Today we’d like to introduce you to Alaina Duran.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
RepurposeLain is a furniture-flipping business! I began flipping furniture in the fall of 2021! RepurposeLain was created in a time of desperation after buying a house, then several months later getting into a car accident where the at-fault driver didn’t have insurance. Those 2 back-to-back events put us in debt with a mountain of financial strain! As a stay-at-home homeschool mom, I needed a way to contribute financially from home. I came across a few people on YouTube who flipped furniture for a living, and inspiration struck! Repurposing furniture has been an opportunity to take what’s worn out and discarded and give it a new life. God has done the same thing for me through my business. Being an entrepreneur has grown my faith, my skills, and my confidence.
My business has grown into content creation as well, which has paved a way to encourage and empower others to find their own creative genius, to find confidence through learning new skills that can give them new life, and potential to establish financial freedom.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I started flipping furniture, I didn’t know it had the potential to grow into the business it is today. It’s been a huge learning curve to figure out how to run a business! Furniture flipping can be feast or famine. Certain furniture sells quick, while other pieces take months to sell, and commission work isn’t consistent. Prior to starting my business, I had painted a few pieces of furniture for myself (with spray paint), but I had no experience with power tools, the actually process of refinishing furniture, or even what the different grits of sandpaper were for. I’ve learned so much, but most of my processes are trial and error, which leaves plenty of room for insecurities to fester. Imposter syndrome has been a huge battle as I’ve grown my business. There is always someone who can do what I do better or faster. I’ve had to learn to let go of comparison and focus on improvement.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
RepurposeLain specializes in custom furniture. I take old and discarded furniture and give it a new life. I also offer furniture painting and refinishing for those who are wanting to restyle their worn-out furniture or family treasure! I’ve taken an inherited nearly 70-year-old oak table and modernized it by giving it a lighter wood tone to fit my client’s style. My most impressive flip was turning an antique radio/record player into a beautiful Art Deco dry bar for my client. My client wanted to be able to display and use the radio; it was the first piece of furniture her parents bought together, and she was blessed to inherit the treasured memories! My work transformed her piece from something damaged and worn out to something she could proudly show off!
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
If you are looking for custom furniture you can contact me through email at repurposelain@gmail.com to see what I do, support my business, or collaborate with me. You can find me @repurposelain on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Pinterest!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/repurposelain
- Facebook: RepurposeLain
