406 | From 0 to 60+ Stores Selling Watercolor Kits with Kate Talcott

·37 min·3 clips

Kate Talcott explains why she stopped selling stickers and cards to focus solely on watercolor kits, despite initial fears.

This episode features Katie Hunt interviewing Kate Talcott, founder of Splatter and Bloom and a Paper Camp alum, about her business journey. Kate transitioned from being a middle school librarian to creating watercolor kits that provide all necessary supplies and video tutorials. Her business grew from zero to nearly 70 wholesale stores after she niched down from a broader product line. Kate initially sold cards, stickers, and tote bags but found the process too slow for creating new inventory. She developed her first watercolor kit prototype using simple clear bags during the COVID-19 pandemic when demand for hobbies surged. She now creates design outlines in Procreate, films painting tutorials in one take to show mistakes, and hosts videos on a private YouTube playlist and a platform called Member Vault. Kate sources DaVinci paints, which are pre-dotted, and developed a custom brush after facing sourcing challenges, once driving to multiple cities to secure materials. A viral TikTok video significantly boosted orders, creating urgent demand she had to fulfill. Kate decided to fully transition to kits by the end of 2023, selling off her old inventory through mystery packs and donations. She attended her first major wholesale show, NAMTA, after preparing with insights from Paper Camp on buyer questions and booth presentation. Kate attributes much of her wholesale success to in-person markets and trade shows, where buyers could experience the product, rather than email outreach, which yielded few responses. She maintains a painting station at her booth to let customers try the kits, overcoming doubts about their artistic skill. Kate’s social media strategy focuses on educational watercolor tutorials, which felt more authentic than promotional content and helped build a supportive community. She runs an annual "Fall for Watercolor" event that grew from 150 to nearly 900 participants. Despite success, Kate experienced burnout, particularly while managing postpartum depression, and has struggled with the constant demands of social media and production. She is currently reevaluating her business to align with family life, considering a shift toward commissions and fine art painting. Kate has declined opportunities with larger retailers to maintain product quality and personal balance. The conversation highlights the non-linear path of entrepreneurship and the importance of adjusting a business to fit one’s life. The tone is conversational and vulnerable, blending practical business advice with personal reflection. This episode is ideal for product-based entrepreneurs interested in niching down, wholesale growth, or balancing business with personal values. Listeners seeking a strictly tactical guide to scaling without personal stories might find less relevance.

As heard by us

A focused wholesale growth story with concrete trade-show detail and a grounded burnout thread.

Kate Talcott's story is really about focus: Splatter and Bloom grew from zero stores to nearly 70 after the line got tighter and easier to explain.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

A niching-down story that turns watercolor kits into nearly 70-store growth.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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