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Shanna Massey: Disney Trips & Blue Bell— The Financial Freedom Found In Entrepreneurship
APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY From hustling on the playground selling plastic lanyard string to selling her own Shanna Banana Jewelry line while working her way through PT school, Shanna Massey, owner of Vintage Rugs by the Bay, always carried the heart & soul of an entrepreneur. Why buy one thing when you could buy a few extra […]
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APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY
From hustling on the playground selling plastic lanyard string to selling her own Shanna Banana Jewelry line while working her way through PT school, Shanna Massey, owner of Vintage Rugs by the Bay, always carried the heart & soul of an entrepreneur. Why buy one thing when you could buy a few extra & sell the rest? If you’re an entrepreneur I’m sure you can relate.
While building her family’s dream home, Shanna jumped on the wild idea to order a few extra vintage turkish rugs. Fast forward to today, and she’s surpassed 6 figures in sales with a business that shows no signs of slowing down. In this conversation they discuss investing in inventory, manufacturing, leaving a full-time position, maintaining boundaries, & the financial freedom found in entrepreneurship. Hello disney trips & taking the camp kids out for ice cream.
Buckle up for this Shanna squared episode, it’s a fun one. Press play for the full interview or keep reading below!
In this Episode:
Hustling on the playground 🛝 Shanna’s early days of building an entrepreneurial spirit by selling plastic string on the playground. [1:16]
Shanna Banana Jewelry 🍌 While in college to become a physical therapist, Shanna started her own business. [1:47]
A Wild Hair Idea 💡 While building a house during the pandemic, Shanna started looking into new rugs for the house. While searching, she had the idea to begin selling the rugs herself.
Compounding Inventory 📦 [5:28]
Flipping the Coin 🪙 Investing in Turkish rugs & learning the ropes of a rug business. [7:00]
Pricing 🤑 The early days of learning how to price her rugs and the experience she pulled from her time working for small businesses in undergrad.
Paying for Trips to Disney World 🎢 In the beginning, Shanna was still working part-time as a physical therapist so her business profits went back into inventory (with a bit of “fun money” set aside for trips to Disney). 11:52
The Kick in the Rear 🦵 When Shanna’s job asked her to double the number of weekends she was working, she knew that was the time to try going full-time with her rug business. [12:17]
Manufacturing Rugs 🚛 How and when Shanna began manufacturing her own line of rugs. [15:21]
Money Talk 💬 How Shanna consistently doubled her business the first 4+ years of her business. [18:36]
Working with Designers 🛋️ Learning where she could get the most bang for buck in marketing [19:50]
Making it Personal ✨ Why it’s important to build a brand with personal touches & connecting with your audience.
You don’t spend money you don’t have 💰 Shanna’s relationship with money growing up & how this shapes the business decisions she makes today [24:57]
Put’em on a Bumper Sticker. These Quotes are Pure Gold.
“Initially, I just wanted to make enough money to get my kids to Disney World.”
“I enjoy the challenge of business. I enjoy figuring it all out. How am I gonna figure out the shipping? What are people responding to most in marketing? Is an influencer worth it? It’s challenging to me and I enjoy being challenged.”
“So when I get a vintage rug in, I’ve got to take a picture of it, measure it, and upload everything online. There’s a lot of time taken to get into the vintage world. Did I honestly calculate that time to my prices?”
“Where can I get the most bang for my buck in selling these? My repeat clients are my designers. so looking at the numbers and figuring out how I can work in some trade discount?”
“It’s like post COVID times. Our marketing has had to really adjust as small business owners so much, and we have to be nimble and quick.” – Shanna Skidmore
“I feel like what I’ve learned the most is, if people can relate to you, they know you’re relatable and trustworthy, they’re gonna come back again and again.”
“Money does not change you. It just puts a spotlight on who you already are.”
More from this Episode
To hear the full story and more about Shanna Massey, press play on the player above for the full interview or click here to download the transcript.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
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Shanna Massey
Shanna Massey is the creative force behind Vintage Rugs by the Bay, where she designs stunning, handcrafted rugs that are hand-knotted in both India and Turkey. Originally, Shanna earned her doctorate degree in Physical therapy and practiced for 10 years. What started as a side hustle, she now runs her successful business from Fairhope, Alabama, where she lives with her husband, three daughters, and a lively household that includes a dog, cat, chickens, and a bunny. When she’s not working, Shanna enjoys gardening, hosting, cooking, and spending quality time with her family.
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November 7, 2024
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