The Ripple Effect: Furnishing Futures' Home Designs

We hope this London-based story during Women’s History Month (and our previous Cake Ventures blog) inspires you to consider new and different ways your skills and experience can reach beyond traditional boundaries to positively impact others and address critical issues. #womenshistorymonth

Emily Wheeler is no stranger to hard work and making a difference in her community. She’s an example of how one woman’s initiative can create a ripple effect across an industry and individual lives.

Most people believe access to social housing includes a minimum of home basics. However, less than 2% of social housing in the area where Wheeler is based is furnished. Most are an empty shell, referred to as furniture poverty - no pots, pans, bedding, even flooring, or a refrigerator. Wheeler describes this housing situation as surviving, not living.

Having worked on the frontline of social services in London for two decades, Wheeler launched Furnishing Futures from her kitchen in 2019. She was determined to address furniture poverty’s impact on domestic abuse survivors. Women with families living in temporary housing frequently have no access to their finances and no clear path forward to buy furniture.

Emily Wheeler, Founder of Furnishing Futures

Trained in interior design, Wheeler started taking second-hand furniture to the women living in empty homes in her spare time. Her efforts inspired other designers who began collaborating. Using her design skills and contacts, Wheeler collected more donations to fully furnish these healing homes, as she calls them, treating each home like one of her design projects. Industry leaders took notice. As a result, Soho House, DFS, Dunelm, Cox & Cox, and Olli Ella are just a few of the companies that now work with Furnishing Futures.

Referrals come from the local domestic abuse organizations, where Wheeler then works to set up a home. Assisting vulnerable families with a sense of safety in their new environment is essential, while offering women choices in their furnishings helps them feel ownership and pride in their housing. This combination goes a long way in boosting their well-being, helping to relieve the shame many victims feel, and aims to break the poverty cycle.

Furnishing Futures' core business also addresses sustainability in the industry. The charity provides a solution for excess furniture stock discarded by companies and when beautiful furniture is simply thrown away.

Reducing landfill issues while simultaneously eliminating furniture poverty are objectives Wheeler is determined to tackle. Her charity continues to grow and is currently working toward funding for additional warehouse space as well as opportunities for further expansion.

Learn more about Furnishing Futures and Emily Wheeler here. Or visit them on Instagram here.

Cake Ventures’ Female Founder Drives Layers of Change

We hope this feature during Women’s History Month (and our Furnishing Futures blog) inspires you to consider new and different ways your skills and experience can reach beyond traditional boundaries to positively impact others and address critical issues. #womenshistorymonth

This dynamic woman takes a different path than most individuals looking to invest in diverse company founders. Cake Ventures, the firm she launched in 2021, is diving deeper into diversity with a goal of driving demographic change.

Monique Woodard launched Cake Ventures to affect the “layers” of what she calls tomorrow’s internet users: the aging population (“by 2034, Americans over 65 will outnumber those under 18”), the earning power of women (“the original influencers”), and the “majority-minority” early adopters from Asian, Black, and Latino markets.

To address this powerful demographic shift, Cake Ventures raised a $17 million seed and pre-seed venture fund. A recent Forbes feature shares, “about 40% of its investments to date are led by women founders, and 40% by founders who identify as Black,” although it isn’t a prerequisite of the fund. Woodard sees this as a natural occurrence when you change who founders see across the investor table.

Despite her extensive entrepreneurial career building and selling technologies, time as a Venture Partner at 500 Startups, and a Venture Scout at LightSpeed Ventures, Woodard acknowledges the challenges of raising the fund. She tells Forbes, “raising a fund as a woman is like crawling through glass. Raising a fund as a Black woman is like crawling through glass with no clothes on, and then they pour fire ants all over you.”

Today, Cake Ventures’ portfolio includes a wide variety of companies, including Pamper, which offers sustainable, collectible boxes marrying fine art with nail designs using only vegan and cruelty-free products. (Consumers can order a Mystery box of Claude Monet designs.) Rares is an SEC-regulated stock market where you can invest in sneakers and other collectibles. Guaranteed focuses on hospice care, blending at-home treatment with cutting-edge technology. And Serif is a global members club for LGBTQ+ members and creators.

