Business Spotlight: New Brentwood scrapbook store offers variety of classes, craft styles

By Roni Gehlke
For the Contra Costa Times

Name of business: Art Inspired Studios
Type of business: Scrapbook store
Owners: Patti Snyder and Diana Daijogo
Founded: June 2010
Address: 3860 Balfour Road, Suite F, Brentwood
Phone number: 925-684-7056
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
Number of employees: two

Products and services: Scrapbook and altered art supplies. Scrapbook, card making and paper arts classes. Classes offered for beginners to advanced, in shabby chic, vintage or simple styles. They also offer a kid camps and private parties.

How did you get into the business: "Being scrapbookers and card makers, this was the next step for us. We started out as an online kit club," Snyder said.

For three years Snyder and Daijogo's club was called Scrap for a Cure.

"After many of our favorite stores closed, we found that there was a demand for a store that mixed scrapbooking, card making and altered art together. We became Art Inspired Studios," she said.

Best part about the business?: "We love meeting people. Photos are a cherished part of every family and often times they are stuck in boxes or stashed away on a computer hard drive," Snyder said. "We help people get their photos organized and put in albums."

She said she also likes teaching beginning scrapbooking classes as well as classes helping people use their supplies in other ways. She said that Art Inspired Studios offers mixed-media classes such as working with canvas and paints, card classes and more.

Worst part about the business?: "I can't say there is a worst part. The challenge with any business is to carry or offer everything," Snyder said. "Sometime we don't have that specific piece of paper or a certain sticker our customers are looking for. But there are always ways to work through those challenges."

Key to success: "Customer service is the key to any business," she said.

Biggest misperception about the business: "Scrapbooking is too hard or takes up too much time," Snyder said.

She explained that scrapbooking is only as hard as people make it. "We are here to help guide you in the right direction," she said.

Future plans: Snyder and Daijogo are very excited to be here in Brentwood and plan on being her a long time.
-- Roni Gehlke