Carrot Top Studio

What Carrot Top Studio does

Carrot Top Studio is a sole proprietorship founded in 2004 by artist and educator Jenny Gallo that designs and produces handcrafted clergy stoles, faith-based art, and digital resources for Christian ministry and spiritual formation. The studio creates one-of-a-kind or small-batch limited-edition liturgical stoles organized across seasons — Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost/Ordination, Ordinary Time, Chaplain, Peace/Healing, and Celebration — using techniques that combine appliqué, hand painting, machine and hand embroidery, beading, and textured fibers, primarily on cotton fabrics. Complementary offerings include art prints (5x7 and 8x10 inches), note cards, vinyl stickers, cotton tea towels, finger labyrinths, labyrinth cards, and calendars, alongside digital downloads such as coloring pages, worksheets, lesson plans, and zines.

The business operates direct-to-consumer through a Squarespace-based e-commerce website with no retail or wholesale distribution; domestic U.S. shipping is free, and international orders are calculated at checkout via USPS Priority Mail. Pricing is positioned across tiers: in-stock stoles start around $185, custom commissions carry a $30 non-refundable sketch fee (with a stated 92% conversion to final purchase), digital downloads range $2-$20, and the Create-a-Stole program bundles a downloadable $20 guide, $85 stole blank, and $3.75 fabric markers. Revenue streams consist of one-time physical product sales, one-time digital downloads, custom commissions, and selective art licensing.

The go-to-motion is content-led D2C: an active blog (57 posts in 2024), a Studio Notes email newsletter, a Substack publication, and free downloadable resources used as email-list lead magnets. Customer segments span individual clergy and pastors (primary), churches and congregations (primary, including bulk and confirmation programs), Christian education programs (secondary), and special-occasion clients (secondary). The studio is bootstrapped with no external funding, no investors, and operates as a founder-owned creative practice currently based in the Madison, Wisconsin area after relocating from Michigan.

Name

Carrot Top Studio

Legal name

Carrot Top Studio

Website

https://carrottopstudio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Carrot Top Studio is a sole proprietorship founded in 2004 that handcrafts clergy stoles and faith-based art for clergy, churches, and Christian educators, selling direct-to-consumer via an e-commerce website with physical and digital offerings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Liturgical Vestments & Handcrafted Faith-Based Art

NAICS

Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Retailers (459420), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAJAHAE

Worship & Liturgy Publishing (Liturgical Texts, Missals, Service Books, Hymnals)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Religious & Spiritual Publishing

SECONDARYMPAJAHAC

Religious Education & Catechetical Publishing (Sunday School, Catechism, Study Guides)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Religious & Spiritual Publishing

SECONDARYMPAJAHAB

Devotional & Prayer Publishing (Devotionals, Prayer Books, Meditation Guides)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Religious & Spiritual Publishing

SECONDARYMPAJANAG

Religious & Spiritual Print-on-Demand (Bibles, Devotionals)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Print-on-Demand Services

Keywords

• Handcrafted clergy stoles
• Liturgical vestments
• Christian education resources
• Custom clergy commissions
• Faith-based art

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Physical Product Sales: Direct sales of handcrafted clergy stoles, art prints, note cards, stickers, labyrinth products, and tea towels through the e-commerce website. Products are shipped domestically (free within USA) and internationally.
2. Digital Downloads: PDF format digital products including coloring pages, worksheets, zines, lesson plans, and guided practices sold for one-time download purchase.
3. Custom Commissions: Custom clergy stole commissions with $30 non-refundable sketch fee, with 92% of clients proceeding to final purchase. Pricing is higher than in-stock inventory but reasonable.
4. Art Licensing: Artwork licensing opportunities for use on other products, with terms specified in licensing agreements covering usage rights, duration, and applicable fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Carrot Top Studio handcrafts clergy stoles organized by liturgical season (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Ordinary Time, Pentecost, Ordination, Chaplain, Peace/Healing, Celebration) and produces companion religious art and gift products (art prints, note cards, stickers, tea towels, calendars, finger labyrinths, labyrinth cards). The studio also accepts custom commissioned stoles, sells a Create-a-Stole blank kit with instructional guide and fabric markers, and offers digital Christian education downloads including lesson plans, coloring pages, worksheets, and zines for church programs.

