Location/Region: British Columbia, CAN
Industry: Manufacturing
Apps implemented: Accounting, Manufacturing, Inventory, CRM, Email Marketing, Purchase
Software
Replaced: Excel Spreadsheet
Size of the company: 10
Hosting type: Odoo Online
Studiostone Creative believes that creativity should be accessible to all. With a passion for stone sculpture, the company has grown from a small art studio into a thriving business offering DIY carving kits that allow both children and adults to explore their artistic side. As Studiostone expanded, the need for a robust, integrated system to manage inventory, sales, and manufacturing became clear.
Founded by Oliver Harwood, a trained sculptor with a background in fine arts, Studiostone Creative began with a simple yet powerful mission: to introduce the joy of stone carving to young students. Harwood’s experience in sculpture, honed in Italy’s renowned marble studios, led him to develop an innovative educational program where children as young as eight could create detailed animal sculptures from soapstone and alabaster in under 90 minutes.
The overwhelming success of this initiative in schools paved the way for a broader vision: crafting DIY sculpture kits for a global audience. Over the past seven years, Studiostone Creative has continually refined its products, ensuring that both beginners and experienced artisans can enjoy the meditative and rewarding process of stone carving.
"We discovered that at least 30% of our customers are adults, enthusiasts who enjoy carving, creating, or exploring new hobbies. Our kits offer an easy, guided experience with professional results."
Managing growth with disconnected systems
Before adopting Odoo, Studiostone Creative relied on a patchwork of separate tools to run its business. The company used spreadsheets and standalone software for accounting, inventory tracking, and manufacturing, none of which were integrated.
This lack of connectivity meant extensive manual data entry, inefficiencies in tracking production and sales, and time-consuming financial analyses. As Studiostone grew, these fragmented processes became a bottleneck, leading Harwood and his team to seek a more comprehensive solution.
"We realized we were spending so much time on data entry and trying to connect different software. It became clear we needed an integrated system to streamline our accounting, inventory, and manufacturing processes."
A game-changer for Studiostone: Odoo’s integrated power
Studiostone Creative discovered Odoo through a third-party agency that conducted an in-depth study of the company’s needs. After evaluating several platforms, Odoo stood out for its flexibility and seamless integration. "When we tested Odoo, we were sold. There wasn’t even a debate. It was the right solution for us," he shares.
With Odoo, Studiostone Creative seamlessly manages its operations through multiple apps, including:
- Accounting: Provides live financial tracking and reporting, eliminating the delays and manual effort required with the previous system.
- Inventory & Manufacturing: Offers real-time insights into production, stock levels, and order fulfillment, ensuring smooth operations.
- Purchase: Streamlines procurement, improving supplier coordination and reducing delays.
- Email Marketing & CRM: Enhances customer engagement and helps the company plan future marketing initiatives more effectively.
The impact has been significant. Harwood reports that administrative efficiency has improved by 20-30%, primarily due to the reduction in manual data entry and improved visibility across operations. The ability to generate live reports through the accounting app has also helped the team make more informed business decisions.
"On any given day, I can see what’s manufactured, what’s sold, and our inventory levels in real-time. That’s exactly what I wanted: live dashboards that provide complete visibility."
Looking ahead: Innovating with Odoo
Studiostone Creative isn’t stopping here. While the company has successfully implemented Odoo for core operations, Harwood sees even more potential in expanding its use. The next steps include:
- Implementing the Project app to better coordinate product development and educational initiatives.
- Expanding the CRM and marketing tools to deepen customer relationships and optimize outreach efforts.
- Continuing to explore new features that can further enhance workflow efficiency.
With a strong foundation in place, Studiostone Creative is poised to scale its business, bringing innovative carving experiences to even more people worldwide.
Studiostone Creative’s journey highlights the power of an integrated business solution. If your company is struggling with disconnected systems and inefficiencies, Odoo can help streamline operations, improve data accuracy, and boost productivity. Explore Odoo’s suite of apps and discover how your business can carve out a more efficient future today.
