Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Spickard.
Hi Jamie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my business as a DIY’er, antique/vintage store long before I opened. My love for making things started when I was younger and watching and helping my grandfather make items to sell at local flea markets. That is also where my love for old things started. Furniture painting started when my oldest daughter was heading to college and needed some items for her dorm room. We took on the task of taking classes in Georgia, where Annie Sloan paint was available. Once I realized what could be done, my mind took over and hasn’t stopped. I started doing DIY classes at family and friend’s homes, and once I could not fit everything in my vehicle, I decided I needed to open a storefront and open it to the public. A few months after we moved, Covid hit, and we were shut down for several months. My sister Cynthia was helping then, and we knew we had to improvise to stay in business. We grew so fast that we needed to expand into a larger building, move everything, and open a vintage/antique resale store. We already had a large following, so we offered DIY kits for our customers at home. Since all the kiddos were also home, this was a huge hit for them to do.
Fast forward to today, We still offer DIY kits but have moved more to the retail aspect. We are custom painting furniture and turning items that would normally be thrown away into something to be loved for many more years. In addition to furniture, antiques, and vintage items, we are the retailer for several paint companies, such as Dixie Bell Paint, Farmhouse Paint, Rethunk Junk Paint, and our local paint warehouse, Lilly Moon Paint. We are retailers for Tyler Candle Co, a few boutique items, and new home decor. We have an eclectic selection of retail items.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
We are still dealing with shipping issues and the increased shipping costs of our new items. The economy has shown us that we must continue to evolve in our business and change how customers shop. So pivoting our business by adding a website along with our retail location. When Covid hit, everything was closed, and people were not going out as much. So being a small local business has been a challenge, but our loyal customers, prayers, and faith keep us going, and things will return to normal.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your business.
Rusty Cottage offers furniture painting classes that include beginner to more advanced painters. We are happy to help our customers and clients with all their questions concerning decorating their homes, paint color choices, and the type of paint for the DIY’er. We also paint furniture for our clients if they avoid taking on the task.
How do you define success?
Success means that I have met my goals for my customers by making them happy with my work and giving them what they want and need in a shopping environment.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rustycottagetn.com
- Instagram: @rustycottagetn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rustycottagetn
