Tell us a bit about yourself and your business. What made you decide to open your own small business and how long have you been in operation?
I’ve been in operation for three years and the business started through a volunteer opportunity. I volunteered at the Dayton Correctional Institution and during my time I assisted men and women writing business plans. So many of the people there wanted to build paint party businesses. I started it as a fundraiser and it grew from there.
I’ve always been crafty and it’s something that relaxes me. I hired someone from my class at the Dayton Correctional Institution, she was a great artist and she was with us for two years. I created it to be a stepping stone be able to come in and relax and want it to be more life like. Creativity and growing in oneself. We are introducing kids classes focused on bullying prior to returning to school. Real life art and to be able to hire people who have been incarcerated with them being a great artist and me being a mentor. It’s ultimately the people who are incarcerated are so creative, and we help them make the right choices and provide for their family.
What do you enjoy about working in downtown Dayton?
Oh my gosh, every job I have had has been downtown! I started working downtown when I was 19 years old and I have been downtown since then. I’ve seen businesses leave and the city turn into a ghost town, all the way to downtown’s revitalization and beyond. Downtown is alive again. It’s an awesome time to be part of rebirth because most of the businesses now are small businesses. The Downtown Dayton Partnership has taken us from learning how to crawl to stand up to walk and run. We are truly in business because of the resources that are available to the businesses downtown as part of the education piece. It’s been a great time and experience. We were given tools and education, and support through the process. Some of us wouldn’t have made it without the Partnership.
We’re grateful to be a part of downtown. It’s an awesome space to grow in.
Tell us something about your business that may surprise people to learn.
One thing is people come in and find that no experience is necessary. That makes us feel really good – not only were they able to come in and paint, but they find they have creativity and have fun and enjoy the company.
How is your business coping with the pandemic and how can people support you now?
We are in a continual growing phase. We’re doing well, but of course we can always do better. People can support us by coming in and sharing the experience with others. We not only have the paint parties but we are gradually adding DIYs and have added a wine tasting twice a month on the First and third Friday and Saturday.
Picture Perfect Paint Parties
123 N. Ludlow St.
facebook.com/pictureperfectpaintparty
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