Two Painters In A Pod . com

Interview with Patricia Hansen of Carolina Custom Interiors...

 
New faux and mural painting business in North Carolina.

You can reach her at: 910-364-4433

She has innovative and artistic decorative painting ideas for homes and offices.

This interview with Patricia is about 30 minutes packed with ideas to help you get started in your own mural and decorative painting business.

Gift and Floral Shop in Fallon, Nevada. 

Faux Painting and Vines custom designed and painted by Patricia Hansen. 

Patricia has been painting for several years in Yuma, Arizona; Reno, Nevada, and now she works in the Dunn, North Carolina area. She does move often!

Patricia started her faux painting business by apprenticing with Debra Conrad, THAT Painter Lady, and then took the leap into self-employment.  The training she received was all on the work site and within her own home. Patricia has no artistic background whatsoever.

In the course of learning about decorative painting and stenciling, Patricia learned that she has a real knack for this type of art. Transforming her home by using those walls as her canvas, gave her the opportunity to showcase her talents. Then by photographing the finished results, she now had the start of a great portfolio.  

Her first professional client in Reno, came to her by chance. This is the way new businesses often get their starts. Patricia had invited a couple from church over for dinner, and the wife was enchanted with her painting ability. Listen in to the podcast to find out how Patricia got her first commission during this informal meeting.

As a new business owner, Patricia knows the value of networking. We review a few of her techniques that help her get known, and her foot in the door. You will be surprised at all the possibilities that are waiting for you, no matter what size town you live in.

 Faux Window with Stenciled Iron Work
  Patricia Hansen  Carolina Custom Interiors

 Patricia has a husband and five children to take care of, plus she is working part-time as a substitute teacher and she is the president of an womens church organization with over 200 members. She has a lot on her plate! In her spare time she is working overtime to get her new faux painting business off the ground.

Some of the ideas discussed in this interview are:

• Charging for consultation
• Portfolio
• Advertising
• Fliers
• Approaching designers, contractors and other business owners
• Networking
• Branching out in other decorating areas

This new entrepreneur shares some of her advertising tips. I think her ideas are practical and inventive.   And, they are also done on a budget which is always the best kind of advertising… if it isn't free, then cheap is almost as good.

Technorati Tags: Faux, Painting, business, owner, North Carolina, Two Painters In A Pod, Debra Conrad, Patricia Hansen

Have you ever stenciled? Did you do the cute country stenciling in a boarder many years ago?  I did… I am so ashamed. It's an ugly… ugly thing.  Those walls have long past been painted over.  

If you are ever tempted to stencil like this photo… step away from the paint!

This is country mixed with southwest style. Ugly!

Stencils used to beautify your home should be done with an artistic flair.  Using good stenciling manipulation guidelines and great stencils… you will have fantastics results. 

 RoyalDesignStudio.com and Melanie Royals has dvd training, free tutorials, stencils and supplies. Use stencils to same you time and effort in your mural painting business.  You will be surprised at the ideas you will get from this website. 

Using the dvd's to train yourself in manipulative stenciling, Tuscan faux finishing, grape vines as well as a ton of other techniques.  You can sell so many of these finishes because they are easy for your client to understand. 

(Update: 011/15/2007) Just checked in with RoyalDesignStudio.com and they have revamped their website.  Very Nice! 

If you don't have your logo on every t-shirt or hat you wear, your not marketing yourself effectively. Cafe Press gives us all the opportunity to market with our business logo every day.  You will be surprised by the number of potential customers that will ask you what you do… just because of your shirt.

I get a call at the end of the show.  It's hubby… and he just wants to let me know it's 118 degrees outside.  I think I will stay inside in the air conditioned weather. 

Show Notes are in the article placed above.

Click on the Blue Arrow to play or the tiny orange mp3 logo to download.

 

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