Meet Jennifer Smelker | Licensed Artist & Owner of Tandem For Two

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Smelker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The thought process behind starting my own business was both organic and deeply personal. It all began in 2012 when I designed a bucket list-type canvas for our family. My kids and husband helped come up with a list of activities, memories, and things that were uniquely us. This canvas became a beautiful reflection of our family life and hung proudly on our wall.

Friends who saw it were instantly charmed and wanted one for themselves. This enthusiastic response planted a seed in my mind about turning this personal project into something more. The moment that truly set things in motion was when I showcased the canvas at an art event in our downtown in 2013. The owner loved it and suggested I create something on a smaller scale. I had been toying with the idea of a Bucket List celebrating all the great things about our town, so I turned it into a postcard. To my delight, it sold out in just three weeks, even before the tourist season began.

Seeing this success, I expanded my product line to include more products, added staff, and created designs for other towns and states. Word spread and over the next decade I successfully designed and manufactured my own products that I sold wholesale to boutiques and departments stores across the US.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am an engineer turned artist. I have a degree in environmental engineering and am licensed as a civil engineer, but also freelanced as a graphic designer since my college days. I’ve always been crafty and creative but it took me a long time to finally call myself an artist.

While earning my engineering degree, there were four men for every one woman in the entire university. I became used to being in the minority when I walked into a room or lecture hall. This continued into my places of employment as I was always the only female engineer on staff. My colleagues were respectful and treated me as a peer, but often when working with other engineering firms, I wasn’t taken seriously and often men were incredulous that I as a female was not only an engineer, but one that had gone through the arduous hoops of becoming licensed in the state. I had not always aspired to be an engineer and frankly at times I wondered if I would succeed. My innate grit helped me to push on as I was determined to not fail myself.

After a career in engineering and at the age of 40 I started my own art business. Again, this was not something I always aspired to, but felt compelled to see if I could succeed at something new, this time in the creative realm. I now had more female company when makers and small business owners would gather to sell their art at markets, but being over 40 certainly set me apart. I was now walking into rooms not as the only female, but as the oldest.

I have successfully designed and manufactured my own products that I have sold wholesale to boutiques and departments stores across the US for over a decade. As I entered my 50s, I pivoted again and launched into art licensing and coaching other entrepreneurs and artists how to sell their art and products and grow their businesses. I started something new once again, but I am undaunted. It has been thrilling to see my designs and product ideas come to life as I work with manufacturers on a variety of products like fabric, home decor and table top products, pet accessories, and apparel and gift products and watch other small businesses grow as I cheer them on!

The analytical, project management skills that I have along with my creativity and natural curiosity, have been invaluable assets in creating art and collaborating with companies to bring inspired products to life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Of all the places I have explored and traveled, I am always proud to be from the Midwest and happy to come home to Michigan. I love all four seasons that we have. I love how we are surrounded by water and that lakes, rivers, and streams are always minutes away, no matter where we are. And who doesn’t love pulling out your mitten and showing where you live or where you’ve been?

I now live in a small beach town along the shores of Lake Michigan and I love showing off our town and exploring the best our area has to offer. First we would spend time at the beach, walking the shore, hearing the sand squeak, and wading through crystal clear water as we look out an an endless horizon. It is unexpected to visitors that our Great Lakes look as vast as the ocean and they can be just as fierce.

We would walk from the beach along our boardwalk, past our beautiful red lighthouse and the many boats that travel the river to our downtown. We would stroll the quaint main street, shopping in boutiques and gift shops, enjoying restaurants in historic buildings, or coffee at my favorite hangout. We could bike the many footpaths around our town or hike in the preserved old growth forest just up the block from my house. We would take a break with cocktails and apps on the porch of my restored Craftsman bungalow and watch the neighborhood go by. As dusk settles, we would return downtown to watch the musical fountain – the largest lighted fountain set to music each summer night. Then we could enjoy live music as we sit out on one of several restaurant patios to finish our evening and our perfect summer day.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Throughout this journey, my family has been my biggest support system. When it came time to name the business, my son had the perfect suggestion: Tandem For Two, inspired by our orange tandem bike. This bike, that I bought at a Midwest farm sale and brought to our small beach town, sums up all that we love about where we live and how we travel in this life together! It’s about slowing down and exploring and celebrating what we find, whether that is where we live or where life takes us.

Both of my kids and husband have worked in my business and continue to encourage me along the way. It’s been an incredible journey from that first family canvas to where we are today and I couldn’t have done it without the support and inspiration from my family.

Website: tandemfortwo.com

Instagram: @tandemfortwo

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jensmelks

Facebook: Facebook.com/tandemfortwo

Other: pinterest.com/tandemfortwo

Image Credits
Jennifer Smelker