Vine Van Gogh Leaves a Mark on the Hudson Valley

Vine Van Gogh has put its own brush stroke on the sip and paint party experience. At a paint and sip event, attendees follow a trained artist who guides them in the process of creating a painting. The low-key atmosphere allows partygoers to socialize and enjoy a glass of wine as they paint.

Vine Van Gogh, which has offices in Newburgh, operates remotely. Vine Van Gogh has put its own brush stroke on the sip and paint party experience. Rather than hosting parties in a set event space, the company sends its artists to restaurants, venues and homes across the Hudson Valley. This nimble business model has allowed Vine Van Gogh to expand quickly and gain a reputation as one of the best in the Hudson Valley.

We recently spoke with Vine Van Gogh owner and Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Norman about the process of establishing and growing a small business in the Hudson Valley.

Tell us about the process of launching Vine Van Gogh. How did it go from concept to reality?

Vine Van Gogh started in October 2013. The first event was free for the guests just to see if this concept was something that people wanted. Since then the concept has caught on and the business has grown. It started with two people and an artist. Gradually more artists were needed and hired. Then not so slowly more people were needed and we hired artists, hosts and office staff. The introduction of a website that would take orders and display the event calendar was key in the growth of the company. And since the start of the business in 2013 we are on our third and best website. We are consistently learning and developing our business. Our staff is integral in our growth and the success of each and every event.

How did you initially fund your business?

Vine Van Gogh started with personal investment and credit cards to be honest. The founder, Tim [Palladino], put everything he had into starting the business because he felt so strongly about it and knew it would work! Once he purchased all the supplies he needed to start, he had his first event within two weeks.

What can someone attending a Vine Van Gogh event for the first time expect from the experience?

Our guests can expect a memorable and enjoyable event where they can try something new, or be creative. They leave with a sense of accomplishment and the desire to do it again. We design our events to be the catalyst for our guests to indulge in self exploration through art or really anything they have been wanting to try.

Sip and paint events have grown in popularity in recent years. What do you think sets Vine Van Gogh apart and makes it uniquely successful?

Our mobile business model is a major factor in our success. We also develop strong long term relationships with our partner venues. And, we focus on the individual experience rather than the party. Partying is not sustainable. Making people feel good is.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of launching a small business in the Hudson Valley?

The advice we would give would be to surround yourself with a great network! Get your mentors in place, start networking and work tirelessly to develop and grow your business so together we can continue to develop the Hudson Valley.

How do you see Vine Van Gogh evolving or expanding in the future?

Vine Van Gogh was designed to be a national household brand. We have plans for expanding geographically and for expanding technologically. Keep an eye on us because we are dreaming big!

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