Editorial

Family Fun Franchise Helps Let Loose Your Hidden Artist

Painted Penguin

For Mike Nasatir, founder of The Painted Penguin, a paint-it-yourself craft store franchise, the idea started out as a reason to spend quality time with his daughters. While busy developing other businesses, Nasatir made sure to spend time one-on-one with each of his two daughters, now 9 and 12.

One of their favorite activities was painting ceramics. Why not, he thought, take the concept, improve it, and then start his own company?

Naming the company was a family affair and the first store opened about three years ago.

Headquartered in Round Lake, Illinois, there are now three locations in Illinois and another in Indiana opening soon.

Plans to Grow
“Our plan,” says Nasatir, “is to open 100 stores in the next five years and we are concentrating on the Midwest. Besides Illinois and Indiana, we’d like to develop in Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin and Iowa.

Unlike most ceramic stores, The Painted Penguin stores are located in high-traffic malls. Their colorful storefronts draw the walk-in clientele but are also ideal for group events. Shelves display decorative ceramic items, everything from dogs and cats to dragons and fairies.

The cost of the piece (from around $10 to over $175 each) includes everything needed to complete the item, from paint and glitter to sealing the finished product.

If that’s not enough to tempt a would-be painter, The Painted Penguin also has well-known artists do workshops for employees who can then help customers achieve the results they desire.

The Painted Penguin

Extra Touches Set it Apart
Using his own experiences, Nasatir realized that children like immediate rewards. So, while most ceramic stores fire and glaze your piece after you’ve left the premises requiring you to return later, The Painted Penguin offers decorative pieces and dries and finishes them for you on the spot.

Shaped like an igloo, the spray booth in the studio has windows so customers can watch as their artwork receives a coat of clear gloss. You leave with your finished product instead of making a separate trip a week or more later. “In my experience with my daughters,” said Nasatir, “they’d feel bad that they had to leave their piece behind when we’d finish painting. Then, when I finally got around to picking it up, the excitement of our time together would be diminished.”

Making the experience appealing to all ages, there are always children’s movies playing so that younger children, who may have shorter attention spans, can keep occupied while older siblings add as much detail to their piece as they wish. “Most ceramic places charge for the piece, the supplies (like paint), and for the time you spend,” says Nasatir. “We allow everyone to create at their own pace, even returning on another day to work on their piece if they wish.”

In fact, that’s one of the benefits for a customer at The Painted Penguin. Since there is a flat fee based on the piece itself, a budding artist can spend hours or longer perfecting the design. Nasatir says that returning customers will grow in their skill level and that in turn attracts walk-in clients who see the beauty of the work in progress.

The Painted Penguin also hosts events and offers a variety of party packages that are sure to be a hit with both children and their parents.

A BUSINESS FOR THE FUN-AT-HEART

• The craft industry represents $26 billion a year
• Lack of school funding for classes such as art means an increased interest in creative activities
• Geared to every age level – from young child through seniors
• Great locations (in mid to upscale malls) increase business
• Stores are bright, colorful, organized, inviting
• Penguin characters and interactive features increase fun factor
• Low investment – high satisfaction business
• Unwavering support from the corporate office
• System is continuously being improved to benefit the franchisees

A Ground-Floor Franchise Opportunity
The craft industry is a huge market and, backed by a great franchise model, you could become an owner of The Painted Penguin and reap the financial rewards. Chances are you’d have a ball doing it.

The Painted Penguin is looking for potential franchisees with a customer-service attitude, an interest in crafts, and who would enjoy working with children.

A talented support team offers superior guidance and is there to help you with everything -- from comprehensive training and operational support to marketing guidance and purchasing clout.

The Painted Penguin

If you’re tired of working for someone else and also want to put the fun back in your life, The Painted Penguin can be your dream job. Whether working with kids or seniors, you’ll get the satisfaction of knowing you are adding value to their lives.

“Completing a craft project,” says Nasatir, “is relaxing, enjoyable and a good bonding opportunity. Best of all, people get to keep the art project as a reminder of the experience.”