3 minute read
Revived style
Airdrie Furniture Revival thrives in
new commercial space
STORY AND PHOTOS BY BRITTON LEDINGHAM
Jessie Heron has taken her business, Airdrie Furniture Revival, to new heights in the last few months since moving into a commercial space.
Since the pandemic, custom orders for furniture projects have quadrupled, and she started thinking about an acreage or commercial space. On Dec. 26, 2020, Heron saw a bay in King’s Heights go on the market, and she signed the lease in days. By March 20, she opened Airdrie Furniture Revival in the beautiful space with floor-to-ceiling east-facing windows in her storefront, and a large bay in the back to work in.
“Taking this step to move into a big space is scary, but there are ways to make it work,” says Heron, noting the extra cost was a challenge.
She had a renter who needed some of the back bay arranged to offset some of the cost of moving out of her home base. She ended up having to give that renter notice in May to regain some space
needed for her burgeoning business. She evaluated she needed the production space more than the cushion of rent revenue, and other creators have since approached her to use the space for making their wares.
“I’ve become like this little co-operative of allowing local makers to come in, sublease a small space … and then they sell their stuff in the store,” says Heron, noting this was unplanned, but has helped her business survive and thrive.
The artist has been creative with her business model. She has some local makers selling out of her store on consignment, and a couple creating in the back. She carries other handmade items in the store, including wares from her mom and brother, and is regularly reaching out to other small makers she wants to sell for, whether wholesale or on a consignment basis. Some local vendors work eight hours a week in the store in exchange for a reduced commission rate.
Heron built up a large customer base and social media following to support her since opening her homebased business in 2014.
“There’s no way I would have done this if I didn’t have such a following,” says Heron.
Her family moved into their second home about five years ago in Ravenswood, motivated by needing more space for the business. She was steadily rolling out rejuvenated furniture projects, custom pieces from her clients, orders picked from her inventory, or simply spec creations.
On May 1, she stopped offering orders from her inventory to allow more time to fulfill custom orders.
Customers have been giving Heron great feedback on Airdrie Furniture Revival, loving that the storefront changes stock and layout weekly.
Her biggest advice for other makers is to charge what they’re worth.
“When it comes to pricing and my makers ... I am super fiercely defensive of their pricing and what they make,” says Heron.
She works hard and is content.
“I actually really, really love what I do, so it’s hard to tear me away from it,” says Heron. “Whether it’s opening the store, whether it’s painting in the back, whether it’s reorganizing … I enjoy it.” life
Where Are Your Data Backups?
Specializing in Cyber Security for SME Starting from $79/Month for All Inclusive Support
1-867-888-HACK
support@dontgethacked.ca DontGetHacked.Ca
APPLY SOON!
COME TO AN INFO. NIGHT NOV. 4 & NOV. 23
BUILD YOUR BUSINESS
BLUEPRINT
SMARTstart is an entrepreneurial training program offering TOOLS, MENTORSHIP & BUSINESS PLANNING, designed & delivered right here in Airdrie.
It is for people with a business idea and owners who have been in business for less than three years.
