The Revivals Story.
In 2009, I sold my first ever piece of furniture.
When I reached the age of 15 and began to drive, it was time for me to get a job. After working that summer as a cook for the local baseball diamond, I quickly decided a typical hourly job just wasn't for me. But growing up in a family business environment, and with their support, I knew that creating my own business was easily an option. I have been an artist since birth, and later that summer I began selling paintings, and soon furniture, locally in Nashua, Iowa at 'The Vines', a now-closed thrift and vendor shop. The year was 2010, and this was the time that social media was really taking off. At age 16, with my full license, and by borrowing my dad's old truck, I began selling furniture locally in Facebook groups and delivering to customers. During this time, I quickly met many of my longtime customers! That same year, I began my full time partnership with Renewed Purpose in Waverly, Iowa. I would pick up old, damaged furniture from estate sales through Ann's Liquidation and bring it back to life, then placing it in the store. This, along with attending dozens of local markets per year, turned Revivals into the business it is now. In 2012, with the formal foundation of my LLC, the name Revivals Furniture Co. was born. That year, I graduated high school early and purchased my own truck: a 1985 Chevy Silverado from Community Motors in Waterloo, Iowa. That truck hauled easily hundreds of loads of furniture back and forth. |
In 2013, I made the move to Fayette, Iowa to pursue my degree in Fine Art, Graphic Design, and Arts Administration at Upper Iowa University. Revivals was still my full time career, as I just couldn't stay out of the shop, driving from Fayette, Iowa to Ionia, Iowa three or four times a week to work. I expanded Revivals even more, including selling pieces in the summer of 2014 at Makers Market in Sumner, Iowa as well as Renewed Purpose in Waverly, Iowa.
2015 came along, and I met my incredible now-husband, Wayne Adams. We both shared the love and drive of our work and careers. Wayne is a full time carpenter, and owns his own company, Adams Construction. Together, from our third date onward, we worked towards building our beautiful home (a corncrib turned into a house) together on our century farm in Arlington, Iowa where we now live with our beloved fur kids, Lindy the cat and Remy the coonhound.
2015 came along, and I met my incredible now-husband, Wayne Adams. We both shared the love and drive of our work and careers. Wayne is a full time carpenter, and owns his own company, Adams Construction. Together, from our third date onward, we worked towards building our beautiful home (a corncrib turned into a house) together on our century farm in Arlington, Iowa where we now live with our beloved fur kids, Lindy the cat and Remy the coonhound.
Today, I live a double life as the Creative Lead at Kendrick Forest Products in Edgewood, Iowa, as well as working endlessly in the shop at home selling exclusively on our Revivals Furniture Co. Facebook page. 2023 is bringing big plans, including the completion of a lifelong dream: a workshop and retail store for Revivals. I want to take a moment and thank everyone who I've met along this journey and all of those who continue to support my love and mission to refinish and build pieces for your homes all across Iowa.
In early 2023, Revivals Furniture Co. will be opening in Strawberry Point, Iowa.
In early 2023, Revivals Furniture Co. will be opening in Strawberry Point, Iowa.