Tamara Ruth A.R.T. Creator, Tamara Aardsma, Uses Trep Ontrack Business Bootcamp to Focus and Grow Her Business

Artist and entrepreneur Tamara Aardsma started her business in 2021, selling thoughtful, intentional greeting cards that she designs herself. Tamara Ruth A.R.T. offers more than just cards for the major holidays–simple, practical, beautifully hand-drawn cards for everyday occasions (including sympathy cards, thank-you notes, and thinking-of-you cards) are available in Tamara’s Faire storefront, where she sells cards wholesale to retailers like cafés, florists, and gift shops.

Tamara pivoted the business to a (mostly) wholesale model when, with the help of the Trep OnTrack curriculum and individual coaching, she realized that it could be more beneficial to her inventory and sales strategy.

“At the start of Trep OnTrack, I had launched my own website about 6 months prior. I was stocking it with a few card designs and whatever art prints I had. I was a bit stuck because I had to outsource all of the printing, and I really couldn’t afford much inventory,” she says. “Plus, being a new business, I had no way to gauge what inventory I needed and ended up with excess products like Mother’s Day and Christmas cards.”

After attending the Trep OnTrack Business Bootcamp in 2022, the program helped her narrow her focus and strengthen her main products to establish herself and her small business. “As an artist, and a creative in general, it is very easy for me to want to do everything, all of the time, whatever excites me the most that day. And while that works for just creating and having fun, it does not make for a successful small business,” states Tamara. “I realized that narrowing down my focus would enable me to be more successful and reach more people with my art. And it’s not a negative thing that I wasn’t doing 30 different products like I’ve seen pre-established illustrators do.”

Tamara used her seed funds to purchase a high-end printing set that enables her to print her own goods at home, which she says saves her loads of time and money compared to when she was previously outsourcing print production. She used what was left over to purchase an iPad to allow her to create on the go, a large desk, and a few storage units to complete her home studio.

Tamara prizes the connections she made with fellow classmates in the program, and thinks that forming these relationships is one of the most important aspects of the Trep OnTrack Business Bootcamp. “While the material was immensely useful, getting connected with my local entrepreneurial community with amazing minds and resources will benefit me in ways I cannot even see yet,” she says.

Check out Tamara’s cards on her Instagram and keep your eyes peeled for updates on her official Tamara Ruth A.R.T. Facebook page!