Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Pence.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have always been a self-proclaimed DIYer. I am always pinning, googling, and reading about DIY projects, recipes, hair tutorials, skincare products you name it and I have probably tried to make it or do it myself. My DIY projects don’t always go as planned but I just love the process. On a deeper level, I think it teaches me that it’s okay to fail. It also teaches me how to be patient. We live in a society where we want everything now and sometimes when you try to make something it takes several tries to get it right. Although, I am convinced there is no better feeling than when you finally get it right.
One night, I was on Pinterest and I saw that someone had made a concrete candle. I thought to myself as I often do “I can make that.” The next day, I ordered my first bag of Buddy Rhodes Artisan Concrete and ordered a Milton silicone shot glass mold and I made my first set of mini concrete candles. I didn’t have a clue about what kind of mold would work best for concrete so the shot glass mold looked sufficient to me! After I made my first six concrete vessels, I was hooked. I loved the process of taking a harsh material like concrete and turning it into something beautiful. I stopped making candles and just focused on making the concrete vessels but I would love to eventually add them back into my inventory.
My business is still very new, but I just jumped into the world of eCommerce, my wholesale presence is growing, I just signed a vendor agreement at a store in Deep Ellum called Flea Style, and I am working on a few different collaborations with artists in East Texas. My brain is always full of new ideas for products and designs and that is what keeps me motivated to keep growing my business. I know that growing a business takes time and I feel so grateful for the growth that has happened in the last nine months and can’t wait to see how myself and my business continue to grow in the years to come.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would say one of the hardest obstacles is that there is always something else to know or learn when you are running your own business and that can be one of the most overwhelming things. Just when I start to feel more confident in my business something happens and it reminds I have so much more to learn. It keeps me humble and it forces me to seek advice from other people around me. The community that I have found among other makers and creators might be one of my favorite things. We are not meant to do it alone and I am so thankful for the community of people I have been fortunate to meet in this process.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about FIVE THREE NINE – what should we know?
I specialize in the creation of concrete home-goods. If you have a question about concrete, I am your gal. I am not quite sure if I am known for anything yet but I am proud of my ability to take a material like concrete and turn it into a whimsical, fun looking product. I love when people ask me what my products are made out of and when I tell them it is concrete they sometimes don’t believe me. I think people have this perception in their minds that concrete is just this grey, bleak looking material but I am working to change that perception. I know I am not the only person who makes concrete home-goods but I think my drive and curiosity to figure out how to change, expand, and perfect my product sets me apart from others.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
My business still feels so tiny but I think my ability to ask for help/feedback makes me successful. You can try to do it alone, but you will learn more and have more fun when you allow people to help you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fivethreenineplanters.com
- Phone: 4023102659
- Email: fivethreenineplanters@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/five_three_nine
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FIVE-THREE-NINE-PLANTERS-1857424460999022/
Image Credit:
Daniel Poe Photography, Elope Northwest Photography
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