Editorial Team
3 min read
Laura Hoyos has transformed her love of painting and her passion for art education into a business that merges artistry with community wellness. Since 2015, Hoyos has operated her business Paint 2 Smile where she’s helping to build community and bringing out the inner artists in all of her clients.
As a young girl, Hoyos immigrated to the U.S. from Colombia with her family. She followed in her father’s footsteps and became an artist herself, using the medium to stay connected to her Colombian heritage. Hoyos has an educational background in fine arts, graphic design, art history, and art education and used what she learned to forge a new path as an arts educator.
In time, Hoyos developed a passion for building community through art expression and education. “I see the arts as a tool [and] a connector because it allows us to connect to our inner artists. Not only are we connecting back to ourselves, it also allows us to connect to each other,” says Hoyos. “I started as a face painter and that led me to body painting. Then, maternity belly painting really became a trend. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was forced to [stop] all the face and body painting services. We couldn’t operate.”
Getting back to business
Like many business owners amid the pandemic, Hoyos pivoted her business model to better accommodate her clientele and created guided painting experiences as a team-building exercise for corporate patrons.
“I had a client ask me to do a project for members of their team to do something around the arts. That started what I’m focusing on now, which is art and wellness.”
Hoyos has expanded Paint 2 Smile’s reach to the Triangle area of North Carolina, focusing on corporate art & wellness guided paint experiences with their corporate clients, as a way for teams to build connections. Hoyos’ New Jersey team of artists have since resumed traveling to private events to help their clients transform into walking pieces of art with face and body painting services.
“The beautiful thing about the arts is that it allows you to not only express yourself, connect to yourself, and connect to others, it also sparks creativity,” Hoyos says.
Even amid challenging times, Clover helps small businesses get back on their feet. Hoyos received a grant from Clover’s Back2Business program in February, which has helped her reach a new market in NC’s Triangle region. With QuickBooks integrated into her Clover system, Hoyos keeps track of her business expenses with ease. Clover’s Constant Contact app made it easier for Hoyos to stay engaged with her customers and offer special promotions.
“I like the fact that you can keep track of all your clients. It’s very easy to go back to a repeat client,” Hoyos shares. She uses Clover Go, which Hoyos says “makes it a lot easier” to accept payments no matter where her business takes her. “Everything is accessible right from your phone.”
Trust the process
Hoyos has plans of one day opening up a storefront for Paint 2 Smile where she can host her own painting events. She hopes to create an artists’ hub in support of her community and fellow artists. As she continues to grow her business, Hoyos values the power of community, advising prospective small business owners to “always say trust the process. You’re not in it alone. Ask for help and be coachable.”
Read more stories about how Clover is helping merchants to build community and grow their businesses.
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