Success Story: Artefex

From Solo Operator to Scaling Manufacturer: Artefex Grows Toward $1 Million in Willits

Location: Northern California | Mendocino County | Willits

Business Type: Manufacturing

Small Business Center: Mendocino SBDC and West Business Development Center

Assistance Received: Financing/Capital Access, Business Planning, and E-Commerce and Digital Marketing

California State Assembly District: 2

California State Senate District: 2

Visit Artefex online

Click to see how Anton O’Hanlon, with guidance from advisors at the Mendocino SBDC and the West Business Development Center, went from handling nearly every part of Artefex himself to building the systems, financing and mindset to grow the company toward $1 million in annual sales.

Anton O’Hanlon grew up in the art materials industry. His parents own and operate Natural Pigments, a Willits company built around classical pigments and historic painting techniques, and working alongside them taught Anton early that protecting a work of art takes more than vibrant pigment or the right brush. It takes an archival foundation. In 2014, he and his family founded Artefex in Willits, built on the conviction that artwork deserves a rigid, American-made foundation that shields it from moisture, warping, and environmental decay so it can endure for centuries. The question he has now asked thousands of artists and collectors is simple… How long do you want your artwork to last?

“My advice to business owners is reach out and don’t give up if the first resource you get is not what you needed,” said Anton. “In my experience the SBDC has so many advisors that choosing just one might be overwhelming. My approach is that every advisor teaches me something that is not just useful today but might be useful as I grow and scale. Having a group of advisors to reflect with and call on if a new challenge arises has been the single biggest game changer for my business.”

You can read more about how Anton leveraged SCALE in our recently published case study:

If your city, town, or civic organization is planning a mural project or downtown beautification initiative, Artefex partners with communities as an American manufacturer committed to preserving cultural legacy. Visit Artefex online to learn more about American-made composite panels and public art substrates, or contact the team at acct@artefex.biz to discuss project scope, custom dimensions, and civic partnerships. Panels are manufactured in Willits, California, and serve communities and artists worldwide.

And if you are in Mendocino County and interested in growing your business, accessing capital, or putting new technology to work in your operations, connect with the West Business Development Center, home of the Mendocino SBDC, to learn about their no-cost advising and training programs.

10/7/2026