Reclaiming life, Creativity & storytelling with Canvas: Interview w/ Staurt & Abby, Co founders of Canvas
I n the S2EP63 of The Arts to Hearts Podcast, Charuka Arora, Artist & Host of the Arts To Hearts Podcast is joined in by Stuart and Abby, the incredible duo behind Canvas.
In this Episode,
- You will hear Stuart and Abby talk about business startups and how a fun little side project turned out to be a big venture in their lives.
- Stuart and Abby talked about their previous careers in creative fields.
- From creating content for clients to becoming their own clients have made Stuart and Abby taste the best of both worlds.
- Stuart and Abby discussed how products like canvas have diversified their user base from content creators and artists to everyone looking to customize their blank canvases.
- You will learn that the primary spirit of entrepreneurship lies in experimenting new things.
- You will hear honest conversations about fear of starting, taking a leap of faith, creative entrepreneurship and so much more.
- Stuart and Abby also revealed about a lot of exciting new products for this year that will enable really cool features on your mobile phones.
SHOP CANVAS :
LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE NOW!
Charuka Arora, Founder of Arts To Hearts Project
Charuka On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charukaarora/
https://artstoheartsproject.com/
CALL FOR WOMEN ARTISTS
In collab w/ Photo Trouvee Magazine
Theme: ‘TREASURED MOMENTS’
✨Guest curated by @naufss & @twiggyboyerart
Co- Founders of @phototrouvee
✨Deadline: 7th Feb, 2022
AUTOMATED TRANSCIPRT
00:01.91
charukaarora
Hey, you guys welcome back to the arts 2 hearts podcast I have 2 very special people with me today abby and stwart if you don’t know these 2 amazing people I met over an year ago I think maybe a little more than that and these 2 people. That I have is truly an honor because I absolutely adore I think they were the if I’ve ever experienced. Best customer service. It’s definitely from them I have the founders of shop dot canvas with me today if you’re an artist you must.
00:29.80
Stuart and Abby
Is.
00:37.64
charukaarora
Already know if not, you definitely need to check it out. Welcome to the podcast Steward and abby.
00:44.72
Stuart and Abby
Thank you So to be here. Thank you here.
00:48.47
charukaarora
Thank you so much for joining me so I met you I discovered you guys over I think you when you were launching or you just launched um shop dot canvas and I remember I remember I think truthti from India she.
00:58.30
Stuart and Abby
The thing.
01:06.43
charukaarora
Had recently bought from you and she had shared it on her Instagram and I found and I was like I really wanted to get this to india and you were very kind of I truly you know more than anything. It was such a hassle to bring the um the canvas. To india because at that point he was still not shipping to india and I remember how kind to of you were and I still you know this is something that I really need to say today because I haven’t really had the chance to say this verb to you but because of 2 because the way you were.
01:25.58
Stuart and Abby
Um, yeah.
01:42.40
charukaarora
You know how supportive and the whole experience was just so good that I’ve never ever forgotten It never.
01:47.97
Stuart and Abby
Ah, that means so much to us I feel like that’s something that we always want our customers to feel because as small business owners like we we appreciate every single person that trusts in our product and wants to support us so we want them to feel. Just as loved and supported as Well. So that that really means so much to us. Thank you. Thank you.
02:08.86
charukaarora
You are doing such a good job qdoers. Do that? Okay, first before we get into all of this I absolutely I’m so much more interested in doing both of you together and individually before. Canvas and we go into everything about canvas and your journey in these last 2 years let us also know who you really are and who you were before this would you want to start steward firstly welcome to the part as you are probably the first mail I have here.
02:38.27
Stuart and Abby
Um, all right? Awesome! Um, it’s great to ah great to be you know setting records I’m ah I’m a trailblazer. Um, so.
02:52.31
charukaarora
Ah, yes, you truly are.
02:58.10
Stuart and Abby
Ah, so but before before and say yeah, they shop canvas is a pretty new venture for me and you know like you said we we met a little over a year ago and I mean the canvas journey started a little over a year ago so I mean it doesn’t go back much further than you.
03:15.75
charukaarora
Yes.
03:17.43
Stuart and Abby
Which was awesome, but um, you know we we launched in January of 2020 ty twenty um and you know my idea at the time is that it would be a fun little side project to you know play around with this idea that I had and this little product that I came up with and. You know if it could be a little side project and if it made a little extra side income. It would be fun and then quickly it turned out to be something much bigger than that and so really ended up kind of reorienting my entire career around it. So before canvas I was in commercial. Film and and videography so created tv congressionals and website videos and social media videos for everything from like super big brands that you know are are worldwide brands.
03:57.75
charukaarora
Oh.
04:12.98
Stuart and Abby
You know, local mom and pops that needed a little website video for their small business. So obviously got a lot of experience in the video production world but also in the marketing world and communications. Yeah.
04:28.34
charukaarora
That’s that’s how you’re racing it.
04:32.10
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, so that’s really how the I mean obviously that’s like where the idea came from 1 of my biggest clients was and and we still do a lot of work is httv and we you know we constantly made those overhead top-down videos of people doing crabs or creating or whatever.
04:46.39
charukaarora
Here.
04:51.94
Stuart and Abby
And you know the more we did those the more I saw how like the the setup to to capture. Those is is just tricky and so kind of started to think about a way we could do it better and that’s where canvas came from so anyway I was in filming video for about ten years and ah you know have have kind of been fading out of that and into this new venture over the course of the past year year and a half
05:18.73
charukaarora
Wow, That’s so interesting and now I always had this tinge I felt like because you know your image making was fabulous since the beginning even when you were just sharing a process like you know some behind the scenes and I think um. You’ve also like you’ve really been very good with your content. Ah, the way you guys write and like you know share and it it always felt that way that you know there was a lot of maturity and you know I think you just know it when something is very well put together and it feels like. You You just sense that.
05:55.25
Stuart and Abby
Oh sure. Thank you yeah I mean I spent 10 years you know creating video and content for clients to advertise their products and now it’s like so interesting because I get to be my own client and so it’s like the best of both worlds I get to be created.
06:10.25
charukaarora
Yeah, yes.
06:13.92
Stuart and Abby
Ah, video producer. But also I gonna be the client and kind of you know, craft the right content for you know our audience and everything So it’s fun. It’s ah it’s ah, definitely been new. You know a new kind of like skill being the client but it’s been a lot of fun I feel like yeah.
06:27.63
charukaarora
Um, yeah.
06:33.20
Stuart and Abby
The experience I have in that world has definitely contributed to you know the the all of the marketing the content of canvas.
06:34.91
charukaarora
Yes, yes, that truly is yeah I would agree what about you Abby What were what was going on with you.
06:45.53
Stuart and Abby
Well um, Stuart and I actually used to work together a ton on set because I was more food world. So well I worked as a production assistant on a lot of the shoots that he would do.
06:51.61
charukaarora
Oh wow.
07:00.34
Stuart and Abby
But then moved into food styling so on a lot of the video and photo shoots that he had I would assist the food stylists and help make all I was basically what I say is the equivalent of like a sooux chef at a restaurant but for video and photo sets. So I would well the food and. Um, you know have to do all the little detail work for um photos and videos that he would shoot for these clients. So I’ve kind of always been around that creative world The Same. So. Yeah, it’s super fun I feel like it. It is really cool like he said to see everything that we were doing on set and be able to apply it to this product too. Um, So yeah, that’s kind of my background. Yeah.
07:44.91
charukaarora
Amazing. Oh amazing that also means that it’s not for the first time like four canvas that you’ve been working together. Both of you were also like working together together before that.
07:54.34
Stuart and Abby
Yes, yes, which is we always. It’s not lost on us how special and unique that is you know as a married couple to be able to work together so often and um.
08:08.52
charukaarora
Yeah.
08:12.73
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, we actually just celebrated nine years of marriage. So I feel like for me. Thank you, thank you? Yeah for most of that you’ve been self-employed like the first year of our marriage is when he started his video business. so um yeah so I feel like it’s been.
08:14.51
charukaarora
Oh Wow congratulations.
08:24.72
charukaarora
Oh well.
08:30.33
Stuart and Abby
Feel it’s it’s just really cool to look back on all the things that we’ve learned over the last nine years and see how we’ve been able to apply them to canvas. So yeah.
08:39.10
charukaarora
Amazing. How does it feel. How is it for you guys like you know to work together as Partners. Um, also like I think um, entrepreneurship in its own ah own cell and once you’re also working with your own partners. It’s very easy. To not have boundaries and you know to bring home like bring work back home and like you know how was how’s that journey been for you guys who’s the work. Holy who who’s the work. Holy who brings work home The most.
09:06.49
Stuart and Abby
Um, a journey.
09:13.66
Stuart and Abby
Not me I feel like I feel like it’s something that we’re constantly having to work on because it is something where it feels difficult at times to just be like okay we’re done for the day you know.
09:26.66
charukaarora
Yeah.
09:31.15
Stuart and Abby
And we even say especially because we do have so many international customers now. So at the end of the day when we’re winding down a lot of our international customers are getting up for the day and we kind of just like yeah a whole new wave of Dms and sexo.
09:42.70
charukaarora
Waking up I can feel that.
09:49.10
Stuart and Abby
Once we got to a certain point especially because I feel like at the beginning drawing boundaries was way more difficult just because we were trying to constantly like be super on top of customer service and always available and all the things. But now we kind of know like okay we need to establish regular work hours like. 8 8 a m to you know 5 p m or whatever is our workday and then we need to like I’ve started physically logging out of Instagram after a certain time of day. So I just don’t get I don’t get it.
10:17.11
charukaarora
No wow. That’s that’s that’s such a good practice.
10:23.66
Stuart and Abby
Un unifications all yeah in ah in a weird way I mean truly like I kind of joke about me being the 1 to take work come but truly like I’m I’m the 1 like forcing her to stop responding to dms cause I’m like like people understand it’s like you know there is a workday and there’s like you got to go home and sleep at some point so like people will understand.
10:34.25
charukaarora
Um.
10:43.26
Stuart and Abby
You know respond for 8 hours. But she’s like no they want me to respond? No so I getting I feel like I’m getting bettert. Yeah, definitely it has been a journey and I mean I mean part of the um you know it’s a dangerous thing but it’s also ah, a great thing is that we truly like love what we’re doing.
10:46.48
charukaarora
Um, yeah.
11:01.91
charukaarora
Yes, it’s so hard.
11:03.40
Stuart and Abby
So much that like you know we’re just yeah, we’re just so like excited to talk about everything that’s happening that like you know it doesn’t feel like bringing work home. It also doesn’t feel like yeah, so yeah I mean.
