Today we’d like to introduce you to Lyndsey Jensen.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Chasing something you’re passionate about always sounds good, especially when you read it on inspirational posters or hear a self-help coach preach the message. But taking that quantum leap toward actually doing it is another matter entirely. It takes equal parts courage, daring and the perfect dash of craziness.
That pretty much sums up me launching into ownership of a pair of Do It Yourself wood sign workshops called Board & Brush Creative Studios.
And if business ownership wasn’t enough to keep me jumping, I also hold down a full-time job as a catering sales director and an even fuller-time job as the single mom of two kids, one in junior high and the other in high school.
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?
Does anyone ever answer yes to this question? I’m betting not. Starting a small business is a lot of things but smooth isn’t one of them. From hiring, firing, paying taxes, paying vendors, paying my loan, paying myself and figuring out creative ways to market are just a few of the items that keep me up at night. It’s rewarding for sure, but the road is filled with enough speed bumps to destroy the best shock absorbers.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Board & Brush Creative Studio is an instructor-led DIY wood sign workshop where we provide you with the instruction, materials, and design for you to distress, sand, stain, paint, and customize your personalized piece of decor. We will not let you fail. I’ll say that again for those in the back…..we will NOT let you fail. If you’ve ever felt hesitant because you’re not creative, not crafty, not artistic, or any of the other many worries we’ve heard from time to time with first-time visitors, trust me and just come try us out. If DIY is your jam and you just want us to prep the supplies and clean up the mess so the stain can accidentally spill on our floors and not your own, we’re here for you too! We’ve got customers from all ends of the crafting spectrum and we take pride in making sure every person has an awesome DIY experience.
So many paint and sip or crafting classes turn into a sorority party and the finished product ends up tucked away in the back of the attic, forgotten forever. That’s not the case at Board & Brush. Yes, you can enjoy some drinks with your friends. But the police are never needed and the finished product at our place always ends up in a place of prominence in your home. One of the most rewarding parts of this business is watching new customers walk in looking nervous because they’ve never screwed a nail into a piece of wood in their lives. Two hours later, they’re laughing and high-fiving after creating a work of art that they’re proud of. That’s just cool and makes the long hours worth it.
But, getting to the heart of why I started this business, was the feeling my mom and I had after trying out the workshop for ourselves. We spent some much-needed quality time simply being with each other without the craziness of life’s distractions even if just for a couple of hours. For us, it’s less about the project and all about embracing that feeling. That’s why it’s our goal is to create a comfortable and inviting space where our customers can bring their friends, spouse, kids, coworkers to unwind, let loose, and experience fun times with each other while making lasting memories time and time again.
Our crew truly takes pride in getting to know our customers; we laugh with them, we celebrate with them, we cheer for them, we care about them. The stories we hear are soul-filling and the smiles we see are wildly rewarding. On any given Friday or Saturday night you may find my mom Vanessa instructing at one of our locations and customers leave calling her mom, or send me a note of thanks referencing my “sweet mom.” How can we not LOVE what we do?!
What were you like growing up?
Growing up in the area – Irving to be exact – it’s always been a pet peeve of mine to watch folks ignore locally owned businesses and organizations. These businesses are the lifeblood of a community and give it an identity. Watching a business owner push their chips in the middle of the table is inspiring and I’ve always felt it was all of our duty to support when we get a chance. Having the chance to live and raise my kids in the community where I am now a business owner, I’m even more passionate about supporting others who have started small businesses, community groups, and programs in our area. Life is a team sport and we need one another to survive and thrive.
It’s probably not a surprise to anyone who meets me that I’m hyper-competitive. I’m Tom Brady-level competitive. That really started on the softball field when I was 4 or 5. I was a Coach’s kid early in my softball days – mom was my coach and is genetically responsible for my competitive spirit – so I always felt the need to prove I deserved my starting catching position and clean up spot in the lineup. I wanted to be in every high-pressure situation there could be on the field. This continued in my early career in sales as I worked my way up the pecking order to become a sales trainer for a large industrial parts company. Sales and marketing have always come naturally and as the catering sales director Blue Mesa Grill, I love chasing new business. Of course, landing new business is even more fun. Most of my customers become my friends and I try to cultivate meaningful relationships in every business I’m a part of…this way I never truly feel like it’s work, I’m just spending time with friends!
Pricing:
- $35 Kids/Teen/Mini sign workshop (over 50 designs)
- $68 Regular Pick Your Project workshop (over 400 designs)
- $40 Specialty Personalized Doormat workshop
Contact Info:
- Address: 2230 Justin Rd – Suite 220
Highland Village, TX 75077150 S Denton Tap Rd – Suite 106
Coppell, TX 75019 - Website: https://boardandbrush.com/highlandvillage/ https://boardandbrush.com/coppell/
- Phone: 972-571-6305
- Email: highlandvillage@boardandbrush.com coppell@boardandbrush.com
- Instagram: @boardandbrushhvtx @boardandbrushcoppelltexas
- Facebook: @boardandbrushhighlandvillagetx @boardandbrushcoppelltx
- Twitter: @boardandbrushcs
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