Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Leah Glasby. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Leah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

When selecting pieces of furniture to refinish I typically look for very old pieces with a lot of “character”! Meaning I like working with a pieces flaws and I sometimes showcase them in my reimagined design. I like my pieces to tell a story, to really get your imagination going. Where was this? Who owned this piece, etc. I love an Old World look.

Leah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Leah Renee’. I’m a Home Decor Blogger, Furniture Artist, and a Small Business Owner. I specialize in French Farmhouse style. I have ALWAYS had a strong passion for interior design and the arts in general. Upon purchasing my first home (a 100 year old farmhouse) with my husband 2 years ago, I really wanted to fill it with beautiful pieces that told a story. Unfortunately what I began to find was everything I was drawn to (typically French Antiques) were just outside of our budget being first time homeowners. So I began reimagining pieces I picked up at garage sales/thrift stores/flea markets etc. and creating the look I wanted instead. I started sharing these designs on Instagram and was soon picked up by Country Chic Paint as a brand ambassador/content creator for the company. This now meant that the sky was the limit as far as creating was concerned since I was now receiving all of my paint/supplies for free! This meant that I now had access to all of the colors/products I could ever dream of. Soon people both locally and online started noticing my work and before I knew it I was doing several custom jobs a month. My business began growing so quickly that I soon realized it was time to open a brick and mortar location. That’s when we stumbled upon a beautiful old building for sale, literally walking distance from our house, that we knew would be absolutely perfect! And that’s how “Farmhouse Kicks” was born. We now offer a wide variety of products, from custom furniture pieces, antiques, home decor, handmade gifts, seasonal faux florals and French Soaps. My passion is creating, and I am now blessed enough to be able to do that everyday and help others create homes that they love! There’s simply no better feeling in the world!

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Initially my husband and I didn’t have a ton of extra money laying around. We were first time parents, homeowners, and in the process of starting up my husband’s business. So I had to get really creative since our budget was so tight. I would use tools such as FB Marketplace, Flea Markets & Thrift Stores to find furniture pieces at great prices. I was also lucky enough to get a deal with a paint company (Country Chic Paint) which definitely cut back on my out of pocket expenses as well. I then started selling my creations both locally through FB Marketplace and on sites such as Etsy. I saved every dollar I could from my sales and in about a year and a half we were able to purchase our first Brick and Mortar location.

Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?

Opening a business in the middle of a pandemic is not for the faint of heart. There were many times my husband and I looked at each other and didn’t even know how we were going to pay the bills that month. But we kept pushing forward and refused to give up. We started focusing more on online sales and even had to shut our doors for a while. But through sheer grit and determination we made it through, and I’m happy to say both of our businesses are now thriving!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CreationsbyluluCo
• Instagram: therusted_rose_
• Facebook: Farmhouse Kicks

Image Credits
Myself