11:11.42
charukaarora
Yeah I can yeah here. So I I and my boyfriend we also work together apart from much too hard I brought I think the most difficult thing a lot of times is that most of the times like it’s so hard to. Keep things out of that conversation and how swiftly and smoothly things transition from you know your personal now I’m sure with kids. It gets a lot different because you’re forced to go into another dimension. But I’m sure it’s it must be so hard I feel like.
11:40.84
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, right, right? right.
11:48.33
charukaarora
You have when you’re so passionate about something that you’re doing. It’s gone. It’s it constantly is going in our heads. You know we’re always always even when we’re not working on it and when you have your partner along with you. You keep like it’s so hard to not talk about it.
11:53.39
Stuart and Abby
Yeah.
12:00.80
Stuart and Abby
Yes, yeah I mean we do. We do things like every now and then where which Friday is more where it’s like hey this is designated like not talk about canvas time like even if there’s. You know it’s like we enjoy it doesn’t feel like work and all that it’s like we force ourselves to like you know, go on a date and we’re not allowed to like talk about anything related to work. Yeah, um, you know day and day out. It’s kind of it really is hard to like keep those boundaries but we do we try to stay intentional.
12:21.99
charukaarora
Are.
12:34.48
charukaarora
Now.
12:35.31
Stuart and Abby
Ah, you know about taking some carving out some little chunk of time right ever so often to like you know, totally totally I didn’t want to say it but kind of like a decox like totally detox from talking about work.
12:41.73
charukaarora
It is essential as much as we don’t we like it’s hard and we don’t want to do it. But it’s so essential because we want to come back. Fresh and. At some point you understand and we like because ah it gets tiring and it gets overex exhaustting and the Burnout edge is just so so much there. It’s just and the good and the thing is it I think Also when you work with your partners. Um. It’s also this thing that you know 1 if 1 is working over the edge or like you know, overworking the ah it’s very difficult to separate the 2 and sometimes it’s just not 1 person with 2 people together get going off the cliff.
13:30.99
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, yes, yes yeah I think it like you mentioned briefly another dynamic of it for us is obviously the kids So when we get home our focus quickly G shifts to feeding the kids dinner and like you though just.
13:44.10
charukaarora
Ah, yes.
13:49.56
Stuart and Abby
Wanting to spend time. Yeah, wanting to spend time with them before to sleep because it is such a short window before while we have to do like dinner then bath and bed like it’s just such a short window of time to spend and so we want to be more intentional about having that time be family time and time that we focus on like.
13:58.00
charukaarora
Yeah, that’s.
14:07.35
Stuart and Abby
Their days and just being with them and I think that that in a way helps draw those boundaries too. Yeah, so.
14:10.47
charukaarora
Yes, now that’s true. Okay, my next question did you like did you ever think of owning but like ah of course I know Stewart ah owned an agency or he was working for video. But did you think ever think about having like a product base ah like business or like you know like a business like canvas not particularly a product but did you ever dream of either a few or both of you together.
14:41.42
Stuart and Abby
Um, I mean yeah, absolutely like I Um yeah I mean just totally upfront like um, ever since I started my video business. Um, you know I’ve like seen the value of.
14:44.56
charukaarora
You did. Wow.
14:58.76
Stuart and Abby
You know you have the 2 2 categories products and services and video has always been a service business and um, you know there’s certain great things about a service business but there’s also certain hard things that both have their pros and cons. So and like like I kind of said from the ah a little earlier. You know.
15:10.20
charukaarora
Yes.
15:16.30
Stuart and Abby
My intention wasn’t necessarily from the beginning to completely shift and become only a ah product business but I just saw that value in creating something that can be productized you know and that like were.
15:29.41
charukaarora
Yes.
15:33.52
Stuart and Abby
It’s not directly tied to like my time and my labor and my interest I could create like ah ah a machine so to speak and and build ah a structure that kind of runs itself and sells a product that’s easier to kind of you know, automate to where it’s it’s not a 1 to 1 like time to.
15:43.40
charukaarora
Yeah.
15:53.11
Stuart and Abby
Time to how much you make from it. You know and so I was kind of originally thought of it I mean for 1 I just in general like building things and I just thought hey it would be cool to have a little side business that’s going but on the other hand I was like products. There are so many.
15:54.83
charukaarora
Yeah.
16:12.28
Stuart and Abby
Pros about having a product-based company. It’s like it’d be great to just diversify and have you know product a product in addition to kind of my service-based business. So e-commerce is always really interested me because it’s.
16:19.43
charukaarora
Um, yes, yeah.
16:26.65
Stuart and Abby
I Mean like the fact that we’re talking right now. It’s like this has never been possible before you know with this level of ease you know meeting people all the way around the world who have a need for a product that you can provide and then being able to get it to them and actually form a relationship. It’s just something that like.
16:33.60
charukaarora
Yes.
16:44.30
Stuart and Abby
Literally never been possible in the history of the world and I always saw that as just a cool opportunity and so you know we we kind of dove into it with modest expectations. Ah, but you know there were some expectations there. There were just some excitement about having a product-based business and. And then you know yeah what it became what it has become so far has just so far exceeded even those expectations but ah.
17:07.16
charukaarora
Did you ever expect that it would skyrocket like this.
17:12.38
Stuart and Abby
No I mean I would obviously be lying if I said I didn’t hope it would because you know in your back of your mind. You’re always like man that’d be so cool if it just like exploded and like I tell people all the time I just feel like this really is kind of like a dream come true and in just a classic dream country scenario but all right I didn’t expect it to take off like I.
17:15.56
charukaarora
Yes, and yeah.
17:26.51
charukaarora
Yeah.
17:32.36
Stuart and Abby
Like I think we we wrote out a business model for like the entire first year and you know, ah my plan was over the course of a whole year to be kind of consistently selling like 20 a month or some 20 units a month or something and you know we we.
17:35.19
charukaarora
Um.
17:49.96
Stuart and Abby
Blue past that in like the second or third month we were doing it and then now it’s like you know we’re just so far Beyond even those were kind of my expectations of like all right. This will be like a huge success if I’m for selling 20 a month by the end of 2020 that would just be a tremendous success and. Yeah, it just so far surpassed that it’s just ah yeah, it’s it’s kind of mind boggling certainly hoped that it would become what it has become net never a million years actually thought it would you know I’ve done enough. Ah little business startup things in the past to know how hard they are and how like when you’re.
18:14.53
charukaarora
Yeah.
18:25.40
charukaarora
Yeah, yeah.
18:28.60
Stuart and Abby
Wonder you love what you’re creating and you you really believe in it but but it’s really rare to have something that like ah everyone else immediately believes into and believe in. So yeah I had pretty modest expectations for sure. Yeah, well and for as long as I’ve known him Really, he’s always talked about.
18:35.33
charukaarora
Build Yeah, let’s do I mean.
18:48.80
Stuart and Abby
Just had like loving everything that has to do with being an entrepreneur and what that means and like he has he has the creativity but he like he got his college degree in mechanical engineering. So he also has that mathematical scientific side to his brain too that.
18:51.26
charukaarora
Um, yeah.
18:59.66
charukaarora
Oh Wow. He.
19:07.26
Stuart and Abby
Like he loves numbers and excel spreadsheets and all the things which I feel like is like but it’s such ah, an abnormal thing to find in someone who truly is as Well. So Um I remember like when we were in the thick of him starting his video business like always saying. I would love to start a product-based business 1 day and like always having that as a dream but that was before canvas was even a yeah yeah and I mean like I said I came up with several product that is before this and they’re like you know they’re funny to think about now but I was always just trying to come come up with something. Ah yeah.
19:26.98
charukaarora
Oh wow.
19:42.43
charukaarora
Yeah I get that feeling.
19:45.41
Stuart and Abby
Sort of I and yeah, and usually there there you know the thing I always have said is like you know you’re just you’re kind of taking steps in the dark but you’re always trying to like take steps in the right direction. So like all my ideas I came up with were some sort of video. Thing like an accessory or like an add on or a new a new video tool and just none of them really ever materialized until this 1 but it it kind of caught on and so if the rest is history as they say.
20:12.47
charukaarora
I Mean love that that means you always had creative on like you were a creative with your entrepreneurial spirit or the desire to like I think it’s also the compulsive um compulsiveness to do keep keep experimenting or keep doing.
20:30.21
Stuart and Abby
Thank you.
20:31.69
charukaarora
Things even for me like for so many years in the past 10 years I have I have started so many things tried so many things failed at so many things. But even then I think once you start doing so like keep experimenting.
20:41.11
Stuart and Abby
Yes.
20:47.83
charukaarora
The fear also of feeling goes away because you feel so many times that you you you just like you know it’ be just 1 more thing that you’d create and then you know once if it doesn’t work up what if there’s there’s so many other things that haven’t worked out in the past did you have this fear of because starting the business is not always.
21:00.14
Stuart and Abby
Um, yeah, yeah.
21:06.89
charukaarora
It’s not all but it is never rosy. It looks rosy to a lot of people on the other side but it’s very hard. It’s it’s commitment of time effort money. Um, it’s like venturing into the unknown and you do it you you do that every day did you? What were your views when.
21:22.29
Stuart and Abby
Um, yes.
21:26.35
charukaarora
You started canvas.
21:29.34
Stuart and Abby
It’s a great question. Um, well yeah I mean obviously fail. Ah I Never really failed. Ah yeah, you know my words me so never really feared failure so to speak like. Ah, kind of expected it like honestly to fail, but just yeah, well just because I just overly realistic and I’m like I mean honestly, you know there’s ah, there’s a difference between what you hope will happen and then what you like.
21:44.31
charukaarora
Yeah, because also it oh you expected it to fail that that. Ah.
21:55.50
charukaarora
Ah.
22:02.80
charukaarora
That was the impostor in you that was saying I’m sure and.
22:02.66
Stuart and Abby
Anticipate will happen and then what you like in your deepest part of your mind you really, but see the thing I’ve kind of learned is that for me at least and I think I think this goes for a lot of people. Um is that like failure in a lot of way is like ah kind of like a fuel that drives you to keep going.
22:18.28
charukaarora
Yes, yes.
22:21.49
Stuart and Abby
Like if things are like I just learned about myself that like if I just do the same exact thing every single day with no problems and no challenges I Just really quickly get really bored and it’s really hard to find innovation. So it’s almost like the problem like.
22:32.75
charukaarora
Yes, but yes.
