Today we’d like to introduce you to Victoria Hyejeong.
Hi Victoria, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My husband, Justin Alexander, is from Jacksonville, FL. I am originally from Seoul, Korea, where I worked as a graphic design artist in a video game animation studio after receiving my degree in the arts. While I was on vacation in Guam in 2011, I met my husband in the Navy. We proceeded to get married, and I moved from my homeland to Oak Harbor, Washington, in 2013. My husband didn’t have much for tools then, but we made little items we liked here and there. It was not anything major; it was just a hobby I used to express myself artistically. Fast forward to 2015, we relocated to Pensacola, FL, and I was in the market for some furniture. I bought a table and a few other items from local craftsmen, but I was underwhelmed with the work quality and knew that my husband and I could do a better job. A few days later, my husband and I went to Harbor Freight to pick up some cheap tools and start our journey of building. We had no idea that we were going to reach the level we are currently at; we didn’t even have plans to sell items; in the beginning, we just wanted to improve our house, build furniture and have fun doing it with each other. We have sold thousands of handmade furniture items and are always booked full. Our presence and success are consistently on an incline, but I stay humble, as does my husband. We both share similar stories of poverty and family issues from when we were younger. We promised never to forget where we came from and make sure our family would never have to go through the same trials and tribulations we did. I feel so blessed to be able to do something I love every day and bring my artistic expression to the furniture market. I’m constantly building new designs and dreaming of what we can do next. I sincerely appreciate all the support we have received on social media and through clientele, and I ensure I let everyone know that regularly.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been fairly smooth?
When we started the business, I had issues with people not taking me seriously due to my being a woman in woodworking. I was constantly getting snarky and underhanded comments, mostly from men, but now I have built thousands of beautiful pieces on display online. Hence, people have no other option but to take me seriously. Also, my husband in the navy works a crazy number of hours. Some weeks he will work 75 hours and then come home to put even more time into our business. There were also times when he had to deploy, which left me at home tending to our children and running a business which put a lot on my plate, but we persevered through those hard times.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Woodworking combined with fine art is what we do, and building beautiful furniture for our pets to enjoy is what we specialize in. We want our pets to enjoy their space as much as ours because we believe they are an important part of every family. Gone are the days of putting an unsightly metal kennel in the corner of the living room. We want our pets not to feel segregated to a corner or other room in an uncomfortable position. With our kennels, they can be secure inside and still be there to enjoy their family’s comfort. We plan to keep making new designs, increase our reach and the availability of our kennels and other furniture, and open physical locations here in Jacksonville and a few other cities. We always look for partnership opportunities with pet companies, furniture companies, and other investors. If you have an idea or would like us to advertise your brand or products, please contact us on any of our social media platforms.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
If you have an idea or a dream, we urge you to give it a shot and give it you’re all. Investing in yourself and your ideas can be scary sometimes, but you will never know what you can become until you take that risk and follow your dreams.
Contact Info:
- Website: thefinerustic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefinerustic/
- Facebook: facebook.com/thefinerustic
Image Credits
The Fine Rustic
