Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Nelson. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Stephanie and Casey’s sons became best friends at school, so they did too! We both were interior designers working separately in cooperate and private capacities. We quickly discovered that we share a passion for collecting unique and one-of-a-kind items. They’re usually vintage, some are handmade, and some are just random things that caught our eye. After years of being asked “where did you get that?” We decided to start this little shop. Years of collecting have paid off, with a booth full of surprising finds in our local antique mall.
Alright, 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?
It has not been a smooth road, to say the least. We are thankful, though, for the learning opportunities that come with starting a new business. Luckily for us, deciding on branding and imaging came naturally, but the behind-the-scenes tasks were more grueling. Figuring out taxes, contracts, and how to inventory a never-ending-revolving door of priceless one-of-a-kind items are all hurdles we are still jumping. Learning to balance each other’s strengths and communicate effectively has strengthened our relationship as well.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
We own a booth in our local antique mall- the Antique Company Mall in Downtown McKinney. What sets us apart from other vintage dealers is the fact that we blend handcrafted, vintage, and new items into seamless designs. We plan months ahead to plan our themes and seasonal sets and create a mood board to inspire our collections. When you shop with us it won’t feel like an overwhelming barrage of hodge-podge trinkets; it will be an experience. You will feel like home, and you will feel inspired to try something new and daring in your own home. We stay away from the obvious, the overdone, and the mass-produced and reach for extraordinary & unusual.
We’d love to hear about what you think about risk-taking.
The very nature of starting a small business is risk. Everything feels like a gamble, even though your soul is telling you to do it. One of the biggest risks we take is adding staff and learning to entrust and empower others. Finding the balance between leading and listening. I crave the artistic community and collaboration, so for me, it is worth the risk to trust your business with others.
Pricing:
- We have items from $5-100; 75% of our items are below $75
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashandemberdesigner/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashandemberdesign/
Image Credits
Emily McClure
A+E shop