22:40.50
Stuart and Abby
Feel like as an entrepreneur your your number 1 skill set has to be problem solving you have to be a good problem solver and um and I just feel like every number there’s a problem you know I I just have never been 1 to get all flustered by problems and like.
22:44.33
charukaarora
Yes, yeah.
22:58.11
Stuart and Abby
Shut down. It’s like I immediately go into like problem solving mode and until we get a solution you know and there’s always a solution and sometimes it’s not ideal but you know always a solution. So yeah I mean I think part and in a sense. It’s like the the.
22:59.46
charukaarora
Yes, yes yeah.
23:16.60
Stuart and Abby
Kind of the fear of failure and the challenge and the risk is is really what allure you know is kind of all luing to me in the first place because it’s like almost like a game. You know it’s either you win or you lose and I feel like the more i. The more I come against challenges and the more I do actually lose the more just frustrates me and makes me want to like you know, keep keep pressing until we until we win and then as soon as we win. It’s like see my challenge is the opposite you win I don’t stop to celebrate I’m always like all right? What’s next you know what’s our next.
23:48.60
charukaarora
Yeah, love that. That’s so essential that truly is because it’s it’s hard to you know in because ah you you said this so rightly because.
23:50.33
Stuart and Abby
And so we’re we’re trying to really make a habit now celebrating the winds and celebrating our you know successes.
24:04.94
charukaarora
I Think that’s also I as a creative entrepreneur and as an artist like even if I see as a creative I think this is something I see a lot of similarity between these 2 um professions careers because probably I’ve lived both and both feel very like.. There’s no other way I mean I can’t can’t separate my entrepreneur audio spirit ah from myself and I can’t separate the creative because and I figure that they very I think entrepreneurs are creators and I think I also associate myself as creators more than just you know painter or like you know something like that.
24:41.80
Stuart and Abby
Um, yes.
24:42.86
charukaarora
Because the need the compulsiveness is to keep creating something. It could be in different farms different businesses products services and sometimes it like sometimes even making like something is as compulsive because even making food is something that makes me feel so happy because. That it. It gives me that satisfaction that even if it was a day off but I did create something in whatever form that is um, Abby did you did you have on all spirits. Um before you started canvas did you think ah.
25:05.63
Stuart and Abby
Um, yeah, yes, yeah.
25:19.27
Stuart and Abby
I mean yes I would say so but when Stuart and I first got married I actually did a lot of catering. Um, so I worked hikeries and yes, yes, yes when we got married I well I grew up.
25:26.35
charukaarora
Oh Wow So you’ve been hanging everything food like that’s been your zone.
25:38.38
Stuart and Abby
Um, in a household of women that loved cooking and were passionate about cooking and growing their own foods and you know doing everything from scratch. So I was always around that but never really had a super big passion for it until stuart and I got married and then just kind of.
25:45.69
charukaarora
Wow.
25:56.86
Stuart and Abby
When I started cooking for us I was like wait I Love this like this is this is a passion of mine. So I started working at bakeries and different places like that and then eventually started taking orders from people to make pies and you know cater weddings and just doing all kinds of things like that.
25:57.74
charukaarora
Love this.
26:15.80
Stuart and Abby
And um so I think in that sense I I did but I learned so much from Stewart because while he is a numbers person I am not so he would help me kind of realize like okay if this is how much my ingredients cost I need to be charging this much because.
26:33.67
charukaarora
Yeah, cute. Yeah.
26:34.15
Stuart and Abby
Had no concept and so I think the pieces were there and as we’ve built this business and even as he was growing his video business I Just I feel like I learned so much just through what he was doing and growing. So now stepping into canvas I’m like I feel like like we said all the all the pieces have come together. Um, more.
26:57.27
charukaarora
Come come together. That’s so nice to hear would you also like to talk about how did canvas come to Life. We’ve not spoken about that. Um, because I’m sure it wasn’t 1 moment I mean what was that process like did you like. Did you discover like a concept and you kept on working on it or was it completely Accidental. What was bestowed behind the canvas.
27:23.82
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, so you know I was in video production for ten years and you know I probably made hundreds of those top-down videos where you somehow have to figure out a way to rig the camera up looking straight down and someone working.
27:39.32
charukaarora
Yes.
27:43.67
Stuart and Abby
Um, and you know I’ve I’ve done it all different ways from like you know, having a a tripod that you literally like lean over entire rope to like a doorknob to keep it from falling over on you while while you’re filming all the way to the other end of the spectrum. Yeah yeah.
27:59.33
charukaarora
Keeping a pile of books.
28:02.28
Stuart and Abby
Exactly hear that 1 question. Yeah, and um, all the way from the from that end of the spectrum to to the other end which is like you know huge expensive sets with you know, lots of complicated equipment and like you know, giant jib cranes hanging a massive you know.
28:11.78
charukaarora
Is.
28:21.35
Stuart and Abby
Twenty pound camera overhead and you know anywhere like all along that spectrum. It’s like there’s just it’s all very difficult and even the if you have tons of money and it’s you you you are able to you know purchase the absolute best equipment available for that sort of shoot. It’s still obviously very expensive, but it’s also really difficult. There’s ah ah, there’s a certain amount of like know how that you need to be able to you know, get the camera in that position and you know be able to get a feed for your monitor and get the lighting set up right and not cast shadows on your your work area.
28:42.78
charukaarora
Yeah.
28:58.50
Stuart and Abby
So just tricky I mean the whole thing is like very complicated and so I mean yeah I think I just was was working on those sets enough and saw that that trend of overhead top-down video um kept just kept getting stronger for years and years and still is today and I imagine it probably won’t go anywhere.
29:11.42
charukaarora
Yeah.
29:17.80
Stuart and Abby
And I was like there’s got to be a better way for people to make these videos um at their desk. So I mean that’s where kind of the the idea originated for the for the product itself and of course there are a lot of kind of little innovations along the way that I felt I feel like from that initial idea. Made it into what it is today which is it’s more than just a functional piece of equipment. It’s it’s something that really like artists in general. But anyone who is a creator can really identify with you know, it’s not just a piece of.
29:36.78
charukaarora
Today.
29:47.32
charukaarora
Yeah.
29:53.40
Stuart and Abby
Gear that sits in a closet and you pull it out when it’s you you need it like it’s not only Utilitarian it. Also yeah it it feels like it belongs on your desk and you’re proud to have it on your desk and you know that that element kind of was always something that I wanted to incorporate and.
29:54.72
charukaarora
Yeah, it’s also gorgeous. Yes, yeah.
30:12.14
Stuart and Abby
You know make it make it ah a piece of gear that’s useful, but it’s also not something you have to hide when you’re not using it. So I mean the whole process took a couple years and I mean we we went all different directions playing around with ideas and honestly like I think.
30:18.28
charukaarora
Yeah.
30:31.35
Stuart and Abby
Ah, what it turned into is actually if I can give anyone ah a tip as an entrepreneur like what we ended up with is probably the most simple of all the ideas we had for how we were going to make it Happen. We were trying to think of ways to use like a gopro or like a built-in camera that somehow sends a feed to your. Phone or your computer has a memory so memory port you know where you can put a Sd card in or something and all those ideas you’re great. Maybe 1 day will kind of venture into some of that stuff but like to just get the product out there. We just kept like 1 day had that light bulb moment of like why don’t We just get people to use their phones I mean they’ve already got great. A great camera on their phone If you you know use my kind of knowledge from the video world. It’s like if you like something Well it doesn’t really matter what you shoot it with it’s gonna look good and you can use a really good camera and if you don’t light. It. Well it’s gonna look bad so it’s like we had the lightable thing figured out. So.
31:18.81
charukaarora
Yeah, yeah, that was such a great addition because I remember at that point. Ah, the toptown holders were getting a little popular like the you the phone Kimbas and that.
31:28.36
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, he’s.
31:37.52
Stuart and Abby
Um, yet.
31:38.58
charukaarora
A lot of tripods and all of those things. But what was genius was that you combined the 2 there were ring lights but there were holders but they were not coming together and that was such a perfect like the moment I saw canvas I was like.
31:46.87
Stuart and Abby
Um, yeah, right? yeah.
31:53.50
charukaarora
This is amazing because I remember at that point I was working from another studio and I never had enough light and working at night was so hard.
31:57.41
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yes yes yeah and I mean ah to me honestly, that was kind of like a no-brainer part I was kind of like yeah of course we’ll have a light built in I was more excited about like our little rotation plate that we worked in and like a couple of the other little factors.
32:12.50
charukaarora
Yes.
32:17.10
Stuart and Abby
Which I still think are super cool but most of the feedback we get from people is actually about the lighting and you know how how great it is to have the different color temperatures and being able to work at night. Yeah, being able to work at night because you know a lot of our people have like a lot of our customers do have ah other jobs.
32:17.47
charukaarora
Absolute.
32:35.32
charukaarora
Yes.
32:36.92
Stuart and Abby
Kids or whatever that kids are kind of busy during the day and their only time to create is like that night time after work after kids go to bed so like giving them a ah tool that makes that possible was like a huge huge value that we are able to provide well and.
32:50.46
charukaarora
Yes.
32:52.95
Stuart and Abby
Kind of talking about all the gear when you mentioned that about just if you do have the money to buy all of this expensive gear and cameras and lights and all the things I mean it’s still a really big hindrance and sucks up a lot of time to have to pull it all out set it up.
33:09.60
charukaarora
Yeah, that’s true.
33:12.30
Stuart and Abby
So that’s my ah, ah big thing that we believe in and why it’s literally on all of our packaging is being able to create easily every day and I think that that’s a big part of it too is like removing removing the hindrance to create so just being able to pop your phone in turn your light on and you’re good to get and that’s.
33:24.46
charukaarora
Yeah, that’s true.
33:31.38
Stuart and Abby
And that’s like 1 of the like it being super aesthetic is just great because it looks really good and people like how it looks out of it everything but it’s also it has kind of a deeper purpose because that means if you do want to leave it on your desk and it looks good on your desk all the time. It’s easier to use because.
33:36.21
charukaarora
No.
33:44.63
charukaarora
You wouldn’t yes you don’t have to pull it and hide it away.
33:49.81
Stuart and Abby
You know if you decide to make a video all you exactly? Yeah, you don’t have to go like pull it out of your closet and put it together and all that stuff. It’s just sitting on your desk already so you can just pop your phone in and start using it. So yeah, that was kind of like part of the the value proposition from.
34:07.74
charukaarora
Love that absolutely okay, so when you came up with the idea when it for the first time you shared it with abby and what was abby’s reaction to that.
