Faith in Action: From Kicker to Picker (Part 2 of 2)
This blog tells the story of how my husband and I built a new business together, completely outside of our wheelhouse, simply by putting our faith in action.
[Part 2 of 2]
New Horizons “In Store”
Raising our kids while running our booth (along with my growing essential oils business) kept my husband and me very busy. Craig was building more and more furniture, and I was doing the booth styling and seasonal decor. Friends kept telling Craig that he needed to meet another furniture builder named Rick. We had a lot of mutual friends between our families, and when our circles finally crossed, a partnership was born between two guys who like to build furniture: one named Craig and one named Rick, both born in ‘71. Our Hen House Co-Op booth Craig and I had run together graduated to our CR-71 partnership store which opened in Franklin, TN in 2014. It included a workshop warehouse where Craig and Rick built many of the furniture items.
Our store was also used as a set for shooting music videos, conducting television interviews, and renting furniture for celebrity photo shoots and music events. We've been told there is even a custom sign from our store (made by HOUSE OF BELONGING and framed with reclaimed trim by Craig and Rick) now in the home of Chip and Joanna Gaines (pictured below). How cool is THAT?!
WHEN to “Say When”
Looking back on our five-year journey of new ideas becoming new interests — then new interests becoming new ventures — I’m reminded of a favorite quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:
“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”
When Craig and I both took action on our new interests, that’s when we put faith in motion.
When God brought Melissa into our life, that’s when He used her light of encouragement to shine on a pathway of potential we didn’t know we had.
When Melissa encouraged us to start a booth, that’s when we put more faith-in-action...creating more traction!
Our accelerated traction took us to fun and unique places we never thought we’d go. First with our booth… then with our store…5 years of faith in action stretching us into new horizons.
Then… there came a time when our gut was telling us WHEN to “Say When” this leg of our "Kicker-Picker" journey was coming to an end. While our business had grown significantly, so had the quantity of custom furniture orders that were taking a physical toll on Craig’s football-worn body. We came to the realization that this time, taking action meant putting our faith in the action of calling it quits. In early 2018, we made the decision to pass the furniture building and store ownership on to Rick to continue as sole proprietor. We’re grateful for the great memories!
reSOURCEs:
Steve Azar Podcast: In A Mississippi Minute with Craig Hentrich
CR-71 store: https://www.facebook.com/CR71store/