Meet Connie Holden. Founder of Flourish: Your space. Thriving.
To Buy or DIY, That is the Question.
When we think of buying vs. DIYing, most of us probably compare mental images of brand-new, shiny store-bought items to disheveled piles of materials, not yet formed into anything usable. But today, deciding whether to do it yourself or to buy can mean much more. In fact, our gig economy has enabled more people than ever to apply a DIY mentality to their careers in lieu of buying into the promise of corporate stability.
To learn more about what it takes to make the leap from buy to DIY, we sat down with Connie Holden, DIYer extraordinaire. Connie left corporate America in 2017, traveled the world for a year to get in touch with her true passions, and ultimately started her own business where she reimagines furniture pieces for those who fancy buying over rolling up their sleeves.
OQ
You have said you wanted to go into business for yourself from a young age. Why do you think you went into the corporate world after college instead of jumping right into your own thing?
CH
I never knew it was an option. I think I always thought that going to work for a company was just how it went when you grew up. I saw my dad do it. He would take his briefcase out the door every day and head to an office. No one ever suggested anything else.
OQ
Do you think if someone had said to you when you were young that you could start your own business when you grew up, you would have?
CH
No. I always envisioned myself going to an office to work. I wanted to do that. That’s just what people did.
OQ
When you decided to start Flourish: Your space. Thriving., how did you know you would be good at refurbishing furniture?
CH
My parents were big influences. My dad would show me how to use various tools and let me attempt to fix things he was working on. My mom would take me with her to antique stores, which she knew I loved. And then, as I became an adult, I found myself watching videos, shows, really anything I could to learn more about restoring furniture. I realized it was my passion.
OQ
What did you find most challenging as you started your business?
CH
Honestly, all of it. I had to figure out how much to pay for used pieces, how much to charge for refinished ones. But it wasn’t just that. I had to learn to stage things, to photograph them. And then there was the administrative side. It was all brand new, and I had to learn as I went.
OQ
How did you meet these challenges?
CH
I researched and leveraged any available resource I could find, whether online sources or other people. I hired a coach, and I listened to her. Networking, trial and error, it all came into play. I’m still in a learning curve and still researching today. It’s an ongoing process.
OQ
During times you feel overwhelmed or defeated as a business owner, how do you pull yourself back up and push forward?
CH
I have learned that business ebbs and flows. I recognize and respect this, and it keeps me focused. If someone had said to me as I was starting this that there would be great months and terrible months, I would have been stressed out. Now, I recognize that it’s just part of the process.
OQ
What are the one or two things you want our readers to know about starting a business and becoming a DIYer?
CH
First, if you want to start your own thing, just do it. You don’t need to have a fancy logo and website to get going. Just get out there. Second, I would tell people to always be learning. If you truly love what you’re doing, invest the time to educate yourself on all facets of the business. Finally, you’re going to have ups and downs. That’s just how it is. Lean into it and persevere. Protect your mental health as you go and recognize it for what it is. It’s also very easy to fall into a trap of letting it consume you. Don’t do that. Find your balance as you go.
OQ
Thank you for sharing with us, Connie. How can people find you and your amazing furniture items?
CH
They can find me on Instagram and follow @yourspacethriving to see my designs. And people can contact me through Facebook at www.Facebook.com/YourSpaceThriving