We were lucky to catch up with Jennifer Smelker recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jennifer, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I’m actually an engineer turned artist. I have my degree in environmental engineering and am licensed as a civil engineer. I’ve always been crafty and creative (sewing everything to decorate my home, photography, and creating my own wall art) but it took me a long time to finally call myself an artist.

While in college pursuing my degree, I began designing ads for the university newspaper and I continued to freelance graphic design for small-businesses throughout my engineering career.

In 2012, I designed a large canvas wall art that was illustrated with all the of activities, memories, and fun things about our family. Friends saw this on our wall, wanted one for themselves, and my small business was born. Months later I was invited to show it at an art event and a stationery store owner saw it and told me if I took that design and turned it into products, she would sell them. I had no experience making products, no experience selling wholesale to stores, and had no idea how to start. At that time, I couldn’t find any resources on the internet and getting my artwork onto products and selling wholesale seemed like a big secret.

However, I persevered, expanding my business and selling my artwork on products sold in hundreds of boutiques and department stores across the US and Canada. I eventually bid farewell to my engineering career in favor of pursuing my art and product development business. And I finally started calling myself an artist.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I started licensing my art to other manufacturers in 2019 and I’m thrilled to see my designs featured on a variety of products like home decor and gift products. I also started mentoring other small businesses, sharing my years of knowledge, stories, and insights on successfully selling artwork and products through my online classes and mastermind.

I have met so many talented people who want to leave their jobs like I did and start their entrepreneur journey. So I help other small businesses avoid searching the internet for solutions for weeks, making costly mistakes, or feeling alone. Instead I help others learn, create a plan, and gain support from an experienced wholesale business owner. With my mastermind and resources, I’ve seen other small businesses thrive, save time making a profit, and confidently launch their artwork and products into the world!

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

People are surprised that I left an engineering career for one of a full-time artist, and they are shocked to find that for several years I made more money as an artist manufacturing my own products, than I did as an engineer.

When asked why they are surprised I am an engineer turned artist, they say that it doesn’t seem possible to be both analytical and creative. I argue that most engineers I know are highly creative. They are innate problem solvers and have to be creative in their thinking to find solutions for the problems they are trying to solve. Artists may express their creativity differently, as they create what they see in the world with a different perspective, instead of problem solving. But both engineers and artists are trying to bring their ideas to life – just through different mediums.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I don’t have a business or accounting degree and I made so many business mistakes early on. I didn’t know about the Small Business Administration mentoring program, SCORE and I didn’t know I needed a business plan and that they could help me create one.

Like a lot of small businesses and artists, I didn’t pay myself a salary for many years and when I looked in my bank account, if I saw money then I thought I was flush, not accounting for future taxes, or if I was actually making a profit. I read Michael Michalowicz’s book, Profit First and that dramatically changed my business for the better. I started paying myself a salary every month (which makes doing accounting much more fun), started intentionally recognizing a profit (which is separate from salary), and making sure I saved for taxes.

When I started selling my products wholesale, I didn’t know anything and there were limited resources on the internet. I now teach other small businesses and artists, not just how to make a business plan or ensure they they pay themselves, but how to set up their business for success from the start, whether it’s getting their art onto products or manufacturing their own products, selling retail online, or selling wholesale to boutiques and stores. I teach all the mistakes and pitfalls to avoid so they will grow their business!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tandemfortwo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tandemfortwo
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tandemfortwo/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jensmelks
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/tandemfortwo

Image Credits

Jennifer Smelker and Pavillion Gift Co