Daily Inspiration: Meet Shelby Rivers

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Rivers.

Hi Shelby, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I think our story is very similar to a lot of others who have done some type of woodworking or other craft. Basically, in 2019, we got a puppy. We had been using one of those metal kennels that you can pick up at most pet stores whenever we had to leave him alone but quickly, that kennel became a real eyesore for me. I started looking online and saw a really nice wooden kennel that looked like a console table, it was rustic looking and beautiful, but it was also close to $2000.

I immediately took a screenshot and sent it to my husband, Roland (who is an electrician by trade), and asked him if this was something he could make. I was honestly expecting him to send me a rolling eyes emoji but he surprised me when he said ‘I can try.’ A couple of weeks went by and he did it! It was about 5 feet long, had sliding barn doors, and we both really liked how it came out. There were a few things we would have liked to have done differently so we decided to sell it on Facebook Marketplace and make ourselves another one, except this time I helped!

We went through that cycle about 3 more times before we decided ‘Hey, we’re actually having fun doing these projects together. Why not make a business of it?’

Since then, we’ve been able to work on larger projects such as bed frames, dining room furniture, nightstands, but also smaller projects such as ottoman trays, raised dog feeders, and leash holders. We’ve also just opened up an Etsy shop of our own. We love staying geared toward projects that are pet-related but we venture away from that every now and then just for fun. Since starting this venture, we’ve learned a lot and gotten so much better at what we do.

Our goal is to continue making affordable pieces and most importantly to keep having fun in the process.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It’s definitely not been easy.

You invest a lot of time and resources into these projects and they don’t always turn out the way you may have hoped. So yes, in the beginning, there was a lot of trial and error mainly because we didn’t have the right tools and we were still learning. We also work out of our garage so we are limited on space. However, I think our biggest struggle was trying to find the time to work on these projects. In the beginning, Roland had a full-time job, I was working part-time, we had a 3-year-old and a puppy.

That alone makes for a busy schedule. I have to say though, we’ve been able to learn so much from those struggles. From the way, we plan out our projects, to what projects we’ll accept, and especially balancing our time together as a family.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We create quality custom wood builds.

We specialize in pet-related furniture and accessories. These would be dog kennels, beds, raised feeders, etc. Every now and then when we have breaks between orders we will take on other types of builds, such as dining tables, bookshelves, desks, etc. just to keep us well rounded and challenged.

What are we most proud of? I would have to say the fact that we’ve been able to start our own business and build a product line of useful items. We’re excited about every build and every order that we get. We’re a small business that’s family-owned and we like to treat our customers like their family too.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
To anyone looking to start their own business, keep your goals in mind constantly. It’s easy to lose sight and get discouraged if things aren’t perfect right away. Just be patient and don’t give up.

Contact Info:

• Email: gsrdesignsaz@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/gsr.designs?utm_medium=copy_link