If you were one of those little girls who spent hours making friendship bracelets at summer camp or gluing photos into collages for your locker, then you’ll love the idea behind Spark Craft Studios in Cambridge, Mass. Founders Jan Stephenson and Amy Appleyard met at Boston University’s M.B.A. program and crafted their business plan as part of a class project that grew into a business. Now, the two have created a stylish space where Boston-area women can unwind after work: As part of the Friday-night Wine and Craft series, customers sip wine while they learn how to make beaded bracelets, one-of-a-kind wedding invitations, or custom cocktail rings. In addition to private events like bridal showers and girls’ nights, the studio also hosts Stitch ‘n’ Bitch knitting events and free finance seminars. And if you want to continue crafting at home, Spark’s boutique section sells supplies ranging from semiprecious stones and glass beads to polka-dotted ribbon. Recently, Stephenson sat down (sans glue gun) to answer some of WORKS’ most pressing questions.
Spark Craft Studios recently celebrated its two-year anniversary. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea was built upon the frustration of shopping at warehouse-style discount craft stores that didn’t provide great customer service or inspiring project ideas. Amy Appleyard, my business partner, and I wanted to create a happy, colorful, festive, fun, community-oriented space that sold craft products and offered instruction.
Were you into crafting before you came up with the concept for Spark Craft Studios?
I am a crafts dabbler, just like a lot of our customers. The philosophy behind Spark Craft Studios is that you don’t have to dedicate your life to crafts; to be “crafty” or an “artist,” you just need to have an interest in being creative and in learning new skills, have patience with yourself, and be able to resist the desire to be perfect at something right out of the gate. Our mission is to be the go-to craft store for beginners and casual crafters—people who don’t already know everything and who want to learn and play in an inspirational, encouraging environment.
When did it start to feel like a viable business idea?
We gave a presentation to our business-school colleagues and a panel of experts. Two of the panel members—who had invested in start-ups in the past—approached us after the presentation to see if we had a term sheet for investing. They provided a good chunk of the capital we needed to make our dream a reality. It gave us confidence that we could really do this.
When you were young, what did you think you would do professionally?
When I was a kid, I wanted to be a gas-station attendant. In middle school, I wanted to be an astronaut and actually attended Space Camp. In high school, I wanted to go to Harvard Law School. I went to college for print journalism and cultural anthropology. I ended up in nonprofit fund-raising before getting my M.B.A. at Boston University and starting Spark Craft Studios. So, you never know!
What drives you each day—the “fire in your belly”?
The idea that Spark Craft Studios could go national and make crafts an important part of mainstream American life.
What is the best investment you ever made?
Staff—there’s nothing like hiring people who know their stuff and who can make customers unbelievably happy. When we were brand-new, Amy (my business partner) and I did everything ourselves (except for teaching), and we added staff just ahead of our need. It’s a little tricky to hire people before you know you can sustain it, but we knew we wanted to grow the business, so you have to take the risk and figure the money will follow. One of our proudest accomplishments is that we have never missed a payroll. And we attribute a large part of our success to the great hires we’ve made who provide excellent customer support, expertise, and an element of fun to our operation. When you’re trying to do everything yourself, sometimes it’s hard to stay focused on the details that make a difference to the customer. You can become overwhelmed and stressed, and the customer picks up on that tension if you try to do it all yourself.
Most memorable job (aside from Spark)?
In addition to co-owning Spark, I am employed full-time as a major gifts fund-raiser for Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts (PPLM). PPLM is an amazing organization with a great mission—to keep young people healthy by offering sexual-health education and services.
What is the best part about owning your own business?
The freedom to make your own decisions and act on them as quickly as you deem possible without a ton of meetings and committees.
What’s the worst part?
Not having the “safety” of an established infrastructure to fall back on.
Night owl or early bird?
Definitely night owl!
Role model for success (or inspiration)?
Oprah Winfrey. It may sound cliché, but she has an amazing way of bringing people together around important subjects and making people feel a part of her great adventure.
Guilty pleasure?
Ice cream!
What is the one tech item you can’t leave home without?
Cell phone.
Favorite way to spend a morning?
A nice walk outside in the sunshine, followed by a hot coffee and a chat with my fiancé—he’s the yin to my yang.
When you’re not managing the business, what do you do to unwind?
Tennis, golf, hiking, yoga—active and outdoorsy things.
Most important quality for a successful entrepreneur?
3 P’s—persistence, patience (not my forte, but I’m trying!), and a positive attitude.
