Today we’d like to introduce you to Cami Adams Sarah Payne.
Hi Cami Adams, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In 2017, my (Cami) daughter (Chloe) asked if she could take art lessons. She was 8 at the time and a bit of an introvert. I was thrilled that she expressed an interest in something and began searching the area for any type of art class experience for her. I found nothing. I couldn’t believe there wasn’t an outlet for these kids. When I expressed my frustration to my husband his response was “you could do it.” I was an art major in college and did have experience, but like most mothers, wanted to give my child the best and didn’t feel confident that that was me. However, there wasn’t another option, so with the determination only a mother has, I dove in! We did art class once a week at the kitchen table and we were loving it! Neighbors and friends started asking me if I’d be willing to open it up for their kids as well. This was terrifying, but eventually I summoned the courage. I told my daughter we needed a name for our paint class business and she came up with “my little paintbrush.” That summer we had roughly 12 kids a week come through our home for paint class. It was an adventure and we were loving it. I decided to extend it through the fall and by December I was teaching well over 100 kids a month. My husband mentioned us needing a new space and I knew which one I wanted. It was a cute little shop off Main Street in Lehi. By January 3rd, my husband handed me the key. I would have never had the courage to do it myself, but he believed in me.
I immediately reached out to my sister (Sarah). I knew I could not do this alone, and I was 100% confident she was the business partner I wanted and needed. It took a little convincing at first, but thankfully she jumped on board and together, we opened My Little Paintbrush – in studio paint classes for all ages!
The first month was a whirlwind! All the emotions, the stress, the excitement, the fear! But people came. So so so many people. Every class, every mistake, we would look at each other and say “that’s it. They won’t be coming back.” But the customers kept coming and we kept learning. By the end of 2019 we were teaching well over 1200 kids a month.
And then March of 2020 came. Nothing prepares a small business for the potential of a “short term” shutdown. There was no way we would survive that. We knew we could close our doors and pay our bills for a month or two, but that was it.
I (cami) will never forget the pure, clear as day picture that flashed through my head one day while trying to cope with the possibility of completely shutting down our business. Paint kits. Why not. To completely pivot your business within a few weeks is insane. But we knew we had to try. We purchased some recording equipment, sourced some product, and asked our customers to join us for “at home” paint classes.
Once again, they showed up! We sold 100’s of kits every month. It was just enough to see us through the Covid era. By 2021, we still had our studio and were able to reopen. But at that point we had two offerings – in studio and at home art classes. The community was struggling as was the rest of the country to get back into society, to figure out what that looked like for their family. It was a slow reopen, and we realized it just wouldn’t ever be the same as before. As much as that hurt, we were blessed with a new path and an option to continue to do what we loved – we had our paint kits and we could reach even more customers and bring the love of art to even more children. The end of 2023 we closed our shop. It was one of the hardest things we’ve ever done. But we were at total peace with it. We went 100% online offering 100’s of paint kits every month and nationwide shipping. It was a hard adjustment at first, but it was what was best for us, our families and our customers.
Today we enjoy filling orders through our website and Etsy and love traveling through the state participating in local shows and boutiques and spreading the joy of creativity!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Balance. We are moms first, and the juggle of running a business and meeting the needs of our children simultaneously has been the most difficult. The profit and loss, employee management, customer satisfaction, etc doesn’t compare to the stress you carry as a mother. But with our husbands support and our children’s involvement in the business, we have found so many silver linings and overall successes through the bumps along the way.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We are artists and creators. Both of us began painting at a young age and found so much joy and satisfaction in it. Our favorite medium is acrylic paint, and our favorite students are children. We love their imaginations and the grace they give themselves when they create something new. We had a Picasso quote on the wall of our studio that read “every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” If a child can freely create without criticism and judgment, they will have the confidence to create as adults! We experienced this first hand in almost every class we taught.
Throughout our years of teaching, we developed a clear understanding of how to engage each child. How to excite and encourage them, and how to give each one of them a personalized experience even in class sizes of 40 or more students! The knowledge we gained has been priceless, You have to experience it first hand to have it. It can’t be taught. These are the things we’ve taken with us and implemented into our paint kits. From brush sizes to quantity of paint to teaching via YouTube tutorials, every step matters if you want the artist to walk away successful.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Our biggest fans are moms! We’ve always believed in them and the power behind women supporting women and moms supporting moms. They have spread the word about our classes and kits and they are the reason we have been successful. We continue to ask our fellow moms to tell people about our paint kits and help us keep creativity alive. In a world where our children spend countless hours on electronics, we want to remind people about the importance of keeping our hands and minds busy creating.
Pricing:
- We have worked tirelessly to keep our products affordable for all budgets. Our paint kits come with everything you need and are under $25 each.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mylittlepaintbrush.com
- Instagram: @mylittlepaintbrush
- Facebook: @mylittlepaintbrush
- Youtube: @mylittlepaintbrush5303
