Today we’d like to introduce you to Abbe Dunn
Abbe, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Growing up, it was just my mom and I. Our favorite thing to do together was anything crafty: painting, coloring, redecorating. I carried with me my love for creating throughout my life, but when I entered the college era I focused on other things. Upon graduating with a BA in Communication Studies I muddled around in jobs that would just pay the bills. There was absolutely nothing that I enjoyed about Corporate America, or working for “the man”. I stuck with it for a while thinking that what I felt must be what everyone feels. But you just grind through every day because that is what we have to do to survive. Then, I got pregnant. Shortly after, married. I ended up being a stay at home mom for the first two years of our son’s life. This is where I rediscovered myself & my love for creating. I began refinishing furniture on the side-during nap time. Just some extra “mommy” money. Truthfully, I didn’t even do it for the money. I did it because of the way spreading paint with a paint brush made me feel while listening to a true-crime podcast. It was the exact food for my soul that I needed.
My husband lost his job. He was denied unemployment, and we didn’t know what to do next. My side gig wasn’t going to pay the bills. A job at Target, or Starbucks, or Walmart wasn’t going to pay the bills. If we both got a job, one of us would be strictly working to pay for daycare. We were stuck. Not knowing which was up, or how we were going to pay next month’s bills. And then, as quickly as we were thrust into this situation, an idea floated through my head. Craft classes. What if we did craft classes? We can turn the garage into a workshop. People will come, we will provide all the materials, and I will teach them how to make everything fabulous that they have seen on Pinterest. I thought if we could at least pay our student loans every month with this idea then we would be doing well. I posted the idea on a few local Facebook pages to gauge interest. Within 1 month we had 1,000 people in our group on social media. All of our classes were full. Our garage was packed every Friday and Saturday night. Thus, Abbe Chic (like shabby chic) was born. Abbe Chic has employed both my husband and I, full time for the last 2.5 years. God had blessed us in a way that we didn’t even think possible.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The pandemic created a pretty large issue for us. Our business thrived upon having people in our home. In our workshop. In our personal bubble. Well, when Coronavirus hit… that was obviously no longer an option. Once again, we were faced with adversity. But pressure creates diamonds. What about craft KITS? We could do what we do in the garage, but make it “to-go”. Each kit includes everything you need for that particular project, from detailed instructions, to paint & a paint brush, and everything in-between.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Over the last two years our Abbe Chic has evolved into much more than just craft classes. We of course still do craft classes (for both adults & kids), birthday parties, bachelorette parties, craft kits, all kinds of customized signs, custom t-shirts, custom cornhole boards, furniture refinishing, other custom wood projects, interior design, and home improvements… just to name a few.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
With people being home because of the current state of our world, they are focusing more on housing projects, interior design, spending time with their kids, filling time that they did not have before. At Abbe Chic we can fill all of the needs.
Contact Info:
- Email: abbechic@gmail.com
- Website: www.abbe-chic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbechic/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AbbeChic
Suggest a Story: VoyageAustin is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
TRACY
February 10, 2021 at 12:00 am
LOVE this couple, their business and their creativity! They are unique and so much fun to be around. They care about their clients and their community. Would highly recommend them for any or all of Abbe Chic’s endeavors!