We were lucky to catch up with Francesca Bonaduce De Nigris recently and have shared our conversation below.

Francesca , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Intrecci by Francesca is a Houston-based start up with a passion for one-of-a-kind handmade rugs, including antique, vintage, and contemporary rugs, kilims, and textiles. I started this business simply because I love vintage rugs but I soon realized that finding the perfect rug can be difficult, time consuming and some times all together overwhelming, especially when searching for one-of a kind, handmade vintage rugs. So I start thinking about the type of services that I could offer to help businesses like interior designers as well as individuals find and select rugs.

As a result I developed a business that offers professional consultation on rugs and sourcing, access to one-of-a-kind products through our local inventory as well as connection to a large network of rug suppliers, curated selections based on aesthetic, functional need, and home décor trends. and in-house viewing of our products to evaluate their fit, especially with respect to overall style, design goals, furniture, color schemes, and lighting.

I really enjoy providing a personalized service to each client by putting together a curated collection of rugs based on their needs and help them find their ideal rug that complement their home decor.

Francesca , 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?

I am originally from Italy; I moved to Houston in 2010. Before that I lived in the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. I love travelling and I feel very grateful that I have been able to live and work in so many different places. My background is in Architecture, I have a bachelor degree from the University of Florence in Italy and postgraduate degree from Middlesex University in London. While I had different jobs and so many interesting professional experiences, owning my own business has always been one of my dreams. A couple of years ago, I had this incredible opportunity to start this business and bring together my passion for design and craftmanship with my entrepreneurial dreams.

Given my background in architecture I am able to understand the interior design needs of my clients. In some cases, interior designers might not have the resources in terms of time and/or staff to dedicate to rug sourcing, or might have limited connection to suppliers of one-of-a -kind vintage rugs, Some clients might be unsure about what to buy, might be concerned about the investments of buying a handmade rug or simply unsure about what they like. I see my business as a professional partner that can facilitate rug shopping from helping with design questions to accessing and sourcing these unique artifacts.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social media is an important marketing channel for any business. At the beginning, I was intimidated by the idea of putting myself out there, in my case on Instagram. As part of developing my brand I had to find my voice and try to build my business identity in a way that was relevant to my goals but also in ways that resonated with my audience. It has been a huge learning curve. Social media is evolving and we as businesses have to continue to learn how to use social media to communicate with our audiences. It’s a continuous process of self-improvement and learnings. I am definitely a beginner!

How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.

I am currently on Etsy and I am finalizing my website for ecommerce. Etsy has provided a great opportunity because it’s a fully developed and integrated marketplace that offers everything from payment to shipping. In this sense it’s extremely easy to use especially for new businesses. However, in my case, I know that not all of my products can be sold on Etsy so this is my first attempt at diversifying the e-commerce side of my business keeping my Esty store for some smaller products like cushion covers made from reclaimed vintage rugs, and using my own website for vintage and antique rugs.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.intreccirugs.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intrecci_collection/
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/IntreccibyFrancesca

Image Credits
These are all my photos