What Board & Brush Creative Studio does

Board & Brush Creative Studio is a franchise-based experiential retail company founded in 2015 by Julie Selby in Hartland, Wisconsin. The company operates a DIY workshop concept in which customers attend instructor-led sessions to build personalized wood signs, trays, boxes, coat racks, doormats, canvas projects, and other home décor items using a stencil-based system with proprietary design templates. The underlying platform is the "Pick Your Project" (PYP) workshop system, augmented by the Condensed Collection (2-hour, value-priced) and DIY Minis formats, plus a monthly DIY Design Drop exclusive release with a 7-day registration window. The company's intellectual property is centered on its library of copyright-protected design templates and stencil-based process, which enables consistent, professional-looking finished products regardless of customer artistic skill.

The business is monetized through per-person workshop fees ($18-$80 depending on format), private and corporate event bookings, off-site "BB Brought to You" mobile workshops, an e-commerce Shop Local channel for premade projects and DIY @HOME kits, gift cards, and a points-based Loyalty & Rewards program. Distribution is entirely franchise-driven: over 140 independently owned studios operate across more than 35 US states, and the brand has extended internationally through a channel partnership with Cainz in Japan. Corporate revenue derives from franchise fees, royalties, and the supply of materials, while consumer-facing pricing is set and collected at the studio level.

Board & Brush targets social groups and individuals seeking creative experiences for occasions such as girls' nights, birthdays, bachelorette parties, and date nights, as well as corporate teams, families with children, and gift givers. The company has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine across multiple franchise rankings, including #1 in the DIY category (2020, 2022, 2023) and Top Franchise 500 (2020-2023). Corporate headcount is small (11-50 employees), and ownership remains founder-controlled under the Board & Brush, LLC entity with no disclosed institutional investment.

