Today we’d like to introduce you to John and Rachel Cavanaugh.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Its funny– something we’re asked quite frequently is “how did you get started in the furniture business?” Well, to be honest, we kind of fell into it!
We began building furniture out of a small, $75/month storage unit in our apartment complex after our daughter was born premature at 29 weeks. As 2-months-worth of NICU bills began rolling in, Rachel was spending most of her time in the hospital, and our savings account was drained. Determined to stay out of debt, we began building furniture on the side to sell to friends and on Craigslist.
We shuffled around as Rachel spent most of the day in the hospital with our daughter while Johnny was at his day-job in sales. He would go from the office to the ‘shop’ to build, and then back to join Rachel and Finnley in the hospital — many times as late as 1AM, just to spend a few hours with Finnley before doing it all over again the next day. It was hard. There were countless tears. But God carried us through.
After two months, Finnley was out of the NICU and we were tackling debt. But word traveled fast and Johnny had projects scheduled out for weeks at a time. Before long, “Cavie” (Johnny’s childhood nickname) had turned into “Cavie & Co.”
It’s just crazy to look back in retrospect over the last four years and realize that we probably wouldn’t have taken “the jump” or discovered Johnny’s knack for carpentry, if Finnley hadn’t been born premature. It’s just proof that God truly uses EVERYTHING for His glory and our good when we give it to Him.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
When we started we both still had our corporate 9-5 jobs. So this little hobby was our side hustle. We were determined to stay out of personal and business debt, so we decided to go the old fashioned route of slow and steady.
We won’t lie, growing a business over time was hard. It eventually got to the point where we could no longer live balanced lives and work both jobs. So Johnny quit his full-time career in 2016, and I transitioned full-time as well in 2017. It has been challenging at times, but you know what they say– ‘anything worth having is worth fighting for.’
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We’re grateful to work side-by-side as a hubby/wife team. Together, we specialize in custom high-end Barn Doors, Dining Tables and Built-Ins. We believe in providing quality work for a worthy cause.
Currently, 10% of all profit here at Cavie & Co. supports a small orphanage in Chennai, India. Rachel went to school with the founder– an amazing woman by the name of Judith Sid. After graduating, Judith went back to Chennai, India and began rescuing children out of child slavery and trafficking in her own city. Many of the beautiful children we support were slaves in outdoor brick quarries. Before being rescued, they were forced to build bricks with their hands for 12-hour days in 110+ degrees, with only one meal per day.
Rachel stayed with Judith and her team for three weeks back in 2011 and personally witnessed the horrors after entering two labor camps with Judith. After seeing children rescued out of unfathomable circumstances, our world was never the same. It is truly an honor to support their mission and watch these precious souls finally receive the love and care they so deserve.
What were you like growing up?
Johnny – I was raised by the best parents– my dad was a Colonel in the Marines. Early on I was taught to take pride in a job well done thanks to him and my mother’s steadfast love and example. I was very active in sports throughout high school and college and loved building stuff; I remember taking a bed frame apart and repurposing it as a chair when I was twelve. I also may or may not have been known as “the frog boy” in my neighborhood. I went door-to-door selling frogs for $3/ea. Until one lady paid me a lofty sum to release them all and never sell frogs as pets again– so that was the end of that entrepreneurial venture.
Rachel – I was born the eldest of 7 kids, so early on I loved being around people and organizing — because a lot of siblings required a lot of organizing haha. I grew up around planes and art and beautiful spaces, so I was always inspired to grow and be the best I could be. I’m grateful to have been raised by the strongest woman I know– my entrepreneur mamita. She moved to the states from Costa Rica and single-handedly raised us kids. She taught me the power of hard work and perseverance.
Contact Info:
- Address: Flower Mound, TX
- Website: www.cavieandco.com
- Phone: 972-539-9369
- Email: hello@cavieandco.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/CavieAndCo
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/CavieAndCo
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/cavie-and-co-flower-mound
- Other: BBB: https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/flower-mound/profile/furniture-designers/cavie-co-0875-90905131
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