We recently connected with Abby & Jill Severino and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Abby & Jill thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?
My business started, sort-of, accidentally. In September of 2020 I found myself missing one of my many jobs as an artist, teaching. And I knew my students were home from school and likely missing art class as well. So I posted on a community Facebook page asking for feedback! I wanted to know if there was a need or interest for outdoor art classes during the pandemic, and if there was, what exactly were people looking for? At the time, this post became my most commented on content to ever hit my social media accounts! And from there, Art with Abby backyard art classes were born! Some of my first students in those outdoor classes are now in middle school, and have requested to volunteer at our 2023 Studio 323 Summer Camp program! It feels so great to have connected with so many families during a time of no connection…and then to carry those connections into each of the next chapters is so special!
Abby & Jill, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Studio 323 is a family owned art studio & shop in Phoenixville, PA, run by mother-daughter-duo, Jill Severino & Abby Wheeler (that’s me)! But our origin story starts much further back than the February 2023 Grand Opening of our space on Bridge Street.
I started my business, almost by accident, in September of 2020. I missed teaching at the art center in town, and my students were home from school. Kicking into problem-solver-mode, I started offering art classes for kids in my backyard, not realizing how quickly this would grow. Through word of mouth, and Facebook posting, my classes went from 3 students to 10 in about a week! And before I knew it I had classes almost every afternoon of the week. As time passed, the needs of the community changed, and I tapped into all of my creative gifts to keep my budding business relevant and growing! From face painting & summer camp, to virtual workshops for adults…I did what I could with what I had.
Now that I’ve opened Studio 323 with my mom, all the creative services that Art with Abby had been offering on the move, now have a home base! We are celebrating with more and more families each month, offering face paint and craft parties for all sorts of occasions! We are hosting SEVEN weeks of Summer Camp this year in our adorable studio space! We are always adding new adult offerings like workshops and date-night! PLUS, our new space allows us to support and promote so many talented local artists through our retail shop & Artist of the Month program!
So whether you are interested in shopping local art, celebrating with our party services, classes for kids, or making new memories yourself…you are bound to find something for your creative side at Studio 323!
Have you ever had to pivot?
Our business feels to have been built entirely out of pivots and curves! In December of 2019, I left my full time job as an account manager at a ceramic supply shop because my physical and mental health were failing, and I couldn’t seem to create a good work/life balance where I was. So I took a more part time job, at a more creative small business, and tried to increase my teaching hours at the local art center. Meanwhile, my mom and I dreamed up all kinds of visions of teaching workshops for women, sharing our artwork together at craft-shows, and hosting creative retreats! Then BOOM…Covid! Art centers closed, crafts shows were canceled…and everything changed just 2 short months into my adventure away from full time employment.
So…my mom and I shifted to virtual offerings for women, hosted weekly creative happy hours via Zoom, and my Art with Abby backyard classes for kids were launched! From there, we have been bobbing and weaving throughout the changing needs of our community…most recently, opening our community art studio on Bridge Street, in Phoenixville, PA!
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Showing up & and giving exceptional, genuine service! Honestly…our clientele has grown more from word of mouth than any other marketing strategy we have tried! Each event we are booked for is an opportunity to show what we are all about, not only to the person/organization who has hired us, but every guest at the event gets to experience the creative magic the Studio 323 team brings! Classes in our space do the same…we hope each student feels the love and intention we infuse into everything we do here at Studio 323! Next time…they bring a friend to experience it for themselves! We love creating memories with our people that make them want to spread the word about all the goodness we have to give!
Contact Info:
- Website: studio323pxv.com
- Instagram: studio323pxv
- Facebook: studio323pxv
Image Credits
Alex Morra Photography