Demonstrating upward trajectory toward sustainability, growth

Heather Graves

Staff

November 11, 2024

WAUSAU – Growing up watching her mom thrive as a small business owner, Boly Vang said she knew she wanted to own her own business one day.

“Since childhood, I’ve had an entrepreneurial spirit, which I certainly credit to my mom,” she said. “She was an entrepreneur for as long as I can remember. I definitely saw how hard she worked, but I saw how much she had control over her businesses and was able to be her own boss.”

Vang said over the years, she learned several lessons from her mom – including how to develop a business and how to run a business.

Though she understood those aspects, Vang said coming up with an idea for a business didn’t come as easily.

“I always wanted to become a business owner and entrepreneur, but for the longest time, I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” she said. “I didn’t have a clear business plan or know what problem I wanted to solve. I didn’t know if I wanted to offer a certain service or product.”

It was at a dinner with one of her siblings – who is also a business owner – that Vang said she had her “aha moment.”

“We were out to dinner one night, and we had a conversation around me starting a business,” she said. “She asked me, ‘what are you good at? What do you like doing?’ My answer was, ‘I like getting people together for a good time – and I’m really good at that.’”

It was during that conversation, Vang said, that the idea for Paint Party B was created.

“I call it fun art – that is really the platform I use to get people together in a friendly, no-pressure social environment where they can explore their creativity,” she said. “I always like to make it very clear that my paint parties are paint parties. They’re not fine art lessons. They’re not painting classes.”

When she decided to take the leap into entrepreneurship, Vang said she tapped into any and all resources available to her.

“When I had my idea set, I started putting myself in spaces that gave me an opportunity to meet people who could help me along the journey,” she said.

Vang said that included attending Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce (HWCC) events and getting involved with the Marathon County Development Corporation (MCDEVCO) – which assists Central Wisconsin entrepreneurs and small business startups through financing and education.

“Attending networking events and workshops in those spaces really allowed me to meet people who I wouldn’t have otherwise met, and then just getting access to certain resources that, if I would have just tried finding it myself, probably would have taken a lot longer,” she said.

Vang said these opportunities further fueled her on her journey.

“You’re in spaces with people who are already where you want to be, or on their way there,” she said. “So I was constantly getting inspired and motivated to keep going. A lot of those people I have built relationships with – they have become mentors, supporters and even friends.”

Collaborative effort

When Paint Party B first started in January 2023, Vang said she had her own 500-square-foot studio where paint parties were held.

She said she learned pretty quickly – especially as a new business – that approach wasn’t going to work.

“I learned that people wanted to paint, but oftentimes, they didn’t have a large enough group to book a private paint party,” she said.

This realization, Vang said, led her to pivot slightly and look to other local businesses for partnerships.

“Public paint parties are what came to mind,” she said. “I have individuals who come. I have people who come for a date. I have people come in as a small group of friends. (Hosting parties this way) made it accessible to more people.”

Leaning on the relationships she already had with business owners in the community, Vang said, provided her with several potential partnerships.

“Places I partner with, I have patronized regularly – I have built relationships with the general managers or bartenders,” she said. “Many of the partnerships came from conversations we had while I was there as a customer.”

Vang said the collaborations provide benefits for both entities.

“What makes it interesting and intriguing for the business owners is that I’m helping bring in new customers to their venue,” she said. “I then get to use those venues at no cost.”

As an extra incentive for businesses, Vang said she oftentimes purchases the first round of drinks for paint party participants – “that’s a guaranteed sale for the venue.”

“It’s definitely a win-win situation,” she said. “As my brand has grown on social media, other local businesses in the area that I didn’t have prior relationships with have reached out and said, ‘Hey, that looks pretty cool. Can we do something here?’ So it’s been working out really terrific.”

A well-balanced art piece

After graduating from D.C. Everest High School, Vang said she went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh where she obtained a degree in human resource management.

“I stayed in that area for a number of years and moved back to Central Wisconsin in 2015,” she said.

Vang said she currently balances her duties as CEO and owner of Paint Party B with those of her full-time job as a human resources analyst for Marathon County.

Though at times the balance is a bit difficult, Vang said the support of her husband, David, and their teenage niece help her manage both roles.

“They are the muscle and help behind the scenes,” she laughed. “My painters love seeing them. They will come help set up and help clean up. It’s really become a paint party family.”

Paint Party B, Vang said, also has “what I call a paint party season.”

“Painting parties aren’t a big hit year round,” she said. “In the warmer months, people are camping, vacationing – a lot of people want to be outdoors.”

Vang said October through February are Paint Party B’s busy months.

“I have around 10-12 parties a month during those months, compared to four to five during the warmer months,” she said.

New Startup of the Year

Being named a finalist and later the winner of the HWCC’s New Start Business of the Year, Vang said, was a “humbling honor.”

“I have attended this event for several years,” she said. “I never expected to be on stage accepting an award.”

The award, according to the HWCC’s website (hwccbusinessawards.com), recognizes an Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI)-owned new business startup that has demonstrated an upward trajectory toward sustainability and growth, while venturing into non-traditional business development industries.

Businesses must be operational and profitable for at least a year.

Accepting the award in the presence of her family and friends – especially her parents – Vang said is an experience she won’t soon forget.

“Sharing that moment with my mom and dad was the important part,” she said.

Vang said she has long supported the HWCC, appreciating the organization’s annual recognition of AAPI-owned businesses.

“Oftentimes, people see the success, glitz and the glamor of a business, but they don’t see the behind-the-scenes hard work,” she said. “The work that entrepreneurs do, sometimes can go left unseen.”

Vang said she’s honored that someone took the time to nominate her for the award.

“My first question was, ‘can I ask who nominated me?’” she said. “They said, ‘that’s information we don’t share – we keep it anonymous.’ But I was very honored that someone thought enough about me and Paint Party B to take the time to nominate me.”

A vibrant future

Vang said she has no intention – especially in the next three to five years – to stop working full-time in human resources.

“I really enjoy the work that I do,” she said.

Though Vang said that doesn’t mean she doesn’t see growth potential for her paint party business.

“I actually want to start offering other services and even projects,” she said.

Paint Party B’s newest offering, Vang said, will launch this holiday season.

“I’m going to start offering paint party kits,” she said. “Sometimes it’s hard for people to attend a paint party during the busy holiday months. Others want to paint and find the value in painting, however, they don’t want to do it in a social environment.”

The Paint Party B kits, Vang said, will provide more flexibility on where and when the painting is done.

“I want to tailor a paint party offering for those people as well,” she said.

Beyond that, Vang said it is her goal to continue to grow the Paint Party B brand – which includes hiring additional painting instructors.

“I want to ultimately start hiring paint party instructors, that way it’s not just me doing this,” she said. “My goal ultimately is to have a team of instructors throughout the State of Wisconsin. I certainly want to expand outside of Central Wisconsin.”