Bridgeport High Alumna Kim Morris Uses Pandemic to Create Business Customizing Furniture and More
By Trina Runner on January 25, 2021 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
When Bridgeport High School Alumna Kim Morris’ great grandmother bought a desk decades ago, she had no idea that it would inspire her great granddaughter to become an entrepreneur, and a very creative one, when a pandemic hit during her college years.
Morris, who graduated from BHS in 2018, is currently a junior at West Virginia University. Like many others, the onset of the pandemic was at first a source of boredom, but for Morris, it was ultimately an inspiration for a whole new business that allows her to use her creative side.
“When lockdown hit, I was bored and trying to find projects to do,” she said. “My mom gave me a desk that belonged to my great-grandmother and I worked on it for a week, using trial and error and no formal training. The finished product amazed me and I loved that I could turn such a sentimental piece into something new.”
From there, she began collecting both large and small items and opened Refurbish and Furnish, an online business with followers from all over. Her approach to learning new methods was mostly by trial and error. She said most pieces have at least one failed attempt behind the scenes, but the finished products come out looking professional and unique.
“My inspiration comes from vintage, affordable living and I work closely with my mom who is an avid antique collector,” she said. “We find one-of-a-kind pieces and recycle them into unique creations that are both stylist and affordable. We also watch a lot of videos on techniques and my mom has really helped me with the business side of things.”
When the weather got colder, Morris shifted her focus to smaller home décor items such as hand-painted mirrors and ring dishes and macrame. Many of the items are custom orders tailored to the colors preferred by each client. Morris also has a lot of merchandise in stock for last minute gifts as well.
After she creates each piece, she stages it in her apartment, take pictures and post them on Instagram. Smaller pieces are sold at a flat rate and larger ones are sold through a bidding process. She also has an Etsy shop to make it easy for non-local customers to shop. Once a customer buys an item, they can earn a discount on their next item by simply posting a picture of their item and tagging Morris. She also has gift wrapping and gift cards available.
Refurbish and Furnish has grown in both merchandise and customer base throughout the year. Morris is also a full-time student and a teacher assistant at WVU, so she has benefited from the online classes that allow her time to work on pieces in between classes.
“I love that this allows me to recycle old pieces and make them into the perfect addition to my customers’ homes,” she said.
Instagram and Facebook sites are @RefurbishandFurnish. Her Etsy shop is RefurbishandFurnish.etsy.com
For more of Morris' projects, see the photo gallery below.