Name

Board & Brush Creative Studio

Legal name

Board & Brush, LLC

Website

https://boardandbrush.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Board & Brush Creative Studio is a franchise-based DIY workshop company operating 140+ studios across the US and Japan, offering instructor-led wood sign and home décor making classes for consumers, families, and corporate teams.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hartland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Workshop Fees: Primary revenue stream from paid workshops where customers pay per person to attend instructor-led DIY sessions. Standard Pick Your Project workshops are priced at $80 per person. Condensed Collection workshops offer value pricing around $50 per person. Mini workshops range from $18-38 depending on project size and duration.
2. Private Events: Revenue from booking entire studios for private groups including birthday parties, bachelorette events, bridal showers, corporate team building, and other special occasions. Booked through studio-specific request forms.
3. Corporate Events: Dedicated team building workshops for businesses and organizations, booked through corporate event booking system.
4. BB Brought to You (Off-Site): Mobile workshop service bringing materials and instruction to customer-specified locations for corporate events, fundraisers, community events, and private gatherings.
5. Shop Local / Premade Projects: Sale of pre-made personalized projects and DIY @HOME kits for customers unable to attend workshops. Kits include all supplies needed to complete projects at home.
6. Gift Cards: Digital and physical gift cards available for purchase as gifts for workshops and shop items.
7. Loyalty & Rewards Program: Points-based rewards program tracking workshop purchases and providing discounts and freebies for repeat customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Board & Brush Creative Studio operates a franchise network of over 140 DIY workshop studios where customers attend instructor-led sessions to build personalized wood signs, trays, boxes, coat racks, doormats, canvas projects, and other home décor items. Studios teach techniques of sanding, distressing, staining, painting, and stenciling using proprietary design templates, with many locations licensed to serve beer and wine to create a sip-and-paint experience. Beyond standard workshops, the company offers private events, corporate team building, off-site BB Brought to You mobile workshops, virtual workshops, DIY @HOME kits, and premade projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pick Your Project Workshops The signature 3-hour instructor-led DIY workshop where customers select from hundreds of proprietary design templates to create personalized wood signs, trays, boxes, coat racks, and other home décor items. Sessions cover sanding, distressing, staining, painting, and stenciling techniques and include all materials, tools, instruction, and the finished take-home project. Priced at $80 per person.
• Condensed Collection Workshops Value-priced 2-hour format workshops offering smaller-scale projects (mini trays, box trays, pedestals, decorative wall signs) at a $50 per person price point. Available for both public workshops and private events, designed for flexible scheduling and budget-friendly DIY experiences.
• DIY Minis: Canvas or Wood Workshops Short-format beginner-friendly mini workshops where customers sip and paint a beautiful canvas or small wood project. Priced at $38 for mini canvas or wood workshops, with Make & Take workshops starting at $18. Perfect for quick creative experiences and beginners.
• Specialty Workshops Instructor-led specialty workshop format that expands beyond wood signs into doormats, porch planters, canvas pillows, totes, tea towels, winter wreaths, terrariums, and personalized glassware, broadening the décor categories available at each studio.
• Virtual Workshops Remote instructor-led workshop format where groups gather online (via video) for a modern DIY experience, with materials shipped to participants so they can complete a project from home under live guidance.
• Corporate Events / Team Building Workshops Dedicated team building workshops for businesses and organizations covering team building events, corporate parties, office celebrations, and employee appreciation. Booked through a dedicated corporate event booking system with customizable group sizes and options for either on-site studio rentals or BB Brought to You mobile delivery.
• Private Events Booked private studio rentals for birthday parties, bachelorette parties, bridal showers, kids' parties, teen parties, and other special occasions. Engagements booked through studio-specific request forms with customizable group sizes and project options for the entire group.
• BB Brought to You (Off-Site Workshops) Mobile workshop service bringing materials, tools, and instruction to customer-specified locations for corporate team building, fundraisers, school functions, community events, and private gatherings. Operates as a professional off-site service available wherever the buyer wants the workshop hosted.
• DIY @HOME Kits DIY kits sold through Shop Local e-commerce storefronts for customers unable to attend workshops. Kits include all supplies and instructions needed to complete the project at home, with pricing varying by project complexity.
• DIY Design Drop Program Monthly exclusive limited-time project release announced mid-month with only a 7-day registration window, creating urgency and re-engagement with loyal DIY enthusiasts. First launch mid-October 2025.
• Family / Child Workshops Youth-focused DIY workshops including kids' parties (ages 6-10), teen parties (ages 11-15), and parent-child family crafting sessions. Family-friendly daytime workshops available for various ages at $30 per person.
• Shop Local Premade Projects Pre-made personalized projects sold through Shop Local e-commerce storefronts by individual studio location, available for pickup or delivery — for customers who want the finished décor piece without attending a workshop.
• Gift Cards Digital and physical gift cards available for purchase as gifts redeemable toward workshops and Shop Local merchandise across all Board & Brush studio locations.
• Loyalty & Rewards Program Points-based loyalty rewards program that tracks workshop purchases and provides discounts and freebies for repeat customers across all participating studios.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CainzcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational franchise partnership for Board & Brush studio presence in Japan through Cainz partnership, expanding the brand beyond North American markets.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pinot's Palette: National paint-and-sip franchise with similar studio-based workshop model, class scheduling, and private party/event revenue streams. Comparable on franchise economics, target customer (girls' nights, birthdays, corporate), and unit-level revenue structure.
• Color Me Mine: Paint-your-own-pottery studio franchise with similar walk-in workshop, private party, and gift occasion positioning. Comparable on experiential craft retail and franchise unit model, though differentiated by medium (ceramics vs. wood).
• Painting with a Twist: One of the original and largest 'paint and sip' franchise concepts in the U.S., offering instructor-led painting workshops in licensed BYOB studios. Directly competes with Board & Brush for the same social/experience-driven customer occasions and corporate team-building events.
• Muse Paintbar: Paint-and-sip concept offering instructor-led painting classes combined with food and beverage service. Overlaps directly with Board & Brush on workshop format, licensed/BRB beverage model, private events, and aspirational casual décor positioning.
• AR Workshop: Franchise offering hands-on DIY workshop classes focused on wood home décor projects, including signs, frames, and boxes. Most direct comparable on product category (wood home décor DIY) and franchise operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Michaels: Largest U.S. arts and crafts specialty retailer, offering project supplies, kits, and in-store workshop events. Adjacent competitor for at-home DIY spend and instructor-led beginner craft experiences.
• Home Depot DIY Workshops: Major home improvement retailer offering free and paid in-store DIY workshops including wood working and home décor classes. Adjacent to Board & Brush's beginner-friendly wood décor workshop positioning but at far broader retail scale.
• Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts: Large national craft retail chain selling DIY supplies, kits, and offering in-store classes. Adjacent to Board & Brush's DIY @HOME kit and instructional offering at broader retail scale.

Others

• Craftsy / Bluprint: Online platform offering on-demand craft and DIY classes (originally Bluprint). Adjacent digital learning channel that overlaps with Board & Brush's virtual workshops and DIY @HOME kit customers, though not a direct physical-experience competitor.

Emerging players

• The Painting Studio (and similar local sip-and-paint studios): Independent and smaller-chain paint-and-sip studios offering instructor-led painting workshops. Compete with Board & Brush at the local market level for discretionary social outings and children's parties.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/boardandbrushcs
• Facebookfacebook.com/boardandbrushcharlottenc
• TikToktiktok.com/@boardandbrush

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Board & Brush Creative Studio