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

Hi Zoey, thanks for joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

It has taken me months and years to perfect certain areas of my craft! There are still some insecurities that I have while flipping furniture and I’m sure that there will always be a little part of me that will have to face that. I hope to one day come to the point where I can be fully immersed in furniture and be fully confident in what I am doing. But, I have learned to be a better problem solver because there are so many issues and unexpected things that come up while refinishing! I am learning to becoming more confident in my abilities and to trust myself in the creative process.

The biggest obstacle that anyone faces in learning something new is overcoming one’s self. This includes fears, doubts, insecurities, etc. There will always be a part of you that is holding back but you just have to continue forward. The skill of listening to myself and keeping an open perspective has been the most essential. You will learn things along the way–there truly is no way of gaining refinishing skills without just DOING it–but the hardest part is just falling in love with that your doing no matter what doubts you or others may express.

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

I am Zoey Reade, owner of The Creative Zo. I am a furniture refinisher and custom furniture artist located in Salt Lake City, Utah. I’ve been doing furniture for a year and a half and I love it! I find vintage furniture and refinish it to make it modern and tasteful. About nine months ago I started custom orders and it is my favorite part of my business. I love being able to bring other’s vision to life and let my creativity flow. Some of my most favorite projects have been custom requests. Custom orders is what makes my business unique–I want to create something for YOU to enjoy and love. It is specific, intentional, and tailored to my clients! I also love how custom work has brought me closer to the community. I have met so many wholesome and wonderful people through this part of my business and I am excited to connect with many more!

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Shop small and think outside the box! When it comes to refinishing furniture, it is an investment. If you are able to, make the investment in something long-lasting, customizable, and sustainable. Rather than turning to cheap alternatives, many small businesses offer long-lasting quality and value.

Even if you aren’t able to make a purchase, use social media as a tool to bolster small businesses and creatives. If they have an Instagram follow it, interact with their feed. It is so easy to leave a comment or to share their video. That may help them reach their intended audience. There are small things you can do to help creatives showcase their work.

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

Towards the end of 2022, entering 2023 I was very unhappy. I had started a new job that was extremely boring and toxic. I had no room to breathe and I had no joy that was circulating in my life. I had little to no motivation to create because my job was really sucking everything I had from me. I turned to furniture flipping after watching Instagram reels and I was hooked! That was the pivotal moment for me. I was missing creativity in my life. After that, I quit my job to work part-time so I could focus on my business more. That was the most rewarding decision for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://msha.ke/thecreativezo
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecreativezo/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086442607211&sk=about

Image Credits
Personal portraits by Jenga Photography Furniture by The Creative Zo