Upcycled Furniture and Home Decor
A$100
of $7,000 targetyrs ago
Closed on 5th Jul 2014 at 6:21AM.
I believe that our home reflects who we are and is directly connected to our well being. My dream is to open a furniture and home decor shop in Newcastle, Australia where I can have a workshop and a showroom to upcycle secondhand furniture and home decor to create unique, affordable and eco-friendly pieces for people's homes. I would also like to exhibit and sell art by local Newcastle artists and photographers.
I love vintage, rustic and french provincial furniture and home decor. I believe that unique pieces which have been carefully restored or upcycled is no match for mass produced furniture.
I love the process of creative transformation which comes from restoring, painting, re-upholstering and upcycling secondhand pieces of furniture into stunning and uniquely designed pieces. Although time-consuming, it is extremely rewarding to have a one-off beautiful piece of furniture which tells a story.
Throughout my life, creativity has been a constant thread; taking me from being an actor to a male nanny ( kids are the best teachers of all when it comes to creativity) to a gardener, to a writer and up to restoring furniture.
At the age of 33, my winding path has finally hit the open road and I suppose it was in front of me the whole time because it will be following in my dad's footsteps, who brought his knowledge from Switzerland and France when he immigrated to Australia to design and make french provincial furniture. Watching him work as a child and receiving my first wood working bench at an early age, has now re-inspired me to follow his path.
WHAT I HAVE DONE SO FAR
I have spent the last year creating a business plan to open a shop/showroom in Newcastle, Australia, with a workshop attached so I can create unique furniture and home decor to sell at an affordable price. The pieces will aim to provide a touch of originality to people's homes as an alternative to the mass produced furniture, which we see so much of today.
I have designed a website, a work in progress, which can we viewed at www.interiorwise.com.au
I have bought furniture to upcycle (although I still need to buy a lot more). On a trip to Paris, I have also found some amazing home decor items and original vintage botanical prints at markets which I will frame myself.
I have secured finance for a rent-to-buy large van, which is a must, because I want to offer free delivery as part of my service.
WHY I NEED YOUR HELP
I have been surprised at how costly starting a new business for the first time can be. I have been lucky to receive a loan from family of $15,000, but to get this new business off the ground I need another $7,000. I will offer first choice of my first products and creations to those who have kindly helped to make this happen. Those living further away, will be able to choose smaller items online if they cannot redeem their voucher by coming in-store.
I love vintage, rustic and french provincial furniture and home decor. I believe that unique pieces which have been carefully restored or upcycled is no match for mass produced furniture.
I love the process of creative transformation which comes from restoring, painting, re-upholstering and upcycling secondhand pieces of furniture into stunning and uniquely designed pieces. Although time-consuming, it is extremely rewarding to have a one-off beautiful piece of furniture which tells a story.
Throughout my life, creativity has been a constant thread; taking me from being an actor to a male nanny ( kids are the best teachers of all when it comes to creativity) to a gardener, to a writer and up to restoring furniture.
At the age of 33, my winding path has finally hit the open road and I suppose it was in front of me the whole time because it will be following in my dad's footsteps, who brought his knowledge from Switzerland and France when he immigrated to Australia to design and make french provincial furniture. Watching him work as a child and receiving my first wood working bench at an early age, has now re-inspired me to follow his path.
WHAT I HAVE DONE SO FAR
I have spent the last year creating a business plan to open a shop/showroom in Newcastle, Australia, with a workshop attached so I can create unique furniture and home decor to sell at an affordable price. The pieces will aim to provide a touch of originality to people's homes as an alternative to the mass produced furniture, which we see so much of today.
I have designed a website, a work in progress, which can we viewed at www.interiorwise.com.au
I have bought furniture to upcycle (although I still need to buy a lot more). On a trip to Paris, I have also found some amazing home decor items and original vintage botanical prints at markets which I will frame myself.
I have secured finance for a rent-to-buy large van, which is a must, because I want to offer free delivery as part of my service.
WHY I NEED YOUR HELP
I have been surprised at how costly starting a new business for the first time can be. I have been lucky to receive a loan from family of $15,000, but to get this new business off the ground I need another $7,000. I will offer first choice of my first products and creations to those who have kindly helped to make this happen. Those living further away, will be able to choose smaller items online if they cannot redeem their voucher by coming in-store.
How The Funds Will Be Used
The $7,000 I am hoping to raise, will be the final step to get this business off the ground. It will be spent on:
~ $1,500 for tools, vanishes/stains and paints for upcycling, restoring or repairing furniture
~ $1,500 for preparing the shop eg. stationary, printer, lights, shop signage and a hanging system for artworks ( I hope to support local artists in Newcastle by exhibiting their work).
