The Painted Cork
The Painted Cork is a California paint-and-sip studio founded in 2010, operating a 3,600 sq ft flagship in Santa Cruz. It delivers in-studio classes, private events, virtual sessions, video tutorials, and home painting kits to consumers and small group-bookings, led by a team of eight artists under founder Kimberly Godinho.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersSanta Cruz, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Painted Cork does
The Painted Cork is a California-based paint-and-sip experiential retail operator founded in 2010 by Kimberly Godinho. It pioneered the Paint and Sip category in California, initially opening a studio in Folsom's historic Old Town and subsequently expanding to Sacramento (2013) and Santa Cruz (2018). Following the closure of the Folsom and Sacramento studios during the 2020 pandemic, the company consolidated operations to a 3,600 sq ft flagship warehouse studio on Delaware Avenue in Santa Cruz's westside, where it now runs in-studio public classes, Art Lounge sessions, Open Workshops, and private events with an on-site beer and wine bar. A team of eight listed artists/instructors leads step-by-step classes using founder-developed methodology and a proprietary library of 300+ painting designs.
The company's product portfolio spans in-person experiences (public classes priced $40-$69, Art Lounge $8-$95, Open Workshop $8-$60, private in-studio parties at $45-$55/person with 18-guest minimum, off-site events with 20-painter minimum, capacity up to 80 guests), virtual offerings (Zoom classes and pre-recorded video tutorials with 30-day access), and physical e-commerce goods (Home Painting Kits at $75, Paint Your Pet Kits, Bottle Painting Kits, gift certificates at $45 and $55). Distribution is omnichannel and D2C, combining the physical studio, mobile off-site events, virtual delivery, a proprietary e-commerce storefront, and an Etsy presence. The customer base is predominantly individual consumers and small private groups (birthdays, bridal showers, corporate team-building), with a recurring monthly community fundraiser partnership with the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter serving as the only named external counterparty.
The Painted Cork is structured as a family-owned LLC (The Painted Cork LLC), is bootstrapped with no external funding, and operates with an estimated 10-20 employees. Technology infrastructure is limited to standard website, event booking, calendar export (Google/iCal/Yahoo), and video delivery tools; the company's stated differentiation rests on content IP and teaching methodology rather than proprietary technology. Plans to reopen a Sacramento-region studio indicate a measured multi-location re-expansion strategy.
The Painted Cork firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Painted Cork
- Legal name
- The Painted Cork LLC
- Website
- https://paintedcork.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Painted Cork is a California paint-and-sip studio founded in 2010, operating a 3,600 sq ft flagship in Santa Cruz. It delivers in-studio classes, private events, virtual sessions, video tutorials, and home painting kits to consumers and small group-bookings, led by a team of eight artists under founder Kimberly Godinho.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Painted Cork industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Art classes and creative experiences
- NAICS
- Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510)
- SIC
- Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration) (EDAAAGAA)
Keywords
Where The Painted Cork is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Cruz
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
The Painted Cork business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- In-Studio Public Classes: Scheduled painting and crafting classes held at the Santa Cruz studio. Classes range from 2-4 hours with prices from $40-$65 per person. Includes step-by-step instruction, all supplies, and option to purchase beer/wine.
- Private Events and Parties: Private paint-and-sip events for birthdays, team-building, corporate events, bridal showers, and other occasions. Minimum 18 guests for in-studio, 20 for off-site. Pricing: $45/person (2hr), $50/person (3hr), $55/person (4hr). Includes all materials, setup, instruction, and cleanup.
- Video Tutorials: Purchase of video tutorial links for at-home painting. Upon purchase, customers receive access to step-by-step painting instructions for 30 days, plus automatic supply list and optional shipped supplies.
- Home Painting Kits: Physical products including Home Painting Kits (standard canvas kits), Bottle Painting Kits, and Paint Your Pet Kits. Kits include pre-sketched canvas, written lesson plan, and all painting supplies. Paint Your Pet kit priced at $75.
- Art Lounge Sessions: Self-paced DIY painting and crafting sessions with various price points from $8-$95 depending on project type. Includes access to studio space, materials, and optional professional guidance.
- Beer and Wine Bar: On-site bar offering local beers, wines, and beverages during classes and events. Complimentary to the painting experience and generates additional revenue per visit.
- Gift Certificates: Prepaid gift cards available in denominations of $45 and $55 for classes, video tutorials, and home kits. Never expire and can be used toward any offering.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | In-Studio Private Events: $45-$55 per person based on duration |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Off-Site Private Events: $45-$55 per person based on duration |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Virtual Private Parties: $45-$50 per person or flat rate |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Open Workshop Options: $8-$60 per person |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Art Lounge Sessions: $8-$95 per person |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Public Classes: $40-$69 per person |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Home Painting Kits: $75 per kit |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Certificates: $45 and $55 denominations |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Painted Cork product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Painted Cork operates a paint-and-sip art studio offering step-by-step guided painting classes, Open Workshop DIY sessions, and Art Lounge craft experiences at its Santa Cruz warehouse studio. The business also runs private in-studio, off-site, and virtual parties for groups, and sells Video Tutorials, Home Painting Kits, and Gift Certificates for at-home creative participation.
