers and many of them have become friends.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Since David and I are NOT business minded, he works for the Post Office, and as I said I was an OT prior to this, we needed a lot of support and help! I say it all the time, we honestly had no business opening a business…We struggled to get a business loan, it took rejections from 3 credit unions, and 2 banks before we met Jesse Kendall at 1st State bank. From our very first meeting with him, he said we WILL find a way to get you the money! He believed in us and our idea from day 1. He made it happen, helped us all the way through that process and continues to be a friend & mentor to this day 7 years later. He also connected us with our accountants Grapp Lerash, who have also been with us since (almost) the beginning. I could NOT do this without them, as I am the creative brain and not the numbers brain. They take care of all the not fun stuff. Our best friends and family have supported us all the way through and are always there to help when we need anything
Pricing:
- Full size workshops $73-80/project
- Time Crunch/mini workshops $35-40
- Kids parties $35-40 per project
- Doormats $40
- Bb@home kits $25 each
Contact Info:
- Website: https://boardandbrush.com/saginaw
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boardandbrushsaginawMI
