In our brand spotlight, we feature Abound brands who are ready for retail. This week we sat down with Lisa Keyworth, the founder of Pix Perfect. Pix Perfect sells craft kits and toys, is based in Macomb, Michigan, and has been in business for three years. Shop pixel crafts here.
Abound: Why did you decide to start this business? Why this business and not a different one?
Lisa: After creating a giant, sparkly and glamorous piece of art in my home, I realized that I had created a fun new crafting experience that kids, teens, and adults could enjoy! I created my pixel art kits after seeing my two boys express interest in my sequin artwork and desire to create themselves. They had never been interested in arts & crafts before, so I knew I was onto something truly special.
Abound: How did you make your first prototype? What changes have you made to your product since then?
Lisa: We worked with manufacturers for our prototypes but did not source one vendor for all of the components. So, our very first kits were hand-knitted in our home, and we assembled them as a family on the weekends. Our teenage boys learned a lot about assembly lines, quality inspection and error-proofing. But, they are happy that we now have all components of the kit manufactured by one vendor!
Abound: How do you make your product? What’s your process like?
Lisa: Our product is now manufactured. This has freed up so much time to focus on other aspects of the business.
Abound: What’s your day to day like? Do you have any favorite and least favorite parts?
Lisa: Every day is different and exciting! My daily duties include all aspects of running a business, but my favorite is most definitely managing our social media accounts. I love to interact with our happy customers and see the beautiful designs they have created with our kits!
Abound: What was your initial investment? How did you get the money?
Lisa: My business was funded by my personal savings.
Abound: Where was the first place you started selling your product?
Lisa: We first sold our product at Comic Cons. We debuted at the Toronto Comic Con and the response was so positive that we quickly booked some of the top conventions our first year. It was a great way to introduce our product to kids, teens, and adults! I’m still friends with many of the first customers that I met at these shows!
Abound: Where do you sell your product now?
Lisa: We are sold in independent toy stores and boutiques in the U.S. and Canada as well as online.
Abound: Where would you love to sell your products in the future?
Lisa: Any and every craft store!
Abound: Do you have a favorite product? If so, which one?
Lisa: Our Deluxe Kit is amazing because it has every color you could want to create with!
Abound: What’s your marketing like? Is social media an important part of your business? If so, how?
Lisa: Social media is so important to our business because it allows us to share customer-submitted photos of what they created. And, to me, this is the best way to advertise our product. It shows that we have happy customers and we’re not just fabricating the appearance of having an enjoyable product. People really love crafting with Pix Perfect!
Abound: What are some of the most frustrating challenges and/or moments you’ve had with Pix Perfect?
Lisa: Time management is challenging. There is simply not enough time in the day to do everything we want, so we always focus on customer-related tasks first. This has proven to be a very successful model.
Abound: What are some of your greatest achievements and victories you’ve had with Pix Perfect?
Lisa: We were the proud winner of “Best of Toy Fair 2019” by Parent Tested, Parent Approved, at our debut appearance at the North American International Toy Fair.
Abound: What advice do you have for people who want to sell a product?
Lisa: Test out sales of your product with strangers. Proof of concept is imperative to your success. Your family and friends may want to show support, but may not always give you the most truthful feedback to help your business grow.
Abound: Is there any business advice or quotes you’ve heard that you think about often?
Lisa: No, but I always tell people that there are “no days off” when you own your own business. I’m still waiting for a real day off!
Abound: What’s your favorite thing about being a business owner?
Lisa: I love when I see a positive customer review. Nothing makes my day more than knowing that I created something that is bringing a smile to someone else’s face.
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