In addition to her investment fund, another respected skill of Woodard’s is her depth of research and data. In 2020, she authored Gray New World, a report that outlines the opportunities, shifting trends, and tech requirements in healthcare, technology, and retirement for today’s aging population.

Outside of the diverse entrepreneurs Woodard attracts, her efforts draw the attention and investment of extraordinary women such as self-made entrepreneur and investor Arlan Hamilton, founder of Backstage Capital (who built her venture fund while homeless). High-profile philanthropic leaders, like Melinda French Gates’ Pivotal Ventures, have also invested, as has Screendoor, Bank of America, and Cendana Capital.

Learn more about Monique Woodard, Cake Ventures, and its portfolio of companies here. Listen to her podcast interview on Venture Unlocked.

Friend (Gift) Favorites for the Open House

Updated 1.4.24

Remember that feeling when you first opened the door to your new place? Ah, the possibilities. Clean, open spaces, a blank slate to unleash the imagination. For some, it’s a bit daunting; for others, inspiring with design and décor is an exciting opportunity.

An open house invitation is your chance to give a unique piece to celebrate a new living space. How do you find that distinct piece they’ll love, one they don’t already have but wish they did? What would add warmth to their home or spice up a room? Your gift can be the one that inspires calm, elevates entertaining, or highlights their beautiful kitchen.

These artisan gift options are sure to be favorites at the Open House, placing you at the top of the list for their next celebration:

Natural artisan stands.
Thriving plants in cheerful pots are a welcome addition to living spaces. With or without a green thumb, people appreciate the color and calming effect of plants. What can you add to accent their beautiful blooms? Give their greens a place to shine atop an artisan stand handcrafted out of black walnut, white maple, and red oak wood. A stunning partner to lush greenery, an artisan stand is a gorgeous new home gift.

A cut above for the culinary kitchen.
Look for a unique slicing knife with a distinct handle design made of wood, stone, or forged metal. Add a handwoven towel in a beautiful pattern. Select a gift that’s as much an art piece as a functional tool.

Customization they’ll appreciate.
People love to receive thoughtful gifts designed solely with them in mind. Their name, an initial, or a special date engraved into the piece sends a genuine message of caring. Choose to engrave walnut wood coasters, a handcrafted cutting board, or a custom gift box as a warm welcome. These are the treasures that remain in families for years to come.

Textures and tastes.
Whether the homeowners are coffee drinkers, wine enthusiasts, or bourbon aficionados, a set of cups with a custom glaze or a distinct texture lets them celebrate their new space in elevated style. Textures are unique to the touch, invite you to look closer, and are a perfect excuse to ask for a refill.

Entertaining with ease.
With boxes to unpack and schedules to re-organize, moving encourages simple decisions around food and beverage. As new residents, they’re busy choosing color combinations, sorting, and directing furniture deliveries. And this is all happening between work and even kid’s schedules. The gift of a handcrafted cutting board offers an easy way to serve appetizers at happy hour and share snacks on game night - it also makes a gorgeous statement in the kitchen or on the patio.

Smoothing the Rough Edges (Takeaways from 2022)

Starting and growing an artisan business is like making a handcrafted gift box. It begins with raw beauty, the right tools, and a careful selection of pieces. The process then shifts to refining and removing the excess, making solid connections, and a proper fit. Finally, you identify and smooth the rough edges before continuing. The end goal is something you’re proud to share.

Each year, we review the business in the same light, to discuss rough spots and how to smooth the process. We reflect, fine-tune and celebrate success. Every year brings opportunities and challenges, and 2022 didn’t disappoint. Here’s what we learned and what’s next.

