It is not often that an individual is able to say that every single variable in a situation comes together perfectly for their success. When these moments do happen, it can lead to some of the most enriching and successful business endeavors that someone can experience. In one of the most unexpected ways and at one of the most unexpected times in my life, I was fortunate enough to have a situation arise that has provided an outlet for me to truly become my own boss.
In the Fall of 2019, I could feel that being on campus at TROY was not the best option for me. I was beginning to experience severe homesickness, battling bouts of anxiety and depression, among other things. As such, I decided to move home. It just so happened that a family friend was starting a business; Repurposed Heart Wood, which makes raw wood material as well as custom wood products by using recycled wood from the urban forest of Birmingham, Alabama. My friend had just opened a store in the Riverchase Galleria and needed someone with retail experience to assist him in the overseeing of the business as well as making a strategy for the sale and distribution of online products. Seeing an opportunity to both help a friend out and gain valuable experience, I decided to step in.
What I thought would be a simple job has turned into something much more. As I moved into my role as store manager, sales began to dramatically increase. In addition to this, the company was able to purchase multiple pieces of equipment to expand their range of services for consumers. I was seeing my work pay off in front of my eyes. After a few weeks of profitability and a revitalization to the Riverchase location, I was officially offered a partnership position in the new fledgling company, giving me the opportunity to truly have a stake in the company. Of course, I happily accepted.
This year might be the biggest one of my life. I am looking forward to building both the store and the company in order to ensure that Repurposed Heart Wood can be successful in every way possible. It is my hope that I can stay with this company for the rest of my working career and build a line of products and services that are unique within both the retail market as well as the reclaimed wood market.
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