Exciting times ahead for fledgling franchise Paint and Sip Studios which plans to open at least seven outlets in the next 12 months. The art sessions business has just opened its first two franchises, in New South Wales.

Founder and franchisor Kathy Patatou has business management experience and has been running Paint and Sip for three years.

“I’m really passionate and franchising is a natural pathway to grow the business. It’s about bringing on people who are just as passionate about being creative,” she tells Inside Franchise Business.

And while franchisees need to passionate about running their own business they don’t need to be artistic.

“We only hire accomplished artists as our staff, we focus on making sure we’re giving employment to local artists. We use artist quality materials so people are getting a proper experience,” explains Kathy. “We pride ourselves on this, we want artists in our studio.”

It’s all about creating a unique experience for the customer, she adds. “Customers often walk out with no idea they could create the artwork they have,” she reveals.

The concept was first launched as a mobile operation. Then, after trialling a pop-up store in the Westfield shopping centre, Kathy unveiled the first studio in Newcastle.

A second corporate-owned studio in Penrith followed, with franchise studios just unveiled in Liverpool and Rockhampton.

“We’d love to have a studio in every town across Australia, we’re about accessible art,” Kathy says. “We’re going territory by territory, moving into capital cities first and then the regions.”

The ideal retail space for a Paint and Sip studio is between 80 and 120sq m.

“We like a big open space. We don’t like to squish people in. It has saved our business through Covid,” said Kathy.

A studio of 100sq m holds 15 people for a session, which sits within Covid-restrictions. Full capacity in the largest studio is 60.

As well as the studios, there are numerous pop-ups located in clubs and pubs. And this is a flexible, territory-based business model that allows franchisees to run both mobile operations and studios.

At just under $50,000 +GST capital investment, Paint and Sip provides franchise set up and training, and support. Franchisees are expected to hold at least five weekly sessions – peak times are evenings, weekends and school holidays.