Product overview
The Painted Cork is a paint-and-sip style art studio and creative experience platform offering a portfolio of related products. The core offering consists of in-studio classes at their Santa Cruz warehouse, supplemented by virtual classes, video tutorials, and home painting kits for at-home creativity. Their main products include: 2, 3, and 4-hour step-by-step painting classes; Open Workshop DIY sessions; Art Lounge craft experiences; and Private Parties (in-studio, off-site, or virtual). Complementary products include Video Tutorials with 30-day access, Home Painting Kits (standard canvas, bottle painting, and Paint Your Pet options), and Gift Certificates. The company also runs monthly community fundraisers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- In-Studio Paint & Sip Classes
- Open Workshop
- Art Lounge
- Private Parties
- Virtual Paint & Sip Classes
- Video Tutorials
- Home Painting Kit
- Bottle Painting Kit
- Paint Your Pet Kit
- Gift Certificates
Quantifiable outcome
- Beginners with no painting experience successfully complete professional-looking paintings in 2-4 hours
Companies that use The Painted Cork
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Painted Cork technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature2 records
The Painted Cork partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Santa Cruz County Animal SheltercoreThe Painted Cork hosts monthly fundraising events for the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter. Events include 'Paint Your Pet - Warhol Style' and 'Paint Your Pet Classic Style' workshops where proceeds support the shelter. This partnership provides community engagement and attracts socially-conscious customers.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Painted Cork competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Sip & Sing: Combines painting instruction with live music and alcohol service at scheduled events. Adjacent to The Painted Cork's event-driven, music-and-drinks-augmented art class format (which now includes Westside Wednesdays live music events).
Emerging players
- Color Me Mine: Paint-your-own pottery studio franchise where customers paint premade ceramic pieces in-studio. Adjacent to The Painted Cork's model (DIY creative entertainment with bar service, beginner-friendly step-by-step guidance) but in a different art medium (ceramics vs. canvas).
- AR Workshop: DIY workshop studio franchise offering hands-on classes in wood signs, home decor, and canvas projects with beer and wine. Comparable to The Painted Cork in combining beginner-friendly instructor-led craft classes with alcohol service and private events.
- Board & Brush Creative Studio: DIY wood sign and home decor workshop franchise with beer and wine service. Shares the experiential art class + bar concept with The Painted Cork but focuses on wood-based projects rather than canvas painting.
Regional players
- As You Wish Pottery: Paint-your-own pottery studio concept with locations primarily in the southwestern U.S. Comparable to The Painted Cork as a creative DIY entertainment studio with step-by-step instruction, though operating in a different medium and geographic region.
Direct peers
- Pinot's Palette: National paint-and-sip franchise offering step-by-step guided painting classes with beer and wine at local studios. Direct competitor to The Painted Cork with a similar class-based, instructor-led, studio-anchored model, scaled through franchisees across the U.S.
- Muse Paintbar: Paint-and-sip concept combining full bar/restaurant service with guided painting classes. Comparable to The Painted Cork in combining art instruction with alcohol and food service, though typically operates at larger format with broader menu.
- Bottle & Bottega: Paint-and-sip studio franchise offering wine-and-painting nights at studio locations and private events. Closely aligns with The Painted Cork's combination of step-by-step instruction, in-studio classes, and private party offerings.
- The Paint Mixer: Paint-and-sip concept offering public classes, private parties, and corporate team-building events with step-by-step instruction. Direct competitor in the same experiential art-entertainment category as The Painted Cork.
- Painting with a Twist: Largest U.S. paint-and-sip franchise operating hundreds of studios nationwide. Closely comparable to The Painted Cork in core offering (guided painting classes with alcohol service) and target customer (groups, private parties, social entertainment seekers).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Painted Cork social profiles
Digital presenceThe Painted Cork financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Painted Cork leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Painted Cork funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Painted Cork M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Painted Cork
What does The Painted Cork do?
The Painted Cork operates a paint-and-sip art studio offering step-by-step guided painting classes, Open Workshop DIY sessions, and Art Lounge craft experiences at its Santa Cruz warehouse studio. The business also runs private in-studio, off-site, and virtual parties for groups, and sells Video Tutorials, Home Painting Kits, and Gift Certificates for at-home creative participation.
Is The Painted Cork a public or private company?
The Painted Cork is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Painted Cork founded?
The Painted Cork was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Painted Cork based?
The Painted Cork is headquartered in Santa Cruz, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Painted Cork make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. In-Studio Public Classes are the primary driver. The others are private Events and Parties, video Tutorials, home Painting Kits, art Lounge Sessions, beer and Wine Bar and gift Certificates.
Who are The Painted Cork's main competitors?
Sip & Sing is listed as an others. Emerging players are Color Me Mine, AR Workshop and Board & Brush Creative Studio. As You Wish Pottery is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Pinot's Palette, Muse Paintbar, Bottle & Bottega, The Paint Mixer and Painting with a Twist.
Does The Painted Cork have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Painted Cork.
What industry is The Painted Cork in?
The Painted Cork's product category is Art classes and creative experiences. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAGAA, Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration). Its NAICS code is 711510 and its SIC code is 7330.