~ $ 4,000 for bond and rent in advance for a showroom with a small workshop attached in Newcastle. This will be the most important aspect of your funding help and paying the rent in advance, while not only being compulsory, will create a safety buffer while the business finds its first customers.
The $15,000 I have already been loaned (and some of this has already been spent towards the business) will go towards:
~ logo design, website hosting and business cards $500
~ Van finance deposit $500
~Start-up advertising campaign $ 2,000
~ Furniture & home decor items purchase $ 9,000
~ Additional rent & bond of $3,000
~ $1,500 for tools, vanishes/stains and paints for upcycling, restoring or repairing furniture
~ $1,500 for preparing the shop eg. stationary, printer, lights, shop signage and a hanging system for artworks ( I hope to support local artists in Newcastle by exhibiting their work).
~ $ 4,000 for bond and rent in advance for a showroom with a small workshop attached in Newcastle. This will be the most important aspect of your funding help and paying the rent in advance, while not only being compulsory, will create a safety buffer while the business finds its first customers.
The $15,000 I have already been loaned (and some of this has already been spent towards the business) will go towards:
~ logo design, website hosting and business cards $500
~ Van finance deposit $500
~Start-up advertising campaign $ 2,000
~ Furniture & home decor items purchase $ 9,000
~ Additional rent & bond of $3,000
The Challenges
~ Finding a showroom large enough within my budget, to not only have a workshop space, but enough space to display furniture and home decor as well as showcasing local artists.
~ Finding the right methods of advertising to inform people to where I am located.
~ I would like to offer free furniture delivery and I hope that this will be financially viable.
~ Finding the right methods of advertising to inform people to where I am located.
~ I would like to offer free furniture delivery and I hope that this will be financially viable.
$20 Interiorwise store voucher for the Newcastle showroom (which will open no later than October 2014) or to order with online (there may be additional Australia Post costs for online orders). The voucher can be used for any products including furniture, home decor, art & jewellery. Your voucher will be valid for 12 months and will be posted to you 2 weeks after project end date.
0 chosen
Est. delivery is Oct 14
$35 Interiorwise store voucher for the Newcastle showroom (which will open no later than October 2014) or to order with online (there may be additional Australia Post costs for online orders). The voucher can be used for any products including furniture, home decor, art & jewellery. Your voucher will be valid for 12 months and will be posted to you 2 weeks after project end date.
0 chosen
Est. delivery is Oct 14
$50 Interiorwise store voucher for the Newcastle showroom (which will open no later than October 2014) or to order with online (there may be additional Australia Post costs for online orders). The voucher can be used for any products including furniture, home decor, art & jewellery. Your voucher will be valid for 12 months and will be posted to you 2 weeks after project end date.
0 chosen
Est. delivery is Oct 14
$75 Interiorwise store voucher for the Newcastle showroom (which will open no later than October 2014) or to order with online (there may be additional Australia Post costs for online orders). The voucher can be used for any products including furniture, home decor, art & jewellery. Your voucher will be valid for 12 months and will be posted to you 2 weeks after project end date.
0 chosen
Est. delivery is Oct 14
$100 Interiorwise store voucher for the Newcastle showroom (which will open no later than October 2014) or to order with online (there may be additional Australia Post costs for online orders). The voucher can be used for any products including furniture, home decor, art & jewellery. Your voucher will be valid for 12 months and will be posted to you 2 weeks after project end date.
1 chosen
Est. delivery is Oct 14
A sterling silver Australian Opal pendant including a sterling silver chain, PLUS a $200 Interiorwise store voucher for the Newcastle showroom (which will open no later than October 2014) or to order with online (there may be additional Australia Post costs for online orders). The voucher can be used for any products including furniture, home decor, art & jewellery. Your voucher will be valid for 12 months and will be posted to you 2 weeks after project end date.
0 chosen
Est. delivery is Oct 14
* Your name or business (with logo) thanked as a sponsor on the Interiorwise website for 12 weeks. * One sterling silver Australian Opal pendant including a sterling silver chain. * $500 Interiorwise store voucher for the Newcastle showroom or to order with online (additional postage costs apply). The voucher can be used for any products including furniture, home decor, art & jewellery. Your voucher will be valid for 12 months and will be posted to you 2 weeks after project end date.
0 chosen
Est. delivery is Oct 14
* Your name or business (with logo) thanked as a sponsor on the Interiorwise website for 12 weeks. * One sterling silver Australian Opal pendant including a sterling silver chain. * $1000 Interiorwise store voucher for the Newcastle showroom or to order with online (additional postage costs apply). The voucher can be used for any products including furniture, home decor, art & jewellery. Your voucher will be valid for 12 months and will be posted to you 2 weeks after project end date.
0 chosen
Est. delivery is Oct 14