January 30, 2017

The Dip ‘n Dab Story

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Childers, who shared with us the Dip ‘n Dab story.

Natalie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Dip ‘n Dab first opened in 2010 at a small studio in North Druid Hills. The concept was a byproduct of the recession. The founding members had both suffered layoffs and wanted to start a new career and create an avenue for people to escape many of the harsh realities during that time. They believed people needed something affordable that allowed them to explore their often suppressed creative side in a positive environment. The members funded the venture on maxed out credit cards and worked tirelessly to promote their concept. As with any business, they struck a balance of hard work and good luck. By the end of the first year, their classes were full, but more importantly, their customers were finding the experience uplifting and refreshing.

Has it been a smooth road?
The two biggest struggles we’ve experienced so far have been capitalization and parking. In 2010, it seemed impossible to find a bank willing to loan a start-up the necessary capital to properly fund a business. Tapping into savings and maxing out credit cards, we were able to open our doors, hoping the concept would gain traction. We relied on our “gut instinct” as our guiding force in many of the big decisions, such as site selection, name, and interior design. With hard work and a fair amount of luck, we persevered. Our second largest obstacle, was parking. We located ourselves in a small strip with about 40 parking spaces. We felt we had sufficient space, but quickly realized we were outgrowing the parking lot. With classes in excess of 60 people, we began to double and triple park cars in the rear of the shopping center. We figured everyone would leave around the same time, so we didn’t have to deal with people moving their cars during classes. This worked for a few months, but we knew it was a temporary fix while we searched for a new space. Most realtors we spoke to regarding our move, assured us that it would essentially erode our customer base and end our business. It wasn’t until we met with Mira Bergen with A Store Is Born, Inc. that we felt we had a strategy and an expert on our side to guide us through the transition. At Amsterdam Walk, with Piedmont park as our neighbor and the city skyline as our backdrop, we found a location with ample parking and a vibrant scene.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Dip ‘n Dab story. Tell us more about the business.
We are a locally owned small business where instructors guide people through step-by-step painting classes. No prior painting experience is needed. Our customers bring in their favorite foods and drinks and replicate the painting of the day. Unlike some other studios, we start with a blank canvas, we don’t pre-draw the picture or use stencils, because we believe that every person has the ability to be creative and the desire to express themselves! We also encourage our customers to personalize their paintings instead of making an exact copy of the demonstration canvas. All of the paintings we teach are made by the artists who have worked at the studio and every instructor has their own approach to teaching; you can see that stylistic variety as soon as you walk in the door or look at our online calendar. Our spacious studio allows us to have very large classes which tend to occur during weekends, but we also host smaller, more intimate classes on a regular basis. As of now, one Sunday a month is family day where all ages are welcome. If you’re interested in having a private event, the studio can be reserved for things like birthdays, bachelorette parties, and company gatherings, to name a few. We even offer off-site events where we bring painting supplies to the location of your choosing. We’re happy that we offer a way for people to unwind from their every-day stress. Our space offers a creative outlet for everyone and we achieve that through an abundant amount of positivity.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
In the next 5-10 years we’re hoping to expand the business and share art with the people who think they have outgrown it.

Pricing:

We offer both two and three hour class as well as private events.
The two hour classes are $30 and the three hour classes are $40. Private event prices vary based on a few factors, like party size, length of the class, time of the day, etc.
People can register for a class through our website and private event inquiries can be made either via email, phone, or on our website through a request form.

Contact Info: