Board & Brush Tulsa Franchise Gains New Ownership with Funding through TEDC Creative Capital

Table of Contents:

DIY Creativity, Entrepreneurial Dreams
Inspired to Share a Love of Crafting
Gaining Local Support to Join the Franchise World
Finding a Funding Partner with a Commitment to Community
Creating Community Amidst Art Supplies
Looking Toward a Crafty Future

Leslie Stephens loves crafting, creativity, and community. When she learned the Tulsa franchise of Board & Brush Creative Studio was up for sale, she leaned into the opportunity to head up a business of her own. But she needed guidance and funding—which she found in local sources of support, including TEDC Creative Capital.

DIY Creativity, Entrepreneurial Dreams

If making crafty pieces of art for your home in the company of friends is something you enjoy, a trip to Board & Brush Creative Studio in Tulsa makes perfect sense. The sip-and-paint crafting studio invites people to gather with friends and design professional-looking, inspirational farmhouse-style decorations to enliven your home or office. The local franchise is now owned by Leslie Stephens, a passionate DIY crafter who leaped into business ownership when the franchise location recently became available.

Stephens has always had a passion for crafting. “I have a hundred projects going when I’m not working,” she says. But she hadn’t initially envisioned owning a business.

Before stepping into franchise ownership, Stephens had a strong track record in retail management, overseeing several different retail businesses and boutiques in the Tulsa area. While she loved her work, she eventually decided she was ready for change. And then, she saw a social media post that changed her career trajectory and led her into entrepreneurship.

Inspired to Share a Love of Crafting

Scrolling through her social feeds, Stephens saw that Board & Brush’s Tulsa franchise owner was interested in selling. As it turned out, the company was already on Stephens’s radar. She’d followed Board & Brush for several years on social media, taking inspiration from their gorgeous pictures as she came home from her job in retail and relaxed through making things. So, she started thinking about the possibility of buying the Tulsa franchise.

“I was at dinner with my husband and mentioned it,” she says. “And he said, ‘You should do that. That sounds like a perfect fit.’ And the more I thought about it, the more it did.” Stephens called the owner of the Tulsa franchise to learn more, then attended a workshop at Board & Brush with her husband.

They both loved the experience. And the more Stephens spoke with the previous owner and learned about the business, the more it felt like buying Board & Brush was the right move to make.

Gaining Local Support to Join the Franchise World

So, Stephens began taking steps to make the franchise her own. Much of the process went smoothly. She was excited to buy the business, and the previous owner was happy to train her on what to do. “Even before I quit my full-time job, I was able to come in and spend some time with her, see how the business works, and just make sure that I loved it,” Stephens says. She learned more about Board & Brush, as well as the specifics of the Tulsa location.

In addition, Stephens worked on writing her business plan and looking for funding, all while continuing to build relationships with the current customers who make the business a success. She also worked with a mentor through SCORE, who encouraged her to think through every step before she took it.

“Acquiring a business is really exciting,” Stephens says, “but you have to really stop and dig through the details. I had such a retail background that I thought this was going to be so similar, but it’s really not. It’s a completely different ballgame. I was really grateful to have that SCORE mentor walk me through it.”

Finding a Funding Partner with a Commitment to Community

Through her SCORE mentor, Stephens learned about TEDC Creative Capital, and how they can financially support small local businesses. She spoke with TEDC and began the process of working with a local funding organization while also satisfying the franchise’s corporate office.

“Trying to make everything line up was probably the most challenging part,” says Stephens. “I was getting the loan and doing all the steps that I needed to do for TEDC. But then, the franchise has a lot of requirements. Trying to ensure everything is done at the right time for both places was challenging.”

Still, the teamwork between her mentor and TEDC made the complex process of satisfying the franchise’s requirements work. And working with TEDC’s team, she says, was a breeze.

“We only needed one sit-down, face-to-face meeting with the gentleman who was in charge of my loan, and that went really well,” Stephens says. “He was super sweet and helpful. He liked my business plan, and we talked through that a little bit, and then it was just a matter of getting all of my ducks in a row and getting them the things that they needed. It was easier than buying a house.”

Stephens says TEDC made the process simple by providing easy steps to follow and being forthcoming about the loan process so she knew what to expect.

“What I love about TEDC most is that they’re local,” she adds. “My loan, and me paying back my loan, helps other small business owners get loans to start their businesses. So I really love that, and the idea that that helps people in our area who are doing the same things that I’m trying to do.”

Creating Community Amidst Art Supplies

With TEDC’s funding, Stephens is now hard at work as owner of Tulsa’s Board & Brush franchise, putting her own personal touches on the business. The studio provides a variety of creative templates for wood decor. The franchise provides design ideas and materials, and customers can come in, combine, craft, and leave with a finished piece of decor that is uniquely their own.

“You don’t have to be super creative,” Stephens says. “It’s just a really fun thing to do.”

Based on the customer’s vision, Stephens guides her clients through the process of creation from start to finish, offering tips on colors, materials, and style. “That’s what I really love,” she says. “I like the building part of it, the putting everything together, and then coming out with the final project that you’re really proud of at the end.”

Customers can come in and work solo, but there are plenty of workshops that include groups of people. Private parties can be arranged, as well as fundraising events. The studio makes it simple to come in with friends and family to build connections while crafting. Registration is available online, and there are hundreds of projects to choose from, as well as different types of workshops to suit the individual’s tastes.

“Our most popular workshop is called Pick Your Project,” says Stephens. “We’ve got signs for the walls. We’ve got porch signs, trays, all kinds of stuff. And then we’ve got workshops that have smaller projects. We’ve got kids’ workshops. We do glass etching and terrarium workshops. We have all kinds of stuff.”

Looking Toward a Crafty Future

As Board & Brush grows, Stephens looks forward to hosting holiday events, supporting the Tulsa community, and spreading her love of DIY crafting. And she also wants to encourage entrepreneurs to pursue their vision.

“I’d say go for it,” she says. “I could have stayed in my full-time job and been completely happy until retirement, but I would have missed out on this, and this has been such a great ride.” Find a mentor, she suggests. Learn all you can, and reach out to other business owners for guidance. The adventure is well worth it.

TEDC Creative Capital is a community financing organization that services small businesses throughout Oklahoma. From microloans to SBA 504 loans and more, TEDC provides numerous funding options to fit the unique needs of small business owners, alongside educational programming to promote business success. Connect with TEDC today to find local funding and education to grow your small business.