By Jenn Goeddeke
I recently had the opportunity to speak with Jenna on how she and her husband, Jeff, came to own a Pinspiration Studio. Both Jeff and Jenna Hance led hard-working professional lives in corporate America. Jeff traveled extensively as a consultant in the health industry, and Jenna was involved in human relations and also career-coaching. To open this DIY-style, creative studio in Jenna's hometown of Berkley was really a dream come true for them both. The concept evolved for Hance while working on her master's degree as a career coach, with a focus on teens. When framing the question, “what would you most like to do?” Hance immediately thought of a crafting business and began to realize that running Pinspiration would be a perfect job for her! She always held crafts close to heart, from her own wedding invite creations to artsy/crafty activities planned for her kids' birthday parties. Hance zoned in on Berkley as a location partly because she grew up there, and also because she believed it would be both an excellent match and asset to the existing community.
Pinspiration INSPIRATION, A CRAFT-STUDIO FRANCHISE BUSINESS, WAS ORIGINALLY FOUNDED IN 2015 BY BROOKE AND BOB ROE OF ARIZONA, currently with over 60 locations nationwide. For Jeff and Jenna Hance, the owners of Pinspiration in Berkley, setting up this business was a leap of faith that took a couple of years to realize.
HANCES PURCHASED THE BUSINESS TdealHE IN OCTOBER 2019. They spent a good of time renovating the downtown Berkley space, transforming two storefronts into a single studio by knocking down the dividing wall. A beautiful VIP area was set up, plus multiple murals decorate the whole interior. The end result is a space designed to be comfortable and, of course, a crafter's paradise.
The Covid19 pandemic interfered with the normal course of opening, but they made full use of their quiet time in lockdown to order inventory and set up craft samples. Their grand opening was the Memorial Day weekend of 2021. Hance recalled, “Fortunately, this was a time when people were ready to get out and do things!” She mentioned that it’s easy to safely participate at the studio because masks are worn, and people can distance within the space too. There are snacks and refreshments available, but customers can remain masked up for their entire visit. The Hances offer a vast range of craft activities and covers everything from traditional to modern. Examples include jewelry-making, woodwork, glass art, ceramics, painting and a great deal more. Hance emphasized, “We are still fairly new in town and first-timers are always welcome. It’s a lot to take in, so you will be greeted by a tour of the studio, and offered any help or guidance needed for you to select and complete an activity.” One thing Hance hears a lot is: "I'm not crafty or creative!" However, the activities are designed to bring out the ‘inner-crafter,' and mostly geared for people without an art or craft background. Customers can take it stepby-step, at their own pace. Crafts are organized by difficulty level and suggested age range. Additionally, new and seasonal crafts are offered regularly, and the main projects are rotated every six weeks. Prices range anywhere from $7 to $75, with the average about $30. ANCE EXPLAINED THAT THE BEST PART OF RUNNING PINSPIRATION H is watching families connecting and having fun! Most of the crafts are appropriate for almost all ages and ability levels. One of the most popular activities is the “Splatter Room.” For $20 per person (and with a
2021 BERKLEY AREA CHAMBER CITY GUIDE | 78 | PUBLISHED BY FERNDALE FRIENDS
