By now we all know that A Trillion Smiles is all about handmade and personalized gifts, from resin keepsakes to scented candles to crochet flowers and more. We love experimenting and are always dabbling in new stuff, you know? But here's the deal – trying new things means needing space to experiment.
Hi, I’m Muskan, your human gift guide, and I finally took the plunge and moved my creative chaos from home to my very own studio! And let me tell you, it's been a game-changer for me and my gifting business.
Let's rewind a bit. For seven years, I hustled from home. I never let the lack of space at home be an excuse. My family was a dream, adjusting to my resin art mess on the dining table and my candle-making takeover of the kitchen. Whenever the inventory or raw material required more storage space, we always found a way out, be it building more storage units in our apartment balconies or them letting me freely use the living room for those corporate orders. But you know what? There came a point where the mess was taking over and my house stopped feeling like a home. It was more of a warehouse, and I knew it was time for an upgrade. Investing in a dedicated space became a necessity, not just to reclaim my living space but to have room to breathe and create freely.
Enter my first-ever studio – a magical space where creativity flows, and ideas come to life without the worry of encroaching on someone's chill zone or the constant need to tidy up. And boy, has it made a difference!
Here’s what changed:
Storage Solved
I used to squeeze all my raw material and art supplies into every nook and cranny in my room. But no more. In our studio, we've constructed numerous shelves and units to accommodate our growing inventory. While managing with limited space at home was manageable initially, it eventually became essential to expand. Ordering in bulk quantities is a cost-saving strategy, and having sufficient storage has become indispensable as the business grows.
Productivity Tripled
The second big change is how much more productive my schedule has become. Back in the day, I was notorious for staying up late and waking up even later. I'd be burning the midnight oil, packing orders and doing errands until the early hours. Plus, there were endless distractions at home – relatives dropping by, the cozy bed tempting me on cold winter mornings – you name it. I found myself gravitating towards digital tasks because they seemed easier, while the hands-on stuff got pushed aside. And let's not forget the time-suck of random household chores and kitchen trips every ten seconds. But since moving into the studio, I've implemented a strict 9-to-9 schedule, and it's been a game-changer. My productivity has tripled in the same amount of time. No more midnight snacking or erratic sleep patterns – I'm getting a solid eight hours of shut-eye and hitting the ground running at 9am sharp. I even take proper lunch breaks and squeeze in productive tasks during downtime.
The artist in me can now experiment more with the hands-on stuff, not just digital tasks, allowing me to create a lot more than I used to and actually implement the ideas I've been penning down for so long. The entrepreneur in me is loving the structure and discipline, and the energy I feel while heading to work on something I absolutely love is absolutely amazing.
But while I anticipated the benefits of having ample storage space and a better routine, what pleasantly surprised me were the unexpected advantages that came with having a dedicated workspace.
Creative Overdrive
It's not just because of my schedule that my productivity increased, but also because I'm in a creative space where ideas flow freely. You know, I never really run out of ideas (thu thu). Whenever I get inspired, whether it's from something I see on the internet or just being out and about, I always jot it down in one of my notebooks (not on phone, never on phone!). And since moving into the studio, I've been able to bring those ideas to life much quicker. I always held back from going overboard with the experimenting at home. But now, I'm going all in with this dedicated space. And the best part? I don't have to worry about cleaning up every day. It's an art studio, so a little mess is totally fine. It's like a creative playground where I can experiment with new mediums without worrying about putting projects on hold. I can now save the time to wrap up every night and continue with the process the next day, week or month.
I can freely work on a new project and give it the time that it needs without holding back because of external constraints. Experimenting is not a one-day process. Take our previous collections, for instance. Perfecting a candle wasn't just a week-long endeavor; it took us months to figure out the right fragrances and pour temperatures. We had to dive deep into learning about different wicks, wax blends, hot and cold throws, burn times, sinkholes and so on. Working on the labels, incorporating personalization, sourcing the right materials, quality testing, each step required a lot of time and space. Being in this creative space has really fast-tracked various processes for me, has saved me time on unnecessary tasks, and given me more freedom to experiment.
Showcasing IRL
Now, my studio doubles as a gift shop. People can drop by, touch, feel, and connect with my art in person, not just through a screen. No matter how skilled you are at product photography, nothing beats seeing the real beauty of each creation up close. I used to wonder if people would actually dig what I make. What goes through their minds when picking out a gift? Which ones are their favorites for their loved ones? Did they adore that new blue rose we launched? Did my latest note card actually make them giggle? My mind is flooded with these questions every time an order comes in. Having a physical display has given me insights into consumer preferences that online platforms can't match.
We've got this sweet set up where we display all our shelf products and samples of our personalized items. I used to do pop-ups and markets, which were great for figuring out what people liked, but having this permanent spot where people can drop in anytime helps me grow and make changes on the fly based on real-life feedback.
Images: Snippets of our Product Display
Another thing to consider is that people can only take in so much information at once. With the multitude of gift options we offer, it can get overwhelming, especially online where we can only promote a handful of items at a time. Sometimes, we're only able to push what's trendy or seasonal. Right now our Instagram feed is flooded with all the gorgeous wedding garland preservations of this wedding season. This means other collections like crochet flowers, illustrated frames, or hidden message candles might slip under the radar. It doesn't mean we're not making them; it's just that they might go unnoticed. But when you people swing by the studio, they usually have more time to spare. We can chat with them, fill them in on what they might have missed, or even ask them what they're into. By reading their expressions and cues, we can tailor our pitch and showcase more products that align with their interests. It's all about connecting with them on a personal level and showing them what we have to offer beyond what they might have initially seen online.
Offline Workshops
Having my own studio has opened up more opportunities for hosting events and workshops. I used to host art workshops online during COVID and summer breaks, but with all the daily tasks piling up, it became hard to plan them, especially offline. Now, I can simply send out invites knowing the location, setup, timings, lighting and travel are all taken care of. It's a safe and welcoming space where people can have a good time. Anyone can join in, regardless of age. We're always updating the workshop schedule, so you can easily find details for our upcoming workshops here.
Lights, Camera, Action!
Lastly, now that I have this space, I've set up proper lighting for content creation. Yeah, the studio's in the basement, so we miss out on natural sunlight, but we've made the best of it. I've got these pretty track lights installed for the product display, perfect for shooting videos anytime, day or night.
Setting up products for filming and gathering a thousand props used to be such a hassle, but not anymore. Now I've got everything ready to go, saving me heaps of time. Plus, having all our products on display in the studio helps me keep track of what's in stock and what's running low, making things way easier for managing the business.
In a nutshell, it took seven years to make the leap, but I'm so grateful I did.
If you're a fellow small business owner or artist hustling from home, kudos to you. But if you really need to take things to the next level, consider investing in your own space. It might seem daunting with all the potential expenses, but you can start small and grow from there. You don't need a fancy setup. My setup isn't exactly Pinterest-worthy, but it gets the job done without breaking the bank. Because, at the end of the day, it's all about creating and focusing on what drives results. Whenever I find myself wondering why I haven’t replaced all the white lights with yellow ones, I remind myself that this is a workspace, not a showroom. And let me tell you, having a dedicated space has made me realize just how much I was missing out on.
So, let's see where this journey takes us next. It’s only been 3 months since we’ve moved and I'm already excited for all the workshops and projects ahead. Despite the ups and downs, I'm grateful for every moment – including those messy, chaotic days.
If you're ever in the neighborhood, swing by the studio in Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. I'm always up for a chat.
Thanks for joining me on this wild ride!
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