Creator Q&A: Tonester Paints

Tony Piloseno shares the details on his partnership with Florida Paints, and what advice he has for creators looking to start their own business (The following interview has been condensed and edited for clarity).

What made you choose to work with Florida Paints?

I chose to work with Florida Paints because they were going to help me start my own brand of paint products and color. It’s a smaller paint company, so I’m able to work more closely with the people running the organization, have better communication, and more creative freedom. 

How has Florida Paints helped launch Tonester Paints?

There was an initial investment on their part, and now what they do is manufacture my product and help me get the word out about it. I manage the shipping and distribution independently.

What’s a day in the life working with Florida Paints and Tonester Paints look like?

I work with the store employees talking to customers and being essentially my own sales rep for the majority of the day, then I focus on content, shipping orders, and video editing. I sell my product to homeowners and DIY-ers, so it is more retail, not commercial. That’s the cool thing about the partnership with Florida Paints–they’re primarily a commercial company, and this is a good avenue for them to test the homeowner and retail market. 

What advice do you have for creators who want to start their own business?

I’ve learned that owning your own business and growing your own brand is more of a lifestyle than anything. It’s a consistent grind. It doesn’t really stop. It comes down to being very consistent with everything–every day, small steps, new connections, following up with people, and building a strong customer base. 

What about for companies that want to work with creators?

Make sure to let the creator have complete control of the content that they’re putting out for you. Social media users are smart–they can tell what is an ad and what isn’t. People don’t want to feel like they’re being sold something. But if it’s genuine content from a creator enjoying your product, that’s the best way to get your product and your brand out there.