We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Andrea Hammond a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Andrea, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

My personal brand of success required a few different things. First and foremost, I simply wanted a career where I felt like I belonged. I have had plenty of jobs where it just didn’t feel like the right fit. I think it’s important to find something that you feel passionate about and I knew I wanted the freedom to be creative, work with my hands, and utilize my love for art and aesthetics. I wanted to work in a field where I could feel excited day in and day out. I wanted a career that felt so right that even on the worst days, it still felt good. I wanted to contribute financially to my household while maintaining a strong work-life balance. And I wanted to feel like I was helping others in some way, shape, or form.

To obtain that interpretation of success, I had to start viewing challenges as opportunities for growth. I had to get out of my comfort zone, set aside the “what ifs” and thoughts of what could go wrong. I had to learn to say yes when I could while also remembering it’s ok to stay in your own lane and say no when you should. I hold myself accountable on all levels. Under promise and over deliver is always a great rule of thumb in my book! Forming strong bonds with each client has certainly contributed to my success as well as treating each job like it is the one and only job that I will ever do. When I finish a client’s project, I want them to not only feel good about the final product, but good about the entire process. Treat each client in a way where they feel involved, heard, and respected. That is my recipe for success.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Andrea Hammond and I am the owner/operator of The House of Hammond.

I have always had a love for art and design. Growing up, I knew I wanted to do something in a creative field but wasn’t sure what. Throughout my life, I have wanted to be everything from a Disney Artist, to an architect, and a furniture designer, amongst several other things. I graduated from college with a BFA in Painting and Drawing. After school, I taught art classes, worked in museums, and did freelance artwork but knew I wanted to find something more consistent and steady that I could make my own.

After my husband and I moved to Colorado, I came across the contact info of an esteemed cabinet painter looking to hire someone to learn the trade and help out on jobs when needed. I immediately reached out, interviewed, and the rest was history. I fell in love with the process. Seeing the excitement and joy that these clients felt as they finally saw their visions become a reality was so fulfilling. I was getting to work with my hands, be creative, help others, and make a living. It was a career move that felt really good for me.

Eventually the time came when I decided to go out on my own. I paint anything from front doors, to staircases or trimwork, but I’m best known for my cabinet painting. I take great pride in my process and I love delivering a beautiful quality of work that’s made to last. My ideal clients are people who want to improve the looks of their cabinetry without breaking the bank. I take great efforts to see that each project I take on is executed to the best of my abilities and that my clients always feel appreciated and cared for. I have a small side hustle under the same entity creating greeting cards and watercolors for local shops and I do custom artwork upon request. My dog portraits have become quite a hit! But for the time being, my main focus is cabinetry painting.

I am most proud of the relationships I have formed with my clients. It feels really good to see my clients feel good. I believe that if I take care of others, God will take care of me and that I will get to continue working and succeeding in a field that I love.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Being polite, clear, respectful, and consistent. I always strive to be open and transparent with each potential client about the project at hand. I am adamant about outlining the project for each client from start to finish and following through on everything that I say I will do. I want each client to get results that exceed their expectations. I always make myself available for any questions or concerns and I address all accordingly. I always send a thank you card after the completion of each project. After all, the clients are what keep my business going, I want them to know I am grateful. And nothing builds a better reputation within the market like positive word of mouth.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Social media has been huge! I live in a smaller mountain community outside of Denver where people love to support local businesses. I take full advantage of the community pages on Facebook and Nextdoor. I have even gotten a few jobs from Instagram which was really exciting for me. It has been as simple as going online and making a post about what I do, sharing photos of past projects, and giving my contact info. I have finally gotten to a point where others will recommend me on these pages when people inquire about needing the services that I provide. I couldn’t be more grateful for that kind of support and recognition.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thehouseofhammond.com
• Instagram: @house_of_hammond
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/houseofhammond/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreagarteehammond
• Twitter: @hammond_house