Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Zentveld.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started the business out of the shear necessity to create. I never went to college, after high school it was too hard to decide what I wanted to be when I grew up so I sang in a few a blues bands, dabbled a little as a waitress and worked retail for 15 or so years. I was lucky to work for some small, local businesses in Old Town Fort Collins and in retail, I learned that merchandising was in my blood and I loved it! I was always given the freedom to make displays and vignettes and even re-merchandise the whole store if I felt the need. I learned so much and it was a really great time in my life until I lost my amazing job in 2009. The store I was working in closed and desperate, I took a desk job in healthcare. It was supposed to be temporary and I didn’t think I would last long because I was so out of my element but the salary was incredible so I decided to stick it out for a while.
After a few years, I was comfortable and actually pretty good at my job. However, working in the corporate world was stressful and being a creative by nature I needed an outlet. I saw a picture of a birdhouse made from an old, vintage book so I thought I’d make one. I headed to the flea market for some books and had my dad cut me some wooden birdhouses. I took out the pages and decoupaged them on the house and used the book cover for the roof. They were amazing! After everyone got a birdhouse for Christmas or a birthday, I didn’t know what to do with them so my mom suggested a market. I did a French Nest in 2012 and was hooked! It was like my own little retail store!
Now, that the creative juices were flowing, I thought I’d try my hand at screen printing. I know, weird transition but being self-taught in graphic design for my past and current job, I thought it might be fun so I started with tea towels. There was so much trial and error. I met a local screen printer with a booming business and he gave me some tips. Good thing too because I had more messed up tea towels than I could count. I started screen printing baby Onesies and pillows and just about anything I could get my hands on. Still working 9-5, I would use up my weekends to screen print and make birdhouses and do a couple of markets a year. I would actually use my PTO for the week prior to a market so I could crank out product and get all of my displays ready. That was the best part – the merchandising! This is when my business started to take shape.
Has it been a smooth road?
I knew I was meant for more than just being stressed out at a job just to get a paycheck and feeling like I was losing my soul a little more every day. I’ve always struggled with anxiety but over the years, it got worse. My music career was long gone, my health was suffering and I didn’t like the person I’d become. I had been unhappy at my job for a long time and I always thought things would get better or I’d make a plan and find another job that would be fulfilling but after 10 years, that never happened so I decided to leave the corporate world behind and start fresh. It was a really scary decision because I’d never left a job without some kind of safety net. I had absolutely no plan but with the support of my family and friends, I knew the plan would somehow present itself.
I took a couple of months to relax and regroup and not having to get up and go to work was awesome. This down time really allowed me to dive in to being creative. I also knew that I had to start making some sort of income so I decided I would sell my goods at markets and signed up for every market I could. It wasn’t a long term plan, I thought I would just do this for a while and then look for a job but I was actually making money at these markets. Maybe I could make a go at this full time so I jumped in!
Now I thought life would be a breeze but running a small business is hard work. Doing markets full time is not easy but it is the most exciting job I’ve ever had. There is no time clock but I still have to be accountable. There is no boss to answer to but there are deadlines. I still struggle with anxiety and being self-employed has really allowed me to deal with it on a whole new level.
Anxiety along with health issues is hard no matter what job you have or don’t have. Some days it’s hard to just get out of bed but I get up, show up and do my best. Some days, I can’t wait to get up and hustle and other days, I just lay by the pool and know I’ll do better tomorrow.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Silver Bird Creations story. Tell us more about the business.
I specialize in vintage-inspired new and re-purposed goods and apparel. I’ve always been somewhat of a ‘thrifter’ and being able to incorporate that in my business is a win-win. I love taking something old and used and making it brand new again. I find flannel shirts and t-shirts to distress and bleach. Yes, I hand bleach just about anything I can get my hands on, then I screen-print them. Most of my graphics are motivating and inspiring because not only do I want to share my creations with the world, I want to share positivity. Then again, some of my graphics are snarky and let’s face it, we all need a little humor as well.
I’m proud of all of my products but my candles are at the top of the list. A few years ago I started printing my designs on mugs and while I really loved this idea, I still felt the need to make them extra, so with tons of research and experimentation, the camping mug candle was born. Soy wax with hemp wicks makes them clean burning and the fragrances that I come up with are sometimes by accident. My most accomplished scents are Campfire and Whiskey but I especially love the fruity scents like Watermelon Vanilla and Pomegranate Lemon. The candle comes in an enamel camping mug with graphics that will either lift you up or make you laugh.
I’m not sure there is anyone thing that sets me apart other than who I am, where I’ve been and how I interact with people. I’m not much of a salesperson but I do love to socialize! Whether it’s a distressed, second-hand flannel, or a brand new, hand-bleached t-shirt, I’m always making new products and designs to keep things fresh and new. Markets are huge and there are so many amazing things that people can spend their money on so if they pick me, it’s like a little high five from the universe!
If you had to start over, what would you do differently?
I’m not sure that I would do anything different. Maybe learn a little more about running an actual business like taxes, licenses, etc. but everything in my life has led me to this point. Every day, I’m learning something new in business and about myself and I think I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. I’m excited for the direction of my little business and hope I can continue to create for as long as possible!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.silverbirdcreations.net/home.html
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silverbirdcreations/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/SilverBirdCreations/
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