Jennifer is the founder of Paint and Sip Kenya, a company that hosts creative painting events to encourage individual's expressions, and let their creative sides shine. She is also a communications and marketing professional.
1. What three words would you use to describe yourself?
2. How did painting and sipping start and why did you feel there was a need for it in the market? How is it going? Is this – running events - something you went to school for and was it ever presented to you as a viable option for your future?
Some of her customers showed up an hour later, and we had a quick discussion about the possibility of turning it into a business. We held a single trial run and it was completely sold out in under 24 hours! The significance and influence of the sessions I had led dawned on me at that moment. Not only did I see first-hand how my clients felt after our sessions—relaxed and at peace—but I also got to be a part of giving young people in Nairobi a new way to spend their Sundays. I’ve built an incredible team, half of who are deaf, and we’ve hosted over a hundred sessions for the general public, corporate, and private parties, and are still expanding.
I studied art in high school, and architecture for a year (which did not go well, haha), but my background is in communications and marketing. I believe my parents foresaw my future as a businesswoman. My father actually gave me Sh5,000 for my first business (selling jewellery) and always encouraged me. I think my creativity is tied to my personality. To answer your question, I am extremely passionate about digital marketing – creating brands and cultivating online communities.
The Paint and Sip community just grew organically, and we take our online communication very seriously because it is the first and most important point of contact with our members. I only recently realised the risks of referring to my business as a ‘side hustle,’ which it clearly is not. I don’t have a side job because my full-time job and my weekend job are both equally important to me. My ‘side hustle’ is the polar opposite of what the term implies. It is not something I do to supplement or earn money. I believe it is critical to change the narrative surrounding our weekend activities for the sake of myself, my team, and my clients. I say this because, regardless of how we started, having a monetary goal diverts all stakeholders’ attention away from enjoying the experience and understanding why we do what we do. Basically, it is not about the money, it is more about the experience.
3. How do you coordinate your events? Is there a theme every month? Who are the majority of your attendees?
4. What would you say about the art scene in Kenya, and why does it seem as if it is one of the most ignored sectors in the country?
5. What events do you like attending and what would you like to see done better?
