The Hands-On Market

You may have noticed “sip and paint” studios opening in your town – where guests can drink wine, chat with friends and get to know other community members, all while creating art that they can take home. While they may be growing in popularity, IBISWorld reports COVID impacted the success of these businesses, and they have experienced falling revenue the past 5 years. It’s true: a stand-alone business of solely hands-on classes is difficult to maintain. However, hands-on classes may provide an opportunity for an additional revenue stream to florists, garden centers and boutiques who already have the space, staff and supplies.

While a business that only provides experiences can be difficult to maintain, there remains much interest in gifting experiences to colleagues, friends and family. The market for experience gifts has grown in the past decade, and with an increased focus on wellness, adults are understanding the necessity for “play” – being intentional to find time for creating art to boost health and reduce stress.

The Profitability of Design Classes

Florists can host after-business-hours floral arrangement classes for consumers and immediately sell 10 arrangements that customers design themselves.