Product overview

Carrot Top Studio is a handcrafted liturgical goods company founded in 2004, specializing in handcrafted clergy stoles and faith-based art products. The core product line consists of handcrafted clergy stoles available in various liturgical season categories (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost/Ordination, Ordinary Time, Chaplain, Peace/Healing, and Celebration), all featuring appliquéd, hand-painted, machine or hand-embroidered designs with beading or textured fibers. The studio also offers a Create-a-Stole program including downloadable pattern guides ($20), stole blanks ($85), and fabric markers ($3.75). Digital products include Confirmation Stole Lesson Plan ($20), coloring pages, finger labyrinths, zines, and worksheets. The Gifts & Everyday Art collection includes art prints (5x7 and 8x10 inches), note cards, stickers (waterproof vinyl), tea towels (100% white cotton), labyrinth cards, and calendars. Custom commissions are available for one-of-a-kind stoles with a $30 sketch fee. The studio operates from Michigan and ships domestically for free.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Handcrafted Clergy Stoles Handcrafted liturgical stoles organized by Christian season (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Ordinary Time, Pentecost/Ordination, Chaplain, Peace/Healing, Celebration), each made by hand with appliqué, embroidery, beadwork, and fabric painting. Made for individual clergy, pastors, priests, and chaplains across Protestant denominations.
• Custom Clergy Stole Commissions Bespoke, made-to-order clergy stoles designed and handcrafted in collaboration with the client, typically delivered within a calendar year (potentially up to 18 months). The studio caps commissions at approximately 12-15 per year and converts 92% of inquiries.
• Create-a-Stole Program (Blank Stole + Instructional Guide) DIY program allowing customers to create their own clergy stole, anchored by a blank stole and a step-by-step instructional guide sold together. Designed for confirmation classes, youth groups, and individuals who want to design their own vestment.
• Confirmation Stole Lesson Plan Digital lesson plan for confirmation programs, paired with the Create-a-Stole blank and instructional guide, designed for Christian education directors and youth pastors leading confirmation classes.
• Digital Downloads (Coloring Pages, Worksheets, Zines, Printables) PDF digital downloads for Christian education, including coloring pages, worksheets, zines, and printable activities, with free and paid tiers. Sold direct to churches, educators, and individuals; first-time subscribers receive a discount.
• Art Prints Hand-signed, open-edition and limited-edition art prints derived from the founder's vestment designs, sold to individuals, clergy, and gift buyers for home or office display.
• Tea Towels Handcrafted tea towels carrying the studio's faith-based imagery, sold as functional home goods and gifts for individuals and gift buyers.
• Note Cards Sets of note cards printed with the founder's faith-based artwork, sold to individuals for correspondence, gifts, and pastoral use.
• Stickers Art-printed stickers featuring the founder's faith-based designs, sold individually or in small sets as gifts, personal items, or accessories.
• Calendars Annual faith-themed calendars featuring the founder's artwork, sold to individuals, clergy, and gift buyers.
• Finger Labyrinths Handcrafted finger labyrinths for prayer and meditation, sold as a personal devotional tool to individuals seeking a tactile, contemplative practice.
• Labyrinth Cards Printable or physical labyrinth cards for portable prayer and meditation, sold alongside the finger labyrinths as devotional companions.
• Art Licensing Licensing of Jenny Gallo's artwork for third-party use, allowing external organizations to feature the studio's designs on their own products or materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% of custom commission clients who receive sketches proceed to purchase
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Diakonos SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Diakonos Solutions to help newly ordained women obtain appropriate clergy stoles for their ministry. Partner Susan interviews newly ordained women to understand their needs and connects them with Carrot Top Studio for custom stole commissions.
• Independent QuilterminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration with an independent quilter on commissioned liturgical textile projects. The quilter provides quilting services that complement Carrot Top Studio's design and embellishment work, as seen in the Westminster Presbyterian Church communion tablecloth commission.
• PCUSA General Assembly ModeratorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing relationship supporting the Moderators of the PCUSA General Assembly with custom-designed stoles. This represents a significant ongoing partnership for ceremonial vestments.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Augsburg Fortress: Publishing house of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, supplying clergy vestments, stoles, and worship resources to a mainline Protestant audience. Comparable to Carrot Top Studio as a denominational supplier of liturgical goods, though operating at a much larger institutional scale.
• Morehouse Education Resources: Provides clergy apparel, stoles, and church supplies to Episcopal/Anglican and broader Christian markets. Comparable as a direct competitor in the production and sale of clergy stoles for liturgical seasons.
• Concordia Publishing House: Publishing arm of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, offering clergy vestments, Christian education curriculum, and worship materials. Comparable in supplying both liturgical stoles and Sunday school/educational resources to a denominational customer base.
• Cokesbury: Retail and catalog arm of Abingdon Press serving United Methodist congregations with clergy apparel, stoles, and church supplies. Comparable to Carrot Top Studio in selling vestments and worship resources to mainline Protestant clergy.
• Church Publishing Incorporated: Official publisher of The Episcopal Church, offering clergy apparel, stoles, and liturgical resources. Direct comparability on the stole/vestment category and on Episcopal/Anglican clergy as a target customer.

Emerging players

• Etsy: Global online marketplace hosting thousands of independent artisans selling handcrafted clergy stoles, religious art, and Christian home goods. Comparable as the dominant distribution channel for small artisan studios making liturgical and faith-based handcrafts.
• Christian Art Gifts: Online retailer of Christian-themed art prints, stickers, tea towels, and gift items. Comparable in offering faith-inspired visual goods through direct-to-consumer e-commerce, overlapping with Carrot Top's Gifts & Everyday Art line.
• Illustrated Faith: Faith-based art and journaling brand selling devotional printables, sticker kits, and Christian creative resources. Comparable to Carrot Top Studio's digital downloads and devotional/spiritual formation product line.

Direct peers

• Stoles for All Occasions (Etsy artisan shops): Individual Etsy-based artisans producing handcrafted clergy stoles for ordination, wedding officiant, and chaplaincy use. Direct competition for custom one-of-a-kind stole commissions among independent clergy shoppers.
• Robin's Handmade Stoles: Independent artisan producing hand-embroidered clergy stoles for liturgical seasons, similar in scale and direct-to-consumer model to Carrot Top Studio's core offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carrot-top-studio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Carrot Top Studio