Cork & Chroma is a BYO ‘paint and sip studio’ that gives new meaning to the old saying: ‘paint the town red’. It allows guests to enjoy a glass of wine, while moving step-by-step through a painting session.
The studio claims no painting skills are needed, and that even ‘non-creatives’ will be able to produce a painting by the session end.
“Under the surface level of just having fun, the classes are a really nice way to connect with creativity, and express yourself on a canvas,” explains Cork & Chroma co-owner Hillary Wall.
Cork & Chroma is the brainchild of Americans Hillary and husband BJ Wall. Inspired by similar concepts in the USA, the couple decided to open their own studio after moving to Brisbane.
“One day over a few wines, it sort of hit me that I needed to open something like this in Brisbane. And the next day, I woke up and started working on it,” explains Hillary.
But start-up funding proved more elusive. Banks were unwilling to lend, without permanent residency.
Cork & Chroma offers step by step instructions in their studio painting sessions. Source: Supplied
So, the couple relied on their own savings, borrowed money from their parents, and received backing from a United States bank, to take a gamble on creating the business in Brisbane.
The gamble paid off and the business has doubled revenue each year since 2013. They now operate two new studios in Sydney and Melbourne, with sessions running every day of the week.
“Weeknights we hold public sessions, and then on weekends, we have private events as well, during the daytime,” says Hillary.
“We can fit up to 36 painters in our Brisbane studio, and most nights we're sold out,” she adds.
The business has grown organically, relying on word-of-mouth to grow an expanding client base.
“I think every small business thinks that word-of-mouth is best, and it really was for us,” says Hillary.
“I knew if people enjoyed themselves, they’d tell their co-workers, and friends”.
“So it grew very slowly, but steadily, in that way”.
The next step is expanding their new class, Drinky Drawy. The new session offers customers a similar experience to Cork & Chroma, but teaches drawing rather than painting.
Co-founder of Cork & Chroma, Hillary Wall created the 'paint and sip studio' after being inspired by similar concepts in the United States. Source: Supplied
“Not every medium is for everyone, so it'll be fun for our guests to try a new option,” Hillary says.
With a growing fan base across Australia, Hillary is happy to help release people’s ‘inner artist’.
“People walk in the door, and you seat them, and you can see that they're a little nervous.”
“And by the end, their eyes and smiles are really big, you can actually see the positive effect of connecting with themselves.”
