Bonnie Lai, the owner of Tenfingersworkshop, shares insights into her unique arts and crafts store in Calgary. Specializing in creating gifts with community spirit and humane characteristics, Lai’s passion for miniature art and her background in creative writing and film art shape her innovative approach.
What is your business called and what does it do?
Tenfingersworkshop is an Arts & Crafts Store! I named my studio Tenfingers, which means: encouraging people to create with ten fingers. My goal is to design/make gifts or products that have humane characteristics or show the community feeling, creative through various media channels. In the meantime, I aim to create new and ingenious products and craft workshops to keep our life culture or childhood memories.
What made you want to do this work?
I have loved to create miniature art since I was a kid. My major subjects at university are creative writing and film art. Before I reached the con of creation, the miniature was just something that looked very cute and was a normal decoration. After a year of training in film school, I realized that my works can be a media of storytelling, it’s not only a kind of Boutique but a method to promote our life culture. Food culture is a good idea for telling the story in a direct and civilian way.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
I am putting in a lot of effort to conduct marketing research and reach out to the target audiences for my art pieces.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
Kids and adults, parents & their kids.
How does your business make money? How does it work?
For now, I am hosting a craft workshop at the Home Art Studio in Chinatown. That’s included regular kid classes, miniature art classes, and Birthday party craft classes. In the meantime, I sell my art pieces on my website as well.
Where in the city can we find your profession?
Some of my works are now exhibited at Home Art Studio – Unit 147, 328 Centre Street SE Calgary AB T2G 4X6, China Town Dragon City Mall.
In the meantime, I’m thrilled to announce that my new collection “Letter to my Home” will be showcased at the “Hong Kong Culture Day” exhibition in Calgary, taking place from August 31st to September 02 at 4 FcSPACE Marda Loop!
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services?
What age and skill level are suitable for the class? What timeslot can be chosen for the class?
My craft classes are suitable for students of different ages and needs (including beginners).
Otherwise, since most people are unable to easily create a fixed schedule for the class, the customer’s time slot is acceptable for my workshop, and the team and I can provide flexible service for students.
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
To promote my studio, I keep myself working on the skill of digital marketing. It’s a great opportunity to update my common sense of the world in social media. But in the meantime, that’s my working hours can be 24 hours.
Where can we follow you?
Instagram:@tenfingersworkshop.ca
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