We recently connected with TRACEY HUGUNIN and have shared our conversation below.

TRACEY, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Growing up I watched my father provide for our family by owning his own businesses. My father worked as a handy-man, piano tuner, a cabinet builder, and he would buy and flip houses. My father was the strongest man I have ever known. I admired his work ethic. He worked hard to make quality furniture and beautiful homes. He loved the instant reward of building with his hands or remodeling a home that had been neglected. I am the middle child of 5 children, and we all learned his trade from him. We all value quality craftsmanship and a beautiful home. I am thankful that my life has brought me to a point that I can use my hands and create one-of-a-kind pieces that compliment your home. I love that my lamps can bring years of warmth to your home and makes for a good conversation piece with your guests. My mission is to provide high quality industrial lamps, furniture and home décor for your home while fulfilling my dream of owning my own business and providing for my family the way my father did for us.

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 Tracey Hugunin. I was born and raised in Kansas City Missouri. My wife Alexandria and I live in Independence with our 3 dogs Scout, Atticus, and Dinkie. My wife was working from home and wanted a table that would slide under the couch and come closer to her. When I found the table she was wanting, I knew I could make it. I got the material, made it and loved every minute of it. Once my family and friends saw the table, they started ordering them and I found myself hooked. I wanted to make more and expanded to making lamps from metal pipes. I like combining the textures of wood and metal. That is already how my wife and I decorate. I found myself creating so much that my friends and family encouraged me to find a business that I could have a booth in and sell my work. In the last year I have had a booth in the West Bottoms and now I have a booth in KC Style Haus on the Country Club Plaza. I have also had my products in 17 shows this year and have had a blast working those. My sister works all the shows with me and we have so much fun! Every vendor that we meet at these events is encouraging and so generous with their knowledge and experiences in this industry. I have learned something from each show and every vendor we have met. I value their experience and we connect over mutual passion to create and share it with people.

In early 2021, I was let go from my job where I had spent 19 years. They dissolved my department and I found myself searching for what was next. As hard as that was for me, it freed my mind enough to let the creative entrepreneur out. When I was working 10-12 hour days I never had the headspace to envision being a creator and being my own boss. I am so thankful now that my position was dissolved because I have been able to take all my focus, work ethic, dedication and passion and put it into something I can build for myself and my family. I have worked since I was 15 and I witnessed hard work with both my parents my whole life. That has shaped me into who I am today and I feel like this is the path I am meant to be on right now.

I sell industrial black pipe lamps, charcuterie boards with burned in sayings, noodle boards, trays, sports signs, KC signs and custom work. I also like to build furniture from wood and black metal pipes. I recently started making things from whiskey barrel heads and whiskey staves. I also make pen holders that have gauges and spickets on them for someone’s desk.

Most people that buy my items are buying for someone else. My items are perfect for the hard to buy for person. I love to personalize gifts and make one-of-a-kind treasures. When people are remodeling offices, mancaves and living rooms, they love my furniture and lamps.

I think what sets me apart from others is that I use great quality wood and I treat each piece of metal piping individually so it wont rust. I never leave a piece unfinished. The fronts and the backs of all pieces will be stained, and a protective coating added. I take pride in each piece that I make. I want to do this for many years to come and I believe that will happen if I make quality pieces. I want people to enjoy what I make for many years and take pride in it like I do.

I am most proud of my lamps. I name each lamp after it is created. I name it something that mirrors its stature and presence. Many of the names are related to events or people that have been part of my life. I love creating a piece and seeing other people appreciate it and like it as much as I do.

I want followers to know that I am passionate and driven to making my lamps and furniture. I am living a dream right now with owning my own business. I want them to know that I am learning and growing with every piece and every customer interaction. Not one day has gone by since I started this that I have not learned something new or taken a different perspective on something that has helped me in my business. I am flexible and open to change, and growth and I hope that one day my work will be more mainstream and available to people.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I think that the biggest change for me came when I decided to start working vendor shows. My sister and I have always been close, she has been a great sounding board for my ideas, and she tends to help push me when I need encouragement. She found a vendor show in early 2022, reached out to them at the last minute and we were lucky enough to get a spot. It was such an amazing experience and we learned from every vendor we interacted with that weekend. Since then, we have done another 16 shows and we have been able to figure out my target audience. I have been able to tailor my pieces around what people are requesting and buying. This was a game changer for me with my business.

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

My website is almost up and running. In the meantime I sell on Etsy and in which I have consistent orders. I think that Etsy has been better for my items then other sites/social media that I have found.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thug-technique.square.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thugtechnique
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thug.technique