34:07.74
Stuart and Abby
Early on for sure. Zoom.
34:22.25
Stuart and Abby
Um, I mean na. Yeah and I mean it did it wasn’t like you know 1 day it um it wasn’t there and then the next day it was there. It was like she was kind of along the journey from you know hey I have this idea you know where it started was very different from where it ended up and so like you know where it.
34:31.82
charukaarora
Okay.
34:37.48
charukaarora
Okay.
34:42.20
Stuart and Abby
Started. It was like it was a totally different product. But I mean all along the way. Abby’s never been anything but supportive. Um and especially you know even when it came to the point of like you know when we did our first pre-order it was a little it was. You know there wasn’t too much risk.
35:00.23
charukaarora
Period. Yes.
35:00.50
Stuart and Abby
Because it was like we were gonna take the orders before and and then all the orders and everything but we still had to put some orders in. You know we had to spend probably about 5000 dollars and I remember like that was the first time for me I was like wow this actually like we we may just yeah may just be setting this money on fire and.
35:08.19
charukaarora
Um, this is getting seated. Yes.
35:19.92
Stuart and Abby
And but I mean yeah I think if I think if she had been like no this is terrible idea. We’re never gonna do this I wouldn’t have done it but ah, but you know just having that support was like I think integral. So yeah, well it was. It was definitely felt I feel like anytime you step out.
35:30.31
charukaarora
Yeah, that’s the net.
35:38.89
Stuart and Abby
Into something like this and take a risk in starting a business like it’s scary regardless but you know like stuart said we really launched in January of 2020 and then we sent out our first round of product march twenty twenty yeah so at the very beginning of the pandemic. So.
35:42.80
charukaarora
Yeah, absolutely.
35:53.29
charukaarora
Who out.
35:58.56
Stuart and Abby
That in and of itself was so crazy to navigate. Okay, what is this gonna look like how are we gonna do this when the world is shutting down like what does this mean? Yeah, um, but we just kind of I think 1 thing that we’ve always believed in ever since Stewart started the video business is.
36:05.14
charukaarora
Setting down. Yeah.
36:17.00
Stuart and Abby
When a door opens just walk through it and trust that it’s you know what? you’re supposed to be doing and I think by saying yes to those things even if it feels a little bit scary like we’ve always seen the reward from it and um, it’s just been fun. So I feel like I’m more risk adverse than he is.
36:17.53
charukaarora
Um.
36:33.15
charukaarora
I.
36:36.34
Stuart and Abby
He’s like all the reds were good and I’m just like are we sure you but I always I’ve ever since I’ve met him I’ve trusted his vision and he he’s so thought out like he doesn’t he doesn’t. You know, take risk and not think about it like I can trust that he’s really thought through all his steps and thought 10 steps ahead, you know and I think that that’s really helped to me be able to say yes to all of his crazy ideas. Yeah.
36:51.99
charukaarora
Yeah.
37:04.10
charukaarora
But you know it doesn’t even sound crazy when I even like put together pieces of a conversation stood. You had like a 10 years experienceing video making you also have mechanical engineering knowledge and you are also in the advertising business which is I think.
37:13.00
Stuart and Abby
Yes.
37:22.90
charukaarora
And of course you had experience of you know, creative entrepreneurship and like entrepreneurship and on the other side Abby I think you also you were a creator you were creating constantly and you again were complimenting him in a create in its hi in his.
37:34.82
Stuart and Abby
Pretty.
37:43.14
charukaarora
Entrepreneurial um spirit So it it feels like this was just meant to be and it came from a point of like I feel like um, you know that it’s everything is a risk but it’s not like ah.
37:48.41
Stuart and Abby
Waiting.
37:57.23
Stuart and Abby
I mean.
38:01.91
charukaarora
Like reckless or like even I wouldn’t say like not you don’t sometimes you need to be more reckless but it does feel like it came from a good grounding and reasoning and it made so much sense that it could come from you guys.
38:15.47
Stuart and Abby
Yes, yeah, yeah, totally yeah I mean I think you know entrepreneurs kind of are known for just being crazy risk takers I think which is true I mean you have to be willing to take a risk but I always like think.
38:25.88
charukaarora
Yes.
38:35.16
Stuart and Abby
Like at the same time It has to be a calculated risk like it’s not just like throw yourself off a building or something like you’re very, um, it holds to be. It’s it’s all about mitigating your downside and you know, kind of calculating like.
38:39.77
charukaarora
Yeah, absolutely.
38:52.48
charukaarora
Yes.
38:52.58
Stuart and Abby
Putting the probabilities in your favor. You know So you’re not just kind of like you said recklessly taking risks you’re putting everything in place to you know, give you the highest probability of success but at a certain point you’ve just got to like take the leap and you know.
39:02.80
charukaarora
Yeah I think biggest risk is biggest I wouldn’t even call it risk I Think the biggest thing is you believing in your ambition and your own self I think that is the deal breaker for anything and everything that we do because.
39:14.97
Stuart and Abby
Yes, right.
39:21.59
charukaarora
Everything else just I think these are pieces especially I feel like um pieces that come together every failed venture. Every experiment is like you know, even today like because even I did a lot of things and I felt like if I I wouldn’t had those projects those failures. I wouldn’t have had the skill set that I have today and those skill sets are tremendously like they are a big part of why I am where I am because I learned them the hard way some years ago.
39:49.61
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, yes, absolutely couldn’t agree more? Yeah yeah I mean like I said I’ve I’ve had to hunt a bunch of it. A bunch of ventures as well and I mean none of them were very successful but in the sense that they. Taught me, you know what? what it takes to have a successful business. How to think about a successful business like being willing to ask for help and knowing the right times to like ask for help and that kind of a thing in that sense. They Yeah, they were all a huge success because like you said I would have never been able to.
40:18.27
charukaarora
Now.
40:29.60
Stuart and Abby
You know, build this business the way it is without those experiences for sure Even like you know my video business being a service based business. It’s such a different kind of business model and a different approach. The principles are still the same kind of underlying how you know treating people. Well you know.
40:31.75
charukaarora
Yeah, no.
40:38.55
charukaarora
Yeah.
40:46.26
charukaarora
Go try that good service.
40:48.12
Stuart and Abby
Creating good good with your customers. Yeah, doing the most excellent product you possibly can like there’s just a lot of kind of foundational values that that you have and that you learn when you try to get stuff off the ground.
40:56.61
charukaarora
Yeah, and that’s true. Yeah I think it’s like entrepreneurship is also like this creative muscle that you keep the more you practice the better you become nobody nobody knows how to start a business scale a business ah build a team. However I think however, many books you read or.
41:07.39
Stuart and Abby
Um, never consulted.
41:20.78
charukaarora
Um, things you do and sometimes I feel a lot of times. They also don’t work in your favor because we are again believed to run things in a certain way but every business is so different. Every entrepreneur is so different. Every product is so different that we all are constantly creating our own ways to do things.
41:36.41
Stuart and Abby
Um, yeah, yes, um, yeah, yes, absolutely.
41:38.60
charukaarora
And nobody nobody is taught that way we just figure it out ourselves. Okay, my next question. How did you did you? So You guys are also um, solely I wouldn’t say Soly. You’re heavily focused on artists and creators. Um, did you when you were venturing and launching how did that come in place. Did you already have a connection which felt like it was a good market for you to and like you know, enter especially I feel like illustrators. Fine artist. So like that was your gutu market when you ventured how did that come into place.
42:21.14
Stuart and Abby
I mean I would say it was just kind of the most um intuitive place to start and um, we you know we you just always see the you know calligraphy artist wanting to show their hand movement and time lapses or.
42:35.70
charukaarora
No.
42:39.83
Stuart and Abby
Just art in general is so it’s so dramatic when someone has a great time lapse of them paying something really impressive. Um, and so seeing ah a blank canvas turn into you know, a beautiful work of art. Which side note is where the name canvas came from but we just you know. Just thought it was a great. It was the most obvious to me place to start?? Um, at the same time. Ah you know, thought artists would would appreciate the design Sensibility. You know the aesthetic nature of the lamp. You know they’d be looking. They would care more about something that looks good on their desk and can stay on their desk. Then say like you know, ah a tool workshop where it’s like it’s fine if there’s just like a janky lamp hanging off a shelf or something So like there was a bunch of I thought you know it was a very intentional decision because you know whenever you’re marketing anything a product service trying to like sell anything you have to know who your target.
43:36.13
charukaarora
Yeah.
43:37.61
Stuart and Abby
Customer is and you have to really pinpoint that that person and create your your material and your communications around that and so um, you know we went back and forth with a few different kind of segments of of the market but ah, artists just.
43:41.50
charukaarora
Around that.
43:54.54
Stuart and Abby
Always kind of took that top place to me I just had a hunch that they would be the most excited about it and and they definitely have been I mean we once we kind of decided that’s who we’re gonna focus on you know it. It also kind of like fit with our kind of deeper brand value of like you know, creating every day because artists.
44:09.94
charukaarora
Every day. Yeah.
44:14.23
Stuart and Abby
Are creating it every or they they strive to create every day so it just is all very it just meshed really well now. All that said I think you know I always anticipated to that we would broaden that that kind of approach eventually and make it. Ah, you know there’s a huge huge need for this and.
44:27.47
charukaarora
Definition.
44:33.42
charukaarora
Yeah, yeah.
44:33.72
Stuart and Abby
Schools and teaching you know, especially with all the remote learning and things like that. But that’s what area we really want to start speaking to but more than that you know there’s like ah like I mentioned before like a workshop like a tool welding and stuff like that or food Abby’s always really trying to get us.
44:45.90
charukaarora
Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely.
44:53.29
Stuart and Abby
Of food people and and like everyone we’ve shown it to they. They love the product and so I think there’s a ton of opportunity in all those areas. The biggest hindrance is like you know like we said before is still just not having enough product to really venture into. Ah.
45:05.18
charukaarora
Yeah, that.
45:08.89
Stuart and Abby
Other markets yet. So as soon as we catch our inventory up to the demand that seems to still be growing at kind of an accelerated pace. Ah you know we can start to branch out and I think we will eventually get there. Um, and but yeah, the the artists it was just such a. It felt like just.
45:15.59
charukaarora
Yeah.
45:23.77
charukaarora
I’m sure you will.
45:28.42
Stuart and Abby
So much kind of chemistry there from day 1 that that’s where he just decided to start and so all that is I think we’re still at the starting line I mean I think we still have barely even scratched the surface of of um, you know the total demand that I think we’ll see once we fully get this product out there.
