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

Alright, Tahwii thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. If you’re open to it, can you talk to us about the best (or worst) investment you’ve made. What’s the backstory and the relevant context behind why you made the investment

In all honesty I have a love hate relationship with technology, especially social media. I could go on and on about this, but to keep things short I choose to be more present especially as a mother of young children and I aim to keep things simple and live mindfully. As a result, for a few years I primarily used a “dumb phone” with an e-ink screen that could only make calls and text called the Light Phone II.

As I toyed with idea of opening an online home decor shop I realized I would need to streamline things and succumb to using a dreaded smartphone again and invested in an IPhone 13 Pro. This phone really allowed me to run the business from the palm of my hand, from fulfilling orders, to inventory management, providing a live chat experience on my site, uploading new products, creating quality content for social media, and even taking decent product images.

Fast forward two years later and I still use the phone daily to tackle work tasks, but have made the decision to no longer use social media personally or professionally. A huge perk of choosing entrepreneurship is that I get to make the rules and my rules dictate that I create a mindful and present life. At the moment, there is simply no space for social media in my life and I’ve never been happier about my decision.

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?

The art of pivoting is the true story of my life and I’m proud to say that spending real time exploring career paths has lead me to something I find truly meaningful as shop curator and owner of The Porter House Co. Every ounce of me desires a flexible lifestyle to have fulfilling work while also being present with my family.

The idea for the shop came about at another pivotal time in my life when we decided to make a big move out of state and opted to start from scratch decorating. As we settled in, my husband noticed how much I enjoyed finding pieces for our home and suggested I make a business out of it. For reference, I had previously owned an online shop selling eco-friendly baby & motherhood essentials, but chose to close the shop just before our move. We had been living in our new home for about two years and I was itching to pursue something outside of motherhood once again, the idea of this really fueled my soul and the rest is history.

At The Porterhouse Co. we believe our spaces should evoke the feeling of being collected over time, that a layer of vintage adds a richness that only history can provide, and our everyday housewares can be a harmonious balance of both sustainability and aesthetics.

We serve those who thrive amongst artful pieces and seek beauty at every turn, providing a growing selection of home decor, housewares, and in time loungewear on our website. Moreover, we work with professionals of the trade such as interior designers to offer them special pricing and curated services for their projects.

I always thought the best part of owning the shop was the thrill in finding new pieces, the hunt. As it turns out though, it’s the feedback we receive from customers and especially those who choose to shop with us over and over again. There’s nothing quite like knowing you’re helping someone create a beautiful sacred place they can retreat to from the world and all with sustainable pieces. It’s a harmonious process that I really can’t get enough of.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

How much time do you have? I seriously have pivoted a lot! Most recently, I pivoted from owning an online baby & motherhood shop to owning my current home decor shop, The Porter House Co.

The baby store really allowed me to have something of my own as I cared for my young son and eventually daughter. I was able to run the shop between naps, while baby wearing, or after they were down for the night. As exhausting as that sounds, it was the perfect outlet for me. I could be with my babies all day while jumping in and out of work when needed. Did I mention my children would not take bottles. So I was tethered to home either way.

After owning the shop for a few years I decided to close it. We were in the middle of making a big move out of state and our son would need to start schooling soon as we were choosing to homeschool. This all while Covid was unfolding before our eyes. It was a bittersweet departure as my days became completely consumed with being a full-time mom and teacher. It was important for me to be fully engaged with our children during this transition of moving and our new normal with the shutdowns as we settled in a new place on top of all that. During this time I learned a lot about myself and even pulled myself out of postpartum depression from giving birth to our daughter. It was a fresh start and the time was right to explore what was next.

I opened The Porter House Co. in October of 2022 with the support of my husband who witnessed all the joy I had when sourcing decor for our new home. The pieces really fell into place as I had so much previous knowledge on how to run an e-commerce business from my days as shop owner in the baby store. Everything about this switch was meaningful and right, the best pivot thus far.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I’m an avid reader of non-fiction books that aim to create real growth in an individuals life, I believe that every decision we make has an impact on all aspects of our lives especially work.

As an entrepreneur I carry the heavy load of wearing many hats and as a result it’s important to nourish my personal needs so that I can continue to happily run the business without burnout. The following books have really shaped my outlook on how to approach my daily decision making, philosophy on life, and overall well-being.

– Start with Why by Simon Sinek

– Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

– Effortless by Greg McKeown

– Gut Check by Dr. Steven R Gundry MD

– Glucose Revolution by Jessie Inchauspe

– You Need a Budget by Jesse Mecham

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theporterhouse.co
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theporterhouseco
• Other: https://linkpop.com/theporterhouseco