We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sara Fredkin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sara below.

Sara, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Taking care of customers isn’t just good business – it is often one of the main reasons folks went into business in the first place. So, we’d love to get a conversation going around how to best help clients feel appreciated – maybe you can share something you’ve done or seen someone do that’s been really effective at helping a customer feel valued?

I grew up in the retail world, working for large corporate companies. When I first started, an old manager of mine said to me “The customer is always right! If they need something, just make it happen.” From that day forward, that is how I operated. My customers mean the world to me! So even now, owning my own business, that statement still rings true. I love being able to help in any way I can…from replacing damaged items to special ordering pieces they are looking for. I think my favorite example was when I had someone reach out about an olive wood spatula that had drastically discolored after it was washed. I quickly offered up some care suggestions to help her out, however nothing was working to get it back in shape. I offered to send a replacement and included an olive wood spoon in the shipment to help her build her collection, and extended my apologies for her trouble. She was so appreciative and taken aback by my solution! She even messaged me months later thanking me again and sending me pictures of her utensils in action. That to me is what is important….ensuring my customers are happy and taken care of at all times!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Sara, and I started Wilde Home almost 3 years ago. Wilde Home is a curated collection of home decor pieces designed to elevate your everyday. Our collections consist of minimalist and timeless pieces that allow our guests to build the foundation of their home, and then layer from there. All of our pieces are grounded in a neutral color palette, with key colors and trends introduced seasonally to complete each collection.

Prior to opening my shop, I worked in retail for large corporations as a Regional Visual Manager. I traveled most of the time, as I oversaw multiple states, and never felt I was able to slow down. My dream was always to open up a shop, and as the pandemic was still looming over us, and traveling continued to wear on me, I decided it was a good time to finally follow my dream, and open the shop I always wanted! I started online first and quickly started popping up at markets around Columbus, OH. I currently just opened a shop/showroom in Franklin Park, where customers can come shop by appointment. We even just hosted our first shopping party in the space!

Wilde Home is my way of bringing brands I love together in one shop, so guests don’t have to go to multiple stores or websites to find the perfect pieces they are looking for. We can also fit into any decorating aesthetic, thanks to the timeless design of our pieces and the neutral color palette we stay true to. Whether you are looking for pillows, blankets, candles, vases, or kitchen utensils and essentials, we’ve got them!

Throughout the years, I have also met so many incredible makers and designers right here in Columbus, and around the U.S. The small business community is so special to me, and I work to incorporate other businesses’ work into Wilde Home or join them for collaborations whenever possible. We carry many custom pieces, created just for Wilde Home, by local artists and makers, and we work with other local businesses in the area on giveaways, photoshoots, events, design work, and more.

I’m so proud of what Wilde Home offers and I love being able to spend time with my customers to help them find the perfect pieces for their homes! At Wilde Home, we hope to inspire our guests to be themselves and get a little WILDE with their home!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I opened Wilde Home, I was working in retail as a Regional Visual Manager, with about 15 states and the expectation of traveling most of the week. In order to follow my dream, I decided to leave retail and move into marketing. I still needed the income, but didn’t want to travel! I’ve continued to work full-time on top of running Wilde Home for the past 3 years. It’s not always easy, but it’s fulfilling. I love my shop, and will continue to do what I need to do to continue to grow and evolve!

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I am so grateful for the small business community here in Columbus, and the incredible customers I have not only here, but around the US! Community means everything to me, and it’s important to me to help promote and lift up others whenever I have the opportunity to. I am always willing to do what I can to support this community, whether it’s helping or giving advice when someone asks, joining in on a collaboration project, inviting other businesses into my photoshoots, or sharing the work of others I admire! We are all in this together, and there is room for ALL of us! I once had someone asking for advice on markets at the start of her journey tell me she couldn’t believe how willing I was to share all that I’ve learned with her, especially since she was technically my “competition”. I would always rather be known as someone who lifted a fellow business owner up, rather than someone who stood alone.

Contact Info:

• Website: wildehomedecor.com
• Instagram: @wilde.home.decor

Image Credits
Ramsey Baker Photography