45:38.48
charukaarora
Oh my absolutely I’m sure about that and I also feel like with Covid with everything that’s happened the rise of internet web 3 or like you know. All of these things. Yeah products like these canvas has not only it’s not only for creators of course like content creators artists creators. But it’s also become like a very basic um like it’s it’s slightly is going towards like a must have for most houses. Um. You know everyone because um I still I still remember like um I used to have 1 of the phone holders I’m sure you must know like you know the ones that had the claps and you could just like the Boom box we have but it was just like a phone holder with this make kind of a thing. And I remember that being like I used to use that a lot of artists and other people who do who do content or like create we would use them for top shots. But that’s also a product that I see a lot of people and later on I observed that that was also being advertised as something that a lot of people use ah during nighttime or whatever time to.
46:35.89
Stuart and Abby
Wallas.
46:42.48
Stuart and Abby
Um, yeah.
46:55.45
charukaarora
Watch tvevie on their phone Netflix or something like that because we’re constantly on our phones and today everyone is sharing their lies their work so much on social media. So there’s so much more opportunity and it’s becoming like.
46:57.14
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, it’s.
47:03.99
Stuart and Abby
Um, yeah.
47:12.40
charukaarora
It’s it’s blending that cap.
47:12.44
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, yes, yeah, we’ve seen you know a lot. We’ve so we’re old. Um, so we don’t know too much about Tik Tock but um, whenever when whenever we have some.
47:22.19
charukaarora
Um, me there in Also India has ban tikock. So even if I would ever ever take an interest I’ve never tried and then it it even made it easier I wouldn’t I don’t have the guilt anymore.
47:32.99
Stuart and Abby
Um, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, we we you know we still are kind of like getting our account kind of up and going and it’s it’s kind of keeping it under the radar until we figure it all out but ah, but. Every time we ah get someone you know make a ah video about us on tiktok. We always see this massive like surge in orders and buzz and everything from people that have nothing to do with art nothing to do with food. It’s just they’re making tiktok videos and they’re like oh this will be cool for my tiktok videos.
48:06.26
charukaarora
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
48:11.18
Stuart and Abby
So you know again like that’s kind of 1 of those worlds where I’m just like the we haven’t even dabbled I think we have like yeah forty forty followers on tiktok or something like that sorts like we haven’t we haven’t really done anything there yet. But once we start getting into that I think you know that’s going to just be a whole.
48:16.83
charukaarora
Yeah.
48:23.17
charukaarora
Ah, who.
48:29.74
Stuart and Abby
Another whole like market sector that’s going to be very excited. Yeah.
48:30.65
charukaarora
Yeah, okay, which with the name of Followers. There’s this very interesting question that I have in mind which is you know what? I Really love about you guys a lot of things. Let me point that Out. Of course I Love your customer service which is something that I have always mentioned because I think that’s this a lot of times. It’s special I think creative people and I All honestly believe artists are 1 of the best customers you can have because um, it’s.
49:03.39
Stuart and Abby
Um, yeah, yeah.
49:07.22
charukaarora
Because I just feel like it’s such a special relationship because I think creative people the amount of nobody would notice details as much as artists or creative people would do because they truly truly understand um those little things and I think they’re also like.
49:17.27
Stuart and Abby
And.
49:25.66
charukaarora
Just maybe I’m just generalizing but I feel like the very warm relationships because I’ve had a lot of different customers in these ten years like in different sections but I’ve never never been fond of um art is more than anyone as my own customers. But.
49:41.92
Stuart and Abby
Yes, yes.
49:44.73
charukaarora
Um, what I’m trying to ask is you’ve also built quite a bit community your of course your customer service was great. Your messaging is very clear. Your aesthetic is very on point. Um I’m sure all of these contributed to where you are. How has your experience of you’ve really been able to build a very solid um creative community and it’s it’s it’s grown all sort of very good trade. How has that been for you.
50:19.60
Stuart and Abby
Whoa. It’s been so fun I mean I think for me.
50:21.27
charukaarora
My okay I’m sorry you I also need to know who’s been operating Instagram yes I then we’re right here.
50:26.60
Stuart and Abby
Um, me, that’s that’s what I I mean I feel like once in a blue moon you’ll hop on there for a thing or 2 but most of the time. Um I operate the dms and then sometimes we have um. 2 other awesome girls hunter and Nikki who help us a lot too. Um, and so it’s truly been a team effort for sure. Um, but that is something that I’ve just absolutely loved is being able to talk and connect with so many amazing people.
50:52.70
charukaarora
Yeah.
51:04.20
Stuart and Abby
Really from all over the world that like what serious just blows my mind that we’re able to to meet so many people from all over the globe and um, so yeah, it’s been I feel like it’s been a lot of trial and error a lot of consistency just trying to.
51:04.18
charukaarora
Yeah.
51:22.31
Stuart and Abby
You know, create content and post regularly and connect with people regularly and you know having a product-based business. It kind of makes that a little bit simpler just because people are constantly dming us or commenting wanting to know more about a product. But.. It’s truly for me led to a lot of genuine friendship and connection too like I have multiple friends that I’ve met through canvas that I am on the at work Apollo with all the time and like have literally become actual friends with and um, yeah I Just I’ve loved that. Um.
51:43.84
charukaarora
Um, yes, yeah, yeah, allow.
52:00.29
Stuart and Abby
Feel like recently we’ve been in a huge season of growth just trying to figure out like steart said trying to figure out tiktok and even Instagram reels and things like that like things that we’re just trying to get but it’s just a constantly evolving thing for us as far as creating content for the brand it. I’ll say like 1 of our um, 1 of the things from the beginning that we hoped would help us and has has proven to help is the fact that our product is like made. Basically for Instagram you know it’s like you, you.
52:35.38
charukaarora
Yeah, that’s true.
52:38.76
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, you use our product to make videos for Instagram and and so you know on our we get tagged just dozens of times a day usually from people that are using it and just tag us because they’re like I shot this with my cans lamp. It’s so Awesome. You know and like and we just. Love that It’s like the coolest thing in the world to just have a feed full of like these people that we’ve never met but we’ve been able to like add value to their lives with their workflow and everything and yeah I talk about that all the time just how cool it is like if I’m ever like feeling bummed about something I’ll just log onto our Instagram and see all the stuff. She’s reposted from people that have been tagging list.
53:02.98
charukaarora
M.
53:17.63
Stuart and Abby
It has contributed to a lot of that organic growth because you know it’s not like a pair of socks or something where like you know it takes a lot for you to like want to share your favorite socks on Instagram but this is ah you know this is a very kind of like natural thing to share about as you’re posting so that’s been like our secret hack I guess but it’s just.
53:21.92
charukaarora
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, and that’s true.
53:38.80
Stuart and Abby
It’s just it’s just built into the product. Um, but yeah I mean the coolest thing I think it’s just like Abby kind of alluded to is that I feel like we were really truly like you even mentioned we’re we’re growing it it at a very organic rate where it’s not like we got.
53:41.36
charukaarora
Yeah, that’s who.
53:54.66
Stuart and Abby
You know a huge viral video and got 1 hundred thousand followers overnight. It’s just we’re we’re really trying to do it in a snowball way where we’re able to support the community and and keep like you know, not not get overwhelmed and.
53:55.99
charukaarora
Yeah. Yeah.
54:09.97
Stuart and Abby
And not have connection to people. Obviously we’re not gonna have connection to every single person in like a face-to-face way that follows us but to be able to just build something that like is healthy and you know not just like a number on the screen or whatever. Yeah, so yeah, we have we have.
54:12.80
charukaarora
In.
54:23.92
charukaarora
Yeah.
54:27.98
Stuart and Abby
We’re working on stuff Now we have vision for to to take that another couple levels up of how to support this community in a um, ah more direct way and and continue just to add value to you hard. What’s that.
54:33.79
charukaarora
Laughs.
54:38.50
charukaarora
I’m more excited now I’m more excited to hear that now.
54:43.41
Stuart and Abby
Well, yeah, it’s definitely still something we’re we’re throwing around ideas and probably gonna ask the audience so to speak like I mean we want to know like you know we’re so we’re just. Hold everything with open hands. We like what what is the artist community looking for like I mean what else? Um, what other like what other value could a community of artists provide that doesn’t exist because we’ve got this really awesome vibrant community that that we haven’t an influence in now. How can we.
55:02.58
charukaarora
He asked.
55:10.66
charukaarora
Yes, yes.
55:18.62
Stuart and Abby
You know, further be that blue. Yeah yes, yeah, how can we? How can we be this blue that kind of binds everybody together in a deeper way connects like things like this you know where we’re all the way across the world but able to have kind of like you know this shared value exchange I mean I don’t know it’s just.
55:20.20
charukaarora
What’s the next problem we can solve for you.
55:31.21
charukaarora
Yes, that too is.
55:38.25
Stuart and Abby
There’s a ah lot of opportunity. We’re really excited about figuring out. You know how to how to take advantage of it and and create some you know, continue creating value for for everyone that you know follows us.
55:50.64
charukaarora
Love that I Love that and I think you’re already doing such a good job because you’re not really sending a product you’re so you’re constantly supporting. You’re constantly building a community. That’s that’s building each other up because I think that’s. That’s truly truly a section and it it just snowballs not 1 thing but so many things for not 1 person with so many other people Sometimes you don’t You can’t even imagine like how much it can affect for someone’s like you know, um, someone who’s just recently started or like.
56:25.57
Stuart and Abby
Yes.
56:27.43
charukaarora
How little things matter in the long run and we can’t even anticipate our times. Let’s also hear the story about why is it called shop Canbis of course can shop is why canvas because it’s a very tricky choice I must say because you know of how obvious and.
56:30.58
Stuart and Abby
No less.
56:40.20
Stuart and Abby
E.
56:46.20
charukaarora
How many things a million things already out in the world. Why did you name it that.
56:51.24
Stuart and Abby
Well I think the the there’s a couple different layers to I mean 1 is just the actual meaning of the word which I’ll come back to in a second but 2 I wanted to like name it something that is easy memorable like recognizable. I didn’t want to name it like you know, extra awesome overhead camera mount you know like I wanted it just to be awarded. Um and kind of give a little bit more of a teaser kind of the long-term goal is to have canvas be 1 of our products and you know there are lots.
57:14.21
charukaarora
Um, yeah.
57:28.24
charukaarora
Yes.
57:31.60
Stuart and Abby
Other products that are you know so canvas is specifically like geared towards artists and has that kind of feel to it. But who knows there may be a whole line of products eventually and canvas is just 1 of the many products. Um, so yeah, we’re talking many.
