If there’s one thing that most Singaporeans struggle with, it’s space. Being on a small, albeit economically prolific island means that many of us don’t have the luxury of extra space.
So you can imagine the headaches this brings.
On one hand, you’re a hoarder who loves to keep the artworks that loved ones made for you. On the other hand, you just don’t have the storage space for it. Keeping the artworks takes up too much space but throwing it means losing precious memories.
This was an issue that Natasha and her two co-founders, Li Ting and Sharon Chan, were all too familiar with.
As mothers, they faced the dilemma of preserving their children’s artworks without drowning in clutter. “I vividly recall relocating from the US years ago with just two trash bags filled with my daughter’s artwork, only to regret discarding them later,” Natasha shared.
But we’re living in the modern age where tech has made life easier, which is exactly what they turned to for a solution. Thus, Artispique was born as a platform to help others preserve and digitise their memories into a personalised art book.
A timeless curated memory vault
Also called the “Memory Vault”, Artispique’s personalised art book (SG$108) is its debut offering that turns keepsakes into both digital and hard copy memorabilia.
The possibilities are quite endless as customers aren’t limited to only 2D items. According to its website, you can also convert 3D crafts, trophies, and awards as well. Soft copy images are also welcomed so long as they’re high resolution files.
To make it simpler for customers, Natasha and her co-founders also designed the process to be seamless.
Once an order is placed, the brand will send over a pre-paid art collection bag. You can pack up to 20 artworks that you’ve curated to be immortalised. Natasha recommends wrapping the more fragile items with paper towels or used clothes.
Each art collection bag comes with a starter kit, where you’ll have to scan a QR code and fill up the art submission form. You’re able to choose add-ons here such as a premium book cover (SG$20) that includes a superimposed photo and a book title.
Pick-up is then arranged and all you have to do is stick the airway bill and pass it to Artispique’s courier partner.
From there, Artispique’s team works their magic to carefully curate and digitise each masterpiece before compiling them into your own art book. This includes detailed restoration works, so you don’t have to worry if the artwork is on crumpled paper.
A draft is shared with you for approval before they proceed with the printing. If you’re interested in feeling the books in person before placing an order, you can visit their affiliated partners in art schools.
It’s not just for parents with young kids
Besides art books, the online brand has expanded its product range to include Pique Fine Art Print (starts from SG$88), Personalised Money Envelopes (SG$38.80), and Customised Doodley Mug (SG$48).
This diversification was in response to market demands and served as another way for customers to cherish their memories. After all, not everyone is a fan of books. I myself enjoy donning artworks as a form of self expression and appreciation.
That said, personalised art books remain the brand’s main revenue stream. “They’re the heart of our brand and resonate deeply with our customers,” Natasha stated.
One of the brand’s most memorable clients so far is one such case. Sharing with us, Natasha explained that a customer once approached Artispique with a heartfelt request to curate a memoir for her nephew.
“Tragically, her sister (the boy’s mother) had passed away during the pandemic. Wanting to preserve her late sister’s memory in a tangible and meaningful way, our client sought to compile all of her sister’s Facebook posts into a book for her nephew.”
The memoir wasn’t just about preserving digital content, but the posts captured the essence of a mother’s journey. Specifically from her anticipation of the pregnancy to the daily moments of raising her son.
It was meant to be a gift for his 12th birthday, as a means of helping him feel her presence and cherish her words.
It’s projects like these that remind the Artispique team of the profound impact services like theirs have on others during difficult times. “They reaffirm the importance of what we do and drive us to continue providing meaningful solutions for our clients,” Natasha said.
It’s okay to serve a niche market
So far, Artispique has been aiding Singaporeans in digitising their artworks for about four years now. The team has grown beyond just the co-founders with a team of remote editors supporting their operations.
Natasha is the only one helming the business at the moment as Li Ting and Sharon took a hiatus since early 2023. Though, they remain as advisors in key decision-making areas.
It wasn’t easy at first because the three co-founders each had their own roles. Li Ting handled financial matters, Sharon led event planning, while Natasha was in charge of all things creative.
But she took it as an opportunity for growth and cited her team’s support as being crucial in those early days.
As for the brand itself, some might find Artispique’s offerings to be too niche but there’s certainly a market for it. Not to mention the meaningful impact it has towards the lives of customers, which they highlight on the website.
“As parents, one of the greatest encouragement we can give to our child is to be [in]vested in their learning process. This act of support and encouragement can go a long way in empowering our child to become confident learners who are more likely to persevere even in the face of mistakes or failures,” it states.
“Or, you could also give yourself the same encouragement by choosing to document your unique journey in art making, and reminding yourself that you are always in a process of learning.”
With that in mind, Natasha and her team hope to explore opportunities for international expansion. While it’ll aid in growing their profitability, the bigger goal is to connect with families and art enthusiasts globally.
- Learn more about Artispique here.
- Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.
Featured Image Credit: Artispique / Da Little Art School