Help me take my business to the next level!
Donation protected
Goal
Turn my art business into big business. Help me create the best art and hobby-focused wargaming store in the UK, Warpainters.
You can give me the chance to use all my skills to build a future for myself and my fiance Katie, in the industry I love the most.
How I got here
It all started 30 years ago when my father (Stephen) bought me my first miniatures to paint. Now 30 years later I paint professionally for people all over the world!
My work:
COVID destroyed my previous career working as a DJ promoter and designer in the hospitality industry and, like many, I had to choose a new career. I am so grateful to have a loving fiance (Katie) who supported me and never let me give up on my dreams and the things I have a talent for. Of course, things haven't been easy, the income of a commission painter is inconsistent at best and I now know that without an additional, stable and scalable income source, the next few years will be very tough and I might have to give up my dream.
Katie and I are getting married soon and If I'm going to make this work then I need to change my strategy and that's why I’m starting a new business and this GoFundMe to help things along.
What’s it for
The plan is to further monetize the services I already provide both through producing video content and selling products through the construction of my own online and offline hobby store.
Can I do this?
As a professional painter, I have a massive knowledge of hobby products and know what gaps exist in the market. As an experienced video creator, I can create content that points directly to my shop. As a previous manager of both retail and hospitality, I can provide careful analysis of the costs and great service to my clients. As an accomplished designer, I can use all my skills to show my best face to the world. The latter can be seen here:
Why now?
Apart from the reasons I have mentioned there is another factor that's recently taken shape.
Over the last few years, I’ve been working with a company called Corvus Belli (CB). CB make the best miniatures in the industry and I've formed a close relationship with them which has resulted in many friends from working on their product testing team as a volunteer for their product testing. I will be working with CB at shows across the UK this year to promote their products and my business if I can get it started in time. They have agreed to support me in any way they can as soon as I am ready.
Warpainters
The eventual aim of Warpainters is to set up a physical store that will provide a base for my existing studio, a warehouse and a showroom. The latter will be unique in that all products will be available for sampling by artists who wish to visit. This is a key feature that no other store currently provides as there are no other stores that specialise in this area. As a bonus the physical store doubles as the warehouse for the online store.
How am I going to spend it?
Right now Warpainters just needs stock. Stock to sell online and stock to sell at the shows I will be attending this year. The business will also need some minor web hosting and printing of advertising but the vast majority will be spent on stock. We’ve already made sales with the limited stock we have and
Organizer
Sebastian Komlosy
Organizer
England