57:43.31
charukaarora
I’m now even more. You know reason recently I’ve been so item I’ll tell you so when I actually bought canvas which was again 2020? Um, at that point I was um. I wasn’t so much into um videos but I wanted to experiment them in the top town for whatever because I was into graphics and branding for so long I always had this. Um, this E you know to I just I have a million of these. Standns or holders and all of these things but ah I think something that I feel recently which I need to put out here for a lot of us I’ve been venuring and because time has also evolve at some point we were all starting like those hazy pictures to move to these iphone and iphone like you know all of.
58:19.94
Stuart and Abby
Yeah.
58:37.77
charukaarora
Quality updated and I can see a lot now because even as professional artists. Um the mate quality. The video quality The game is only going higher and higher and I what my biggest struggle right now is I.
58:47.36
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, and.
58:53.18
charukaarora
So I bought this camera and I bought this gimbal and all of those things because I thought like you know I really need to um up my game I want to start this and you know art, 2 hearts and my own. But oh my um I just had this Yesterday. So I got this dgi on a s 2 and oh my good I had somebody else bought this with me from like I got it on order from someone and I was like I did not even imagine the amount of stuff it had and I was like oh my goodness it was so overwhelming and I was like the biggest hinterance for me to.
59:22.43
Stuart and Abby
Yeah.
59:28.48
charukaarora
To Upscale from like my phone to like a professional camera especially when it comes to like video making it’s the it’s this you know like you said in this conversation. So many tools that go into it Unfortunately I just can’t plug my camera on canons. But that would be so cool to have something which is again Simpler but also more diverse.
59:52.40
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, yes, well, you know I mentioned that earlier that like yeah I’ve been on video sets where we have you know the most expensive camera in the world and if you don’t light it properly. It can look worse than an iphone. Um, so and then I’ve also been on sets where. You know we have a very modest camera but the lighting is just right and it you can’t tell the difference between that and like expensive camera on the Market. So part of kind of just our core our core belief behind this product is that um you know.
01:00:16.25
charukaarora
Yeah, it looks.
01:00:31.40
Stuart and Abby
It takes more than just a good in some ways it takes less and than a good camera to get good footage. It’s all about the lighting and it’s all about the basically you don’t have to the idea that you have to just spend more money to get a better tool.
01:00:32.60
charukaarora
Good.
01:00:37.82
charukaarora
Yeah.
01:00:47.50
Stuart and Abby
That’s more versatile to get the better image is not always the case sometimes you just have to know how to use what you’ve already got a little better so that’s and we’re we’re working on you know, future products right now that are kind of along those lines like how do you? How do you take? what? what.
01:00:52.38
charukaarora
Yeah, that’s 2
01:00:59.37
charukaarora
Wow. Give us some give us some insights give us some this. We should have some met on this 1 now.
01:01:06.63
Stuart and Abby
You’ve got and.
01:01:12.87
Stuart and Abby
Ah, well you know you mentioned the ronin in it. You know I’ve I’ve used the that same gimbal many times and I’m the same way. It’s like you hit the wrong button and it just goes rear and like go like goes crazy on you and then.
01:01:25.56
charukaarora
Can you imagine? can you imagine what would have like how would I have would have felt because I was like what have I done because I was like you know if I’m spending money and like why not learn it on the way and then because I I am not someone who completely is aware. But.
01:01:34.70
Stuart and Abby
Yes.
01:01:45.80
charukaarora
Oh my goodness if someone really wants to learn it. It’s so overwhelming.
01:01:48.28
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, yes, yeah, and so I mean that was kind of like from the beginning we we put on our Instagram like you know dummy proof lighting like anyone you just hit a button and it looks great. You know it and it may not be the best lighting set up in the entire world but it’ll look good. You know.
01:02:00.84
charukaarora
Here.
01:02:05.73
Stuart and Abby
And so we’re just going down that road of like all right? What else can we do? That’s like an improvement to what people are already doing literally with just the click of a button or you know something very very simple. You know not having to buy like you know these giant lights and reflectors and diffusion and all that kind of but just everything’s built into 1 product.
01:02:13.44
charukaarora
Who valed.
01:02:19.57
charukaarora
Yes.
01:02:25.25
Stuart and Abby
Flip it on and you get what you want to get out of that product very very easily. So specifically you know trying to trying to come up with different lighting options. So like right now it’s just 1 ring light that goes straight down and that’s great for just lighting it up at a very kind of base level.
01:02:37.37
charukaarora
Yes, yes, yes.
01:02:42.70
Stuart and Abby
But then what if you had other lights that were you know more directional that created kind of a moody look or you know a different kind of shadow quality and all that kind of thing So that’s what we’re Yeah, so we’re we’re dabbling with that right now.
01:02:46.20
charukaarora
Yes, yes, the ambient ones and then oh my goodness you would make our life so much Simpler so much simpler.
01:02:57.91
Stuart and Abby
Yes, well um, so yeah I mean you know again trying to communicate that like you don’t have to spend money on like a better camera you could improve your lighting and still use your iphone and it would look great. So yeah, um.
01:03:10.10
charukaarora
Have you have you wondered about making canvas or like so any other product accessible for cameras because a lot of artist creatives now use ah content creators now use Cameras and I think a lot of us who wants to create.
01:03:25.35
Stuart and Abby
Um, yeah.
01:03:29.42
charukaarora
Content on regular basis because I feel like Instagram um with the trajectory Instagram is growing and going at this point I feel like a lot of audience will filter on 2 different platforms. Maybe youtube or like this card or like all of these platforms that are coming up now. Um, and.
01:03:40.27
Stuart and Abby
Um, yeah, um.
01:03:48.76
charukaarora
As much as our phones are easy and handy um making videos on like like maybe Youtube or something a lot of people are now choosing to use Cameras Whatever quality or like you know, but again, the hardest thing is you can’t always have someone come record you or.
01:04:00.82
Stuart and Abby
William.
01:04:06.59
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, right.
01:04:08.13
charukaarora
Shoot for you and it’s such a big struggle have you thought about making something which also works for cameras because if that’s happening I am number 1 in the line.
01:04:15.95
Stuart and Abby
Um, but we have I mean I will say like our area of like our our area of folks right now is desk desktop ah Glimmer and for desktop equipment. You don’t really you know you don’t have the need for a.
01:04:26.14
charukaarora
Okay.
01:04:34.46
Stuart and Abby
Giant like tripod necessarily um so we met here someday I mean I’ve even thought sizing this entire lamp up to like 6 feet tall could be really cool. You know making everything bigger and stronger and a big camera inside of it. There’s a lot of I just coming from the video world I’m like there’s a lot of cool.
01:04:36.11
charukaarora
Yes.
01:04:44.75
charukaarora
Yeah, he has He is yeah yeah, that’s true.
01:04:53.73
Stuart and Abby
Thing like it’s just basically a re a rethought tripod. You know it’s like a different kind of tripod and there can be something there but really, we’re just at this point we’re focusing on on the desk and and I’ve kind of come from a different perspective where what I see is like everything like. You know 10 years ago to get a you know hollywood feature type film shot like that quality you needed a camera that weighed you know I don’t know hundred pounds with all these film reels and like you know this massive production to make it all work. But now you know you can have a small little mirrorless camera. That’s.
01:05:16.25
charukaarora
Um, yeah.
01:05:23.41
charukaarora
Yeah.
01:05:31.38
charukaarora
Yeah, absolutely absolutely for sure the bigger the heavier the confusing the more confusing a high swear because yes.
01:05:32.21
Stuart and Abby
This big and essential too quality. So I’m I’m just thinking you know? Yeah yeah I to think of the way technology is yeah the way technology is moving it just seems like it’s going to keep getting smaller and smaller and who knows maybe.
01:05:48.87
charukaarora
Smaller and I think it definitely makes sense because like even when I was looking for a camera I Think my biggest thing was my biggest of course I did not know like a lot of things and I was like what I really need is something which needs to be very handy.
01:05:51.51
Stuart and Abby
Maybe.
01:06:05.30
Stuart and Abby
Um, yeah, yeah, are yeah yeah, yeah.
01:06:05.34
charukaarora
If It’s too big too. Heavy too hard I wouldn’t bring it out every day I want to have something that I’m not scared of and not scared of my phone and that’s why I can pull it up every time I need it. But if I’m scared of my camera. It feels like a task and I don’t want to do that and I want to see something whatever I’m doing it needs to be. Like these are basic. Um, we as much as we want to like I think nothing can replace phone but I think sit in different aspects of what you’re creating for. Um, it just you need you I just feel like you don’t have to be afraid of the tools that you’re using.
01:06:40.41
Stuart and Abby
The other.
01:06:42.10
charukaarora
If you’re using something and you feel and that’s what I really love about canvas because since it sits on the desk I don’t have to pull it out and I’m not I’m not afraid of the mess. It’s going to make because it’s not going to me because I literally have to just pull it down and it’s here and I pull it back it. It’s gone.
01:06:48.10
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, yeah.
01:06:55.66
Stuart and Abby
Um, yeah I mean.
01:06:59.17
charukaarora
Because a lot of times these logistic matters and all of these things make a lot of difference in the productivity that you’re doing.
01:07:04.17
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, yes, absolutely yeah, and um, that’s the name of the game is how do you make it easy and ah like Abby said earlier eliminate barriers to creativity and if you don’t have to go to your closet and open up your big case and get out your giant camera put the battery and put the memory card in and put the lens on.
01:07:17.93
charukaarora
Yeah.
01:07:23.61
Stuart and Abby
All that like if you can just put pull your phone out and put it in and get going. It’s That’s a huge win.
01:07:26.84
charukaarora
Yes, amazing. That is very True. You’ve made so much so much easier for us ah to at least work from our desk and thanks to you Both I am so grateful because it’s been a wonderful conversation. I could go on for hours. But I know that you have things to do and I don’t want to keep you ah waiting for long but before I let you go I am going to have you on my rapid fire which I did mention before. So Are you ready.
01:07:48.40
Stuart and Abby
Um, effect.
01:08:00.93
Stuart and Abby
Um, ready I hope So yeah, how long do we have how long do we have for each question.
01:08:03.42
charukaarora
Now it’s fun. It’s it’s you You really don’t you just have to pick me what comes to your mind just like you don’t have that it has to be fast and also I’ll meet you.
01:08:12.35
Stuart and Abby
Okay, okay. Um I didn’t know if there was going be a buzzer or something. Yeah, perfect.
