Today we’d like to introduce you to Tia and Marlon Foster.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Tia: It started with me sitting at the hair salon talking to my stylist and showing her my husband’s art work. She was very impressed. So much so that she approached me a couple of weeks later asking if Marlon had ever done “one of those paint parties”.
She told me that she was celebrating her birthday in a couple of weeks and wanted to do something creative and unique, and asked me to have Marlon give it some thought. I went home and asked Marlon what he thought and he was willing to give it a try.
I let my stylist know that we were good to go for the party, and she actually went out and bought all of the supplies for her party. Not really knowing what to expect, Marlon and I showed up, the day of, to a room of about 15 people ready to paint!
Once all the paint was on the palettes, and everyone was in their seat, Marlon introduced us, and I was actually surprised by how comfortable he seemed. Once things got going, I made myself useful by replenishing paint, water and napkins.
As the evening progressed, everyone in the room was smiling laughing and really enjoying themselves, and so were Marlon and I. We left there pretty amazed at how much fun we had, and knew that this was something we could easily turn into our own little business…and the rest is history!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Marlon: Honestly…It’s been pretty smooth. Once we figured out all of the supplies/equipment we would need, planning for each party started to become really easy. We found our rhythm and things have run pretty seamlessly.
I’d say the only challenge has been really getting our name out there. So far, it’s been mainly word of mouth, which is great, but our goal is to get the attention of places like daycares, corporate offices, apartment communities, churches etc.
The Color Code – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The Color Code is a private painting party service that provides a step-by-step instruction session. We provide all necessary art supplies and materials, including aprons to protect your clothing, table covers, tarp to protect your flooring and even tables and chairs.
We can make just about any occasion unique, creative and fun – Ladies Night, Couples Date Night, Children’s Parties, Bachelorette Parties, Anniversary Parties, Baby Showers, Team Building and Corporate functions.
What sets us apart is WE COME TO YOU!! We bring all the fun and excitement of a paint party right into the comfort of your own home. We also specialize in giving you the freedom to choose the painting you want…when you want it. If you don’t see anything you like in our gallery of options, you can give Marlon a theme, or an idea of what you are going for, and he will sketch something up especially for you and your group. Lastly – we proudly offer pre-sketched images for children’s parties.
As a company, we are most proud of the fact that we are family owned and operated. I love the fact that, as an artist, Marlon is truly in his element, sharing his art and talent with others, and as his wife, and former event planner, I get to pitch in on the business/planning side to help everything come together.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success for us, would be a steady stream of parties to not only further develop and grow our brand, but to leave a unique footprint in the paint party industry.
As we are both currently employed in the corporate world, our ultimate goal is to be able to leave that behind and dive full time into what we are doing here with The Color Code, and passing it on to our oldest daughter, who is also an artist.
Pricing:
- Adult price – $25- $30 per person (minumum of 8 guests)
- Kids price – $20 per person (minumum of 10 guests)
Contact Info:
- Phone: (713) 493-8892
- Email: thecolorcode2014@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/thecolorcode2014
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/thecolorcode2014
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
