Packaging a Personal Art Experience

A simple idea sparked big potential. Paintable Pictures set out to turn personal photos into custom paint-by-number kits, but the founders needed a partner who could source safe, reliable materials and scale out their concept for real retail demand. When delays and communication issues stalled their early production attempts, they turned to Don Beukema from Stephen Gould’s Charlotte office. What began as a favor for a longtime friend quickly evolved into a full production program, driven by strong communication, rigorous compliance, and global manufacturing expertise. 

The Challenge

The founders faced challenges sourcing lead-free paint, child-safe components, and an inkjet-printable cotton canvas that met all compliance standards. Their selected factories were slow to respond, samples took weeks to arrive, and ongoing canvas export restrictions from China introduced additional risk. They needed a partner who could move quickly, validate safety requirements, and deliver a seamless, certifiable supply chain.

The Solution

Don leveraged long-standing supply-chain relationships in China to quickly identify fully compliant factories and eliminate communication delays. Within five days, Stephen Gould delivered samples from suppliers the client had been waiting on for nearly a month. The Charlotte team managed third-party child-safety testing, confirmed all ASTM D-4236 requirements, and sourced canvas with the proper chain-of-custody documentation to address export restrictions. From there, the team handled full production, quality oversight, and global logistics for the 20,000-unit launch.

“We started with a big idea, some cool tech, and a call to Donnie at Stephen Gould. As a start-up, the road wasn’t always smooth, but having an experienced team guide us through sourcing, packaging, and tariffs made all the difference.”

– Pat Carroll, Paintable Pictures

The Result

The kit launched successfully and was featured by Oprah’s Book Club, driving strong sales through boutique retailers and direct-to-consumer channels. The project has opened doors to additional SKUs, packaging revisions, and future POP displays, with discussions underway with national retailers. Don’s responsiveness and global coordination transformed a stalled idea into a fast-moving, retail-ready product and set the foundation for a long-term growth relationship.