01:08:22.63
charukaarora
Oh I’ll be the buzzer. Don’t worry but I am the buzzer also I’ll have to be innovative with you guys now. Let’s see. Okay, so ah, who’s going to go first 1 I ask the question you both of you need to come out like okay Stru it.
01:08:34.97
Stuart and Abby
Um, who okay ego things. Okay, yeah.
01:08:41.89
charukaarora
Again, we’ll go by Steart and abbey though the questions will be together I need to hear from both of you on it each question. Okay, okay, 1 2 3 staff 1 thing you want to convey through your work in like in the create like.
01:08:46.38
Stuart and Abby
Um, here we go.
01:08:58.79
charukaarora
In the entrepreneurship word.
01:09:00.10
Stuart and Abby
Oh yes, I’m frozen I love I hear I believe my first on this 1 I think for for me personally is always wanting people to feel loved and cared for. That’s the most important it oh been.
01:09:04.77
charukaarora
Ah, quick quick.
01:09:13.18
charukaarora
Ah, you do that. So well.
01:09:19.17
Stuart and Abby
I mean I was gonna say that we care you know we’re not just a you know a fake nameless spaceless company out there. We want to be like you know, approachable and and real and people know that we’re authentic, a real you know real duo I’ll just cut it off there.
01:09:33.13
charukaarora
Yes, you you’re doing a good. No you I think you both of you are doing such a good job. You have like this I’m a live example I mean we haven’t spoken for I mean.
01:09:37.71
Stuart and Abby
I can ramble I can.
01:09:51.68
charukaarora
How many times I mean maybe five 6 but I’ve always felt that warmth with you. Um, my experience of having like a client transaction with with you has been so nice and otherwise also I’ve always like it’s just I think that energy and you definitely radiate that. So.
01:10:07.77
Stuart and Abby
Oh thank you. Thank you? yay.
01:10:10.17
charukaarora
You’re on point. Okay, next what’s that 1 word that describes you the best? Yeah no, ah do do it. That’s very very smart.
01:10:17.98
Stuart and Abby
Oh that’s hard. Are you ready? No yeah, um.
01:10:29.97
charukaarora
Yeah, your time are you ready to.
01:10:31.27
Stuart and Abby
Um I was just gonna I’ll go I was just gonna say crazy I mean I just feel I feel crazy most of the time I mean um in a good way. Not the not the bad can. But um, yeah.
01:10:40.45
charukaarora
Ah.
01:10:51.21
Stuart and Abby
I’ll just leave it there. Oh gosh. Um, first the first word that came to my mind was calm. Yeah, crazy and calm. Yeah, you balance each other out. Yeah.
01:10:51.50
charukaarora
Got it Abby That’s your allow.
01:10:59.77
charukaarora
But really Wow Well, that’s quite a match.
01:11:07.13
Stuart and Abby
Ah, okay, yeah, that’s that’s crazy and calm.
01:11:07.96
charukaarora
Ah, love that. That’s such a good perfect complete composition. Okay, next question describe abby in 1 voice to it.
01:11:15.16
Stuart and Abby
Um, yes.
01:11:23.33
Stuart and Abby
Um, oh I see I thought this was I had this thought as we were talking. Um, oh that makes it harder. Yeah perfect. Um.
01:11:27.35
charukaarora
This is coming. Yeah 1 word quick 1 2 3 Ah, you still Out. Ah.
01:11:43.10
Stuart and Abby
Can’t lose with that 1 You can tell that he’s been married for a while a um um I would describe steart as confident. Oh actually.
01:11:55.39
charukaarora
O. Yes, true. It wasn’t on the.
01:12:00.44
Stuart and Abby
Can I add 1 1 more ah word steady I feel like he’s always just very like very steady. Very nothing really shakes him which I think is very a very good quality to have when you’re an entrepreneur.
01:12:14.51
charukaarora
Yes, that’s amazing. The 1 the hardest thing for you to work with a partner. What’s the hardest thing when you work with your partner.
01:12:24.46
Stuart and Abby
Who oh like stand I’ll go first I mean I think kind of what we talked about at the beginning boundaries like establishing boundaries and being able to leave work at work and come home and not not blur the 2 I think for sure that. For me. That’s the hardest yeah um yeah I mean I would agree with that. Honestly, just that I mean it’s true. It’s it’s the hardest part because you know when when we’re here we’re working together and when we’re at home. We’re working together. Um, sometimes on canvas stuff but sometimes on house stuff so it is it is just blurry. But I mean it’s also the greatest thing. Yeah, so so it’s it’s hard, but it’s also awesome.
01:13:04.85
charukaarora
And.
01:13:10.72
charukaarora
Yes, that’s me love that. Okay, if you could have a studio slash office anywhere in the world. Where would you have it.
01:13:23.14
Stuart and Abby
Who that’s a fun question. Is it easier for me and I’d say Hawaii yes, just I mean yeah I mean I just love the beach and ah yeah, something about Hawaii we went there once and it was awesome.
01:13:27.75
charukaarora
oh oh wow you’ve already thought of this 1
01:13:42.97
Stuart and Abby
And I’d love to go back? Yeah there just love the beach I Love the whole vibe. The chill vibe. So yeah, that’s where I’m gonna say I would have to agree. But if I had to choose a different place I would say like Colorado or some place like that like in the mountains.
01:13:56.81
charukaarora
Oh well, we do oh ah we can have 1 each yes 1 it please call me when you’re there.
01:14:00.96
Stuart and Abby
Because I love snow and it does not snow much in Alabama where we are so to have some place that we could go where there was snow I would maybe we could have colorado briley. Yeah yeah, we will. You’re welcome anytime.
01:14:16.62
charukaarora
Ah, perfect I’m coming. Let’s get this done. Okay, what’s your biggest source of inspiration. Both of you.
01:14:19.35
Stuart and Abby
I.
01:14:24.32
Stuart and Abby
Um, biggest source of inspiration man I feel like so many things I mean for me I feel like cooking like being able to cook and just kind of be in my element doing that.
01:14:29.64
charukaarora
Lord Inspires you the most. Yes. M.
01:14:41.68
Stuart and Abby
Brings me a lot of inspiration. It just kind of gets me in my zone to I don’t know create Um, most days most days I feel like cooking has shifted a lot since having kids because before kids I was able to.
01:14:44.64
charukaarora
Do you cook every day.
01:14:53.90
charukaarora
Yeah.
01:14:57.67
Stuart and Abby
Spend a little bit more time like making more elaborate meals. But now I have to figure out and cook how to cook in a smart way where I’m not spending hours of month doing it but still, um, you know, creating something delicious which is soul can be inspiring like figuring out like okay, what ingredients do I have and how can I make this.
01:14:59.52
charukaarora
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
01:15:17.23
Stuart and Abby
Delicious, but quick. Um, but also I think just our keep pins.
01:15:19.56
charukaarora
You are my you are you the kind of mom that everyone loves.
01:15:24.54
Stuart and Abby
Ah, it’s true. What’s your um I I say um biographies I’m not a big reader but as a young parent probably am considered a big reader. Um, just because.
01:15:28.29
charukaarora
A.
01:15:43.33
Stuart and Abby
You know I don’t have a lot of time. Don’t have time to do anything when you’re young parent but a parent of young children. Um, yeah I just I like I love reading about all sorts of different people that are crazy historical figures or even people that are like you know, still around today like reading a lot of entrepreneurial books. So.
01:15:45.12
charukaarora
Ah, yeah.
01:15:54.42
charukaarora
And.
01:16:00.30
charukaarora
Yeah.
01:16:01.54
Stuart and Abby
Biographies. Yeah I just finished shoedog by Phil Knight the creator of Nike founder of Nike and just super inspiring kind of like you know everyone’s not like this but he just kind of came up with an idea and.
01:16:07.17
charukaarora
Okay, yeah.
01:16:19.98
Stuart and Abby
Traveled around the world and figured out how to do it and you know he did it forty fifty years ago when like you know if you wanted to communicate with someone across the world like this it would take like you know 3 weeks to send a letter or something ah and so just like yeah hearing hearing his story was.
01:16:28.15
charukaarora
Yeah, yeah. And love that. That’s true. Okay, um, 1 eat who’s you go to person when you’re in need of advice or you’re in Chapel apart from it.
01:16:38.48
Stuart and Abby
Reading by his story Super inspiring to me.
01:16:54.33
Stuart and Abby
I would just say I was Mr. probably you? Yeah um, but besides him I would say either my mom or 1 of my you know best girlfriends like those are definitely the the 2 that I go to the most.
01:16:55.74
charukaarora
I Know that’s going to come. Ah.
01:17:14.10
Stuart and Abby
Yeah I would say if I’m in trouble. It’s usually like some something business Related. So I typically go to like 1 of a few business mentor type people that are you know, giving me advice and I’m able to bounce ideas off of and stuff. Ah, like 3 or four real real close ones that I chat with probably every week or 2.
01:17:37.78
charukaarora
Love. Okay, if you were to meet younger abby o stward today. What advice would you keep them. Let’s let’s do this 2 ways First what advice would you give yourself each stewar.
01:17:54.77
Stuart and Abby
Um, okay, um, keep doing what you’re doing doing good bud. That’s what I say yeah I mean I yeah I I think you know not to say I’ve done a lot of things wrong along the way. But like if there’s 1 thing I’m happy of.
01:17:57.26
charukaarora
Yeah, you go.
01:18:14.72
Stuart and Abby
Done. It’s take a lot of risks and never like kind of from the time I was really young My like motto was no regrets just it kind of sounds La and Cliche now but no pet tribes like track.
01:18:15.14
charukaarora
Yeah.
01:18:27.67
charukaarora
Um, go like ah I am visualizing.
01:18:31.77
Stuart and Abby
So I mean if anything I would probably just tell myself to take take more risks you know, just be like um, it’s like that you know there’s always time to be chill later in life and and just chill comes pretty easily. But um, you know taking risks and going on adventures and stuff like that is like takes a lot more initiatives. So It’s like I would just encourage myself to do more of that kind of stuff I think I would I think I would tell myself to.
01:18:56.28
charukaarora
Yeah, for fact, what about you abby.
01:19:07.98
Stuart and Abby
Not worry as much I think that’s that’s definitely my natural inclination like I have to be very proactive in not like spiraling. So yes I’m an overthinker for sure. So I think that I would definitely tell myself to.
01:19:11.39
charukaarora
Ah. Yeah, you are an overthinker.
01:19:26.55
charukaarora
And love that. Okay now let’s do this the other way around what advice would you give younger abby and youngest to it to each. Let’s see this 1
01:19:27.10
Stuart and Abby
Not worry.
