Resources hiding in plain sight

You know who to call when your kiln breaks. You have your supplier's number memorized. You can find your accountant's email in your sleep.

Those aren't the resources you're missing.

The resources you're missing are the ones you don't realize count as resources at all.

The connections you're not making

Your friend who teaches preschool? She has access to every school district field trip coordinator in the area. That's dozens of potential group bookings you haven't tapped into because you might not have thought to ask.

Your neighbor who's on the chamber of commerce board? He knows every business owner in town and exactly who's looking for team-building activities or unique client gifts. But you haven't discussed what you do beyond "I run a pottery-painting studio."

The parent who comes in every week and works in HR? She knows how to write job descriptions, screen candidates, and handle employee issues. She'd probably love to help you figure out your staffing situation over coffee. (She's a parent, and has kids in school .. hello PTA hookup!)

Your gym buddy who owns a different type of small business? He's dealing with the same cash flow problems, staffing headaches, and marketing questions you are. You could be comparing notes. Instead, you just talk about workouts.

The offices you're already walking into

Here's one that is often overlooked: every professional service you use (aka pay for) is an office with people who need team outings, ladies nights and party places for their kids.

Your CPA's firm? They have a staff that needs end-of-year celebration activities. Your dentist's office? The whole team could use a stress-relief evening that isn't another dinner. Your doctor's practice? They've got nurses, administrative staff, and physicians who'd love a creative break (and, again, a place for their kids parties).

Your insurance agent works in an office. Your lawyer works in an office. Your banker works in an office. These are all teams that need morale boosters, celebration events, and something different than the standard happy hour. OR they just need to know that your studio is walk-in for an outing with a friend of their kids.

You're already their client. You already have a relationship. And it may not have occurred to you to say, "Hey, if your team ever wants to do something different for an outing, we do private events."

They're not going to think of your studio on their own. But if you mention it? They'll remember. And when their office manager asks for team activity ideas, your studio will come to mind.

What actually counts as a resource

A resource isn't just someone you pay for professional services. It's anyone who has knowledge, access, connections, or skills that could make your life easier - and help draw in new customers.

It's the parent-customer who's a photographer and might shoot your studio in exchange for a gift card. The friend who's great at organizing who could look at your backroom chaos and suggest a system in 20 minutes. The regular customer who works in tourism and could mention your studio to visitors. The retired teacher who'd love something to do and would be perfect for your weekend kids' classes.

It's the membership you're already paying for but forgot exists - that entrepreneur networking group, that online course you bought, that industry association with resources you never explored. The apps you downloaded once. The Facebook groups you joined and stopped checking. (Who are your mom customers in those groups - they can talk you up when you're not allowed to mention your own business!)

It's the local businesses you walk past every day without thinking about partnerships. The school down the street that does a STEM fair every year. The library that hosts community events. The senior center looking for activities. The corporate office park three blocks away full of people who need stress relief and team outings (and dare I say again, their kids need cool party places!).

These all count.

The support that's already around you

You're surrounded by people who would help you if they knew you needed it.

But they don't know. It often doesn't occur to you that they could help. Because you're so used to thinking "I need to figure this out myself" that you don't see the person standing right next to you who has the exact answer you need.

Your friend who's a lawyer? She can't take you on as a client, but she can review a contract in five minutes and tell you if something's off. Your brother-in-law who works in IT? He can fix your computer issues faster than any help desk. The studio owner you met at that conference two years ago? She'd answer your text about pricing strategy if you actually sent it.

The couple who comes in for date night pottery every month? They own the wine bar and would probably love to do a cross-promotion. The college student on your staff? Her roommate is a marketing major who needs portfolio pieces - and she's in a sorority!

You have access to more than you realize. You're just not thinking of it as access.

Personal resources matter more than you think

Your doctor's office has a bulletin board where they post local business cards. Your hair stylist talks to 30 people a week who live in your area. Your kid's sports team has a directory of parents - some of whom run businesses, plan events, or know people who do.

Your church/temple/community group organizes volunteer days and needs service projects. Your favorite coffee shop has regulars who could become your regulars. Your veterinarian sees pet owners who might want to paint ornaments of their dogs. These feel like personal parts of your life. They are. And they're also connected to your business in ways you haven't mapped out yet.

The dentist who asks what you've been up to? Tell them. They might know someone planning a team event. The person you chat with at your kid's soccer games? Mention your studio. They might be looking for a birthday party venue for their own child. The neighbor who brings in your packages? They might not realize you do adult pottery nights and would love that.

Your personal network is full of business resources

Your toolbox exercise: see what you actually have

The Studio Owner's Toolbox isn't a list of vendors to hire. It's a map of resources you already have access to and may not be using to its fullest potential.

Be sure to include:

• The friend who could introduce you to someone useful

• The membership you're paying for but not using

• The parent-customer with skills you could ask about

• The local business you should partner with but haven't approached

• The person in your life who has access to groups you want to reach

• The hobby you stopped doing that actually helped you think better

• The online community you forgot you're part of

• The workshop materials you could revisit

• The neighbor who knows how to do that thing you keep meaning to learn

Start thinking about support differently. It's not just the people you pay. It's everyone and everything that makes your business and your life function better.

What you'll discover

Most studio owners who have completed their toolbox realize they have many (so many!) resources they weren't thinking of as resources.

The preschool teacher friend who's a door to every school district. The regular customer who works at the tourism board. The online course you bought and never finished. The Facebook group you stopped checking that probably has answers to your current problem. The parent who mentioned they "used to do bookkeeping" and would probably help you figure out QuickBooks.

You have more support around you than you realized. You just haven't been looking at your world through that lens.

This gets more valuable the more you use it.

When you're done, you'll see your full support system - not just the obvious vendors, but the hidden connections, the underused tools, the people who'd help if you asked, the resources you forgot existed.

Keep it updated. Add people as you meet them. Note connections when you discover them. Write down that app someone recommended. Add that studio owner who gave you great advice in a Facebook thread. Document the partnerships you want to build.

Your support system gets bigger every time you recognize a new piece of it.

And yes, add The Creative Retailer to your list while you're at it. We're here when you need us.

[DOWNLOAD: Studio Owner's Toolbox 2026]

Map out the resources hiding in plain sight. You have more than you think.