Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kristina Molinaro, Co-Founder of Twenty Five and Pine, located in Dayton, OH, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We're self-taught woodworkers who built a furniture business through trial and error. We design all of our furniture and templates, whether you are looking for a fully assembled piece of furniture or if you love DIY projects and want to make a piece of furniture yourself.
Tell us about yourself
In 2020, I decided to take the risk and start a business as I had always dreamed of doing. We started building up our woodworking business and eventually settled on making furniture. Our mission is to create modern furniture that doesn't have to be replaced with each interior design update or every time you decide to redecorate. Each piece was inspired by someone's need for that specific design. Once we started posting on TikTok, people were asking about our designs, and we just launched new furniture templates for DIY-ers and woodworkers to make their own furniture with our designs.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Making our business my full-time job! When I quit a full-time job to do our business full-time, we didn't have much of a plan or any proven success. So now, almost three years later, we work in a commercial woodshop. Our business has continued to grow, we have full support from our customers, and we love what we do! I have also started a podcast, The Doers Do Podcast, with someone that I met on TikTok to teach other new creative business owners how to run a business.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Managing my time and schedule. I love working for myself because I can be flexible with my time. However, I work way too many hours and have a hard time working less.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Go start listening to the podcast! We also have built a community on TikTok and Facebook for other small business owners.
- Go for it! It's never going to be the right time to start a business, so stop making excuses and trust yourself.
- Not every day is going to be easy. As an entrepreneur, especially if you're doing it on your own, you are responsible for every aspect of the business.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://twentyfiveandpine.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twentyfiveandpine
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twentyfiveandpine/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@twentyfiveandpine
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.