01:19:36.15
Stuart and Abby
Oh I don’t know I think I think for you I would say I mean similarly like like I said before I feel like since I met Him. He’s always just been so consistent. And so I would probably say just stay stay consistent and stay steady in what you’re doing because he’s always been so good at just having a goal and like working so hard to achieve it which I’ve has always been 1 of the biggest things that I’ve admired about him.
01:20:08.55
charukaarora
Love that c.
01:20:11.89
Stuart and Abby
I would say um I’ll just be like hey just say no in 2000 11 you’re gonna meet the man of your dreams. It’s gonna be everything you ever wanted. So just don’t worry about anything else like.
01:20:22.56
charukaarora
Nice. Is that is that for her or is that for your own self.
01:20:33.50
Stuart and Abby
Ah, got me. Um, no I mean I yeah I think I would say something along the same lines that she she would have told young Stewart I mean just kind of like you’re on the right track.
01:20:34.60
charukaarora
Is.
01:20:46.93
charukaarora
Um, yeah, yes, everything.
01:20:50.76
Stuart and Abby
Like cause I know you know when you’re young, you’re kind of like questioning everything unsure. Yeah, and yeah, so like yeah so I would I would just say like yeah I mean you could you could afford to um, not overthink things. But I mean I think you’re um I.
01:21:06.49
charukaarora
Learned.
01:21:10.69
Stuart and Abby
I was I was very happy to meet young abby so I don’t and we were young I mean I was I was telling someone the other day like I was 21 or 22 when we met so like he’s been in my life like throughout my whole twenty s and now 30 s.
01:21:14.82
charukaarora
Ah.
01:21:23.76
charukaarora
Okay.
01:21:30.54
Stuart and Abby
Which are such informative transformative years of your life where you’re just trying to figure out what the world is and who you are and all the things and so it’s just been really cool to see like the journey that we’ve been on together for.
01:21:32.50
charukaarora
Yes, now.
01:21:42.34
charukaarora
That’s true.
01:21:46.00
charukaarora
And I think what’s even more beautiful is um when you see each other evolving together like in these past 10 years um you’ve literally seen each other from different shades of life because.
01:21:47.73
Stuart and Abby
So many years. Yeah.
01:21:59.60
Stuart and Abby
Land violence.
01:22:02.10
charukaarora
Ah, when you transition from your early twenty s to your 30 s I think they are so like there’s so varied colors and like it’s like complete it’s it’s it’s like a flip side I mean at least that that’s what happened to me I don’t know for you guys.
01:22:09.19
Stuart and Abby
Yes.
01:22:15.56
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, yes, yeah, oh for sure. Absolutely yeah, if k.
01:22:20.74
charukaarora
Perfect one last what is your? what is your 1 or 2 word advice for creators entrepreneurs I always love to call everyone creators because I truly believe that we’re all in the business of creating. So. For people coming behind you what 1 or 2 words advice would you like to give.
01:22:45.26
Stuart and Abby
Um, if I can do 3 words. This is also super cliche. It’s also super cliche I was I say it but I like the the the phrase bet on yourself. You know it’s got. It’s kind of a better better than believing yourself slightly but bet on yourself.
01:22:51.75
charukaarora
Let’s see it.
01:22:58.34
charukaarora
Note.
01:23:04.98
Stuart and Abby
Just that like you know there comes a certain point where you know no matter what you’re doing. You’re gonna have people that are really excited about what you’re doing and people that are like you’re crazy you know and at a certain point you just have to decide if you’re gonna do it or not and to and like to just just just in the words of Phil Knight Just do it. You know, just do it.
01:23:10.55
charukaarora
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
01:23:22.60
charukaarora
Yeah.
01:23:24.67
Stuart and Abby
Like just go for it be on yourself and and like I mean there, there’s no 1 else who can’t who’s responsible for your success or failure. Um other than yourself you know unless you don’t even track the first place and then it’s like yeah I mean you’re guaranteed to fail. So.
01:23:35.80
charukaarora
Um, yes, that too.
01:23:42.44
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, um, so yeah, that’s kind of like if I can go back and say that’s 1 other thing I may say to my younger self is be quicker to bet on yourself. Yeah yeah.
01:23:51.34
charukaarora
You did though you did that she took your own advisor subconsciously.
01:24:00.70
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, exactly could’ve done it more. But um I would say stay true because I think that that’s something and we touched on this that we that has always been very like it’s been a core value to us as a brand is staying true to who we are and.
01:24:06.28
charukaarora
Yeah.
01:24:20.16
Stuart and Abby
What we want to do and how we want to connect with our customers and anybody that comes across our website or our social media pages or whatever like they’re seeing who we are and um, you know I think that that’s just really important as an.
01:24:34.63
charukaarora
Yes I think it’s also very important for us on the other end and it’s it truly forms a bond That’s very special Also Stuart I Also want to add something.
01:24:37.39
Stuart and Abby
You and a business person is to stay true to yourself. Yeah.
01:24:47.96
charukaarora
You just said that you could be more and I just wanted to add to it miles to go before we sleep.
01:24:53.20
Stuart and Abby
Um, where say it said again? Oh yes, Yes, yeah, um, rubber crossed. Yeah yes, yes, is it. The.
01:24:55.67
charukaarora
Miles to go before we sleep. Ah I think it’s never enough. It’s never enough. Yes I think this is yes yes.
01:25:09.84
Stuart and Abby
2 roads diverged in a wood and I know that poem. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it took me a second but awesome. Yeah I love that I love that so good.
01:25:15.15
charukaarora
Yes, yes, yeah, and I think we are so a lot of times we underestim me and I think we wouldn’t have been I mean ah you wouldn’t have been able to create what you’ve been able to create today if you would have not had the experience with let’s say. Advertising it wouldn’t maybe it wouldn’t have worked out the way it worked today or maybe you know the video making the 10 years of experience or abby being a creator I just see like we always feel that we would be but wherever we are today is the best time to pay that.
01:25:32.69
Stuart and Abby
Right.
01:25:39.81
Stuart and Abby
Yes, oh.
01:25:47.50
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, right? Absolutely we totally agree. Love it.
01:25:52.34
charukaarora
Thank you guys. You were really good home same time. Okay I know now it’s been long I Just want to say a big. Thank you, Thank you so much I Really really enjoyed.
01:25:55.35
Stuart and Abby
Thank thank you! It’s been so fun. Yeah, that was really fun.
01:26:10.72
charukaarora
It’s been a wish of mine to see and speak to both of you and I’m so happy we did this before I let you go ah, do you want? We will be. We just spoke about when we’ll be releasing this. Do you have any announcements to make Do you want people to know about any releases coming forward and of course we can define the 2 of you. Or and or an and shop canvas where they can buy it or if there’s a quote that you would want to give it anything that you want.
01:26:37.52
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, absolutely so yeah shop canvas ceo is the website just you know whenever this is released. Go there and you’ll see whatever we got going on. We have a lot of exciting things kind of planned for the rest of. 2021 into 2022 so um, lots of cool stuff coming up. We’ve got a new product coming this month in December and then a new product coming in February you want to say it in it might either in the like um I don’t want to.
01:27:04.21
charukaarora
O I missed this? Okay it you can still talk about this product because probably I am being a little selfish at this point but see you would have already released it.
01:27:13.28
Stuart and Abby
I Don’t want to look her up.
01:27:21.91
Stuart and Abby
Yeah, well lets that’s true. So well in December we’re releasing an accessory that is basically gonna enable you to start and stop your phone without touching your phone so little or a bluetooth remote. Yeah, so it’s very.
01:27:23.68
charukaarora
It’s better. You could talk about. Um.
01:27:37.23
charukaarora
Who love that.
01:27:41.70
Stuart and Abby
Very just like small accessory piece and then in February probably is. We’ll release our next. It’s another kind of accessory. So we what what we’re doing is taking things 1 piece at a time. We’re just adding on little accessories to the existing lamp. Ah.
01:27:52.32
charukaarora
Yeah, yeah.
01:27:57.59
Stuart and Abby
While we’re working on kind of our bigger upgrades like canvas 2 point zero which hopefully will come out sometime in 2022 we’ll see but but yeah, we do have a new. Ah, really really exciting base option that will be coming out in february.
01:28:02.95
charukaarora
Wow.
01:28:11.31
charukaarora
Blue.
01:28:14.19
Stuart and Abby
So anyone who’s looking for a base that is maybe even just slightly step up and even more cleanable and will look great in a kitchen. Oh yeah, yeah, we’ve we’ve that’s something very exciting plan. But um.
01:28:21.98
charukaarora
More than the wooden base. Oh wow.
01:28:31.38
Stuart and Abby
But yeah there that’s coming in February of 2022 um, the 1 discount code that we’d love for anyone to use is canvas 10 that will get you ten percent off of any order. You know it’s not limited by time or. Product or anything like that so use canvas ten and as always just reach out to us directly through email or dm or whatever if you want to you know, give even more insider info because we’re were we’re softies we’re we’re we’re likely to share too much or can you actually reach out to us.
01:28:59.70
charukaarora
Yeah, truly that I can definitely definitely um, share personally. Amazing. Thank you guys Thank you so much. You’ve been just so kind and wonderful I was so so happy to have you both and I can’t wait to see you both again soon. Also one last thing if you’re both in social media I don’t think that I haven’t figured but are you because that’s.
01:29:23.89
Stuart and Abby
Um, yeah, also love him. No.
01:29:33.11
charukaarora
If you are you can also share bi people can find you they want to follow your respective.
01:29:36.17
Stuart and Abby
Yeah I think the 1 that we’re most active on is our you know our Instagram at shop canvas ceo so you know yes, yes, yeah.
01:29:45.71
charukaarora
Perfect that we all know I will I will link all these links um to shot canvas to Instagram and of course um, the product images and everything about st stuewart and abby. And you can find all the details in the show notes in the link and the code that should just mentioned so if you haven’t still bought a canvas you make sure that you take this moment and go check out shop dot canvas. What was it shop canvas dot go see? yes.
01:30:16.39
Stuart and Abby
Shop Pandas Dot Ceo see.
01:30:21.94
charukaarora
That is it and I will hope to see you both soon again by same. It was truly my pleasure. Thank you so much for coming I Really appreciate your time. Thank you bye.
01:30:25.10
Stuart and Abby
Yes, we hope the same. It’s fun talking. Yeah thanks for having us.
01:30:35.47
Stuart and Abby
Think for you I.
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