Boundaries

You might remember we kicked off 2022 intending to bring more ease into the business, as shared in our blog, At Ease, Please. And Other Lessons Learned. We held to our intention of creating more calm - a worthy goal. We took family time off in the summer, enjoyed date nights, and set deadlines for accepting orders during the holiday season. We remind ourselves that we are in charge of our schedule. Stepping away shouldn’t be celebrated as so much of an accomplishment but infused into business as normal, healthy, and expected.

The Social Media Tsunami

A recent LinkedIn report confirms what we’ve felt for a long time. What started as simple image posting has evolved into an entire department of specialized talent required to meet the demands of changing algorithms, the quest for visibility, and the appetite for new social content. Like us, every business owner has to determine their commitment to social media based on their team, budget, goals (and sanity). Keeping a laser focus on adding value is our best action plan which includes consistency and more videos - a trend that will continue. (No, we are not on Tik Tok.) The challenge is to remain vigilant and stick to the plan, yet flexible enough to adapt when needed.

New Additions

As planned, we added a new business section to the website, called BizCreatv. The goal is to speak to women, at or near the empty-nester stage, to spark their content and creative business passions. Let’s Go, Ladies! We also added a new line of serving and cutting boards to our Marketplace. Both have been very well received :) More to come.

And Then, the Unexpected

What wasn’t planned were the family medical and health issues that occurred in the Fall. We know many of you are experiencing the “sandwich generation” right along with us and are involved in the health care of parents and other loved ones. For this reason, we decided to slow the rollout of some content and push projects into 2023. It’s a reminder that planning for unexpected turns is necessary as life happens.

An Audacious 2023

Looking ahead, we’re excited to add bold new opportunities in 2023 without adding more hours - all while staying grounded in our commitment to “ease.” How’s that for lofty goals? Here’s to an audacious 2023! We’ll continue to share what’s next and celebrate with you as our artisan gifts arrive in the homes and havens of customers around the globe. #cheers!

Tunes for Your Travels

Growing up, we’d reach for the radio to spice up the vibe at home or pull albums and stack them in the order we planned to listen. Today, music is a click away; it’s still a daily ritual, but with better access. We love good tunes for traveling, even if the “journey” is down the steps. Here, we’re sharing 10 of our favorite seasonal songs to add a jingle to your journey.

In this festive music collection, you’ll find songs of all kinds; for the “Swifties” to symphony lovers, there’s something for everyone. You’ll find music to get your body moving and tunes to help calm the chaos. We think there’s a least one new version for everyone, maybe a long-forgotten favorite or one you’ve never heard.

You can search these titles, as shown in italics, to find them on your favorite music platform. You’ll find the artist first, followed by the music title. We’ve also included a related (YouTube) video link.

1. Boston Pops - Boston Pops Christmas Playlist (from Kathleen Hermann)

   Video of a fun live symphony performance of Sleigh Ride.

2. Run-D.M.C - Christmas in Hollis (Grinch)

   Video to the soundtrack.

3. Taylor Swift - Christmas Tree Farm

   Video with scenes from her childhood holiday home.

4. Magnolia Jazz Band - Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

   Video to the soundtrack.

5. John Berry - O Holy Night

   Video of the artist singing.

6. Pentatonix - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

   Video of the group performing.

7. Peanuts - Charlie Brown Piano (Instrumental Music Factory)

   Video to the soundtrack.

8. Kenny Chesney with Randy Owens - Christmas in Dixie

   Video to the soundtrack.

9. Sam Smith - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

   Video of the artist performing.

10. Florida Georgia Line - Lit this Year

    Video of the duo’s CMA Country Christmas performance (Facebook); if you can’t view this, try this video to the soundtrack.

We hope these make your journey merry and bright. After you’ve picked your favorites, please give us a jingle; we’d love to know your selections. Email us at greetings@redandrugged.net. (Or DM us on social.)

Festive Fizz or Sip and Soothe

Aside from our pizza-making endeavors, we like to explore beverages. The new powders, mixes, tonics, and spritzes make this a sipping season to celebrate.

The quality and quantity of tasty spirits coming into the market (including non-alcoholic) means it’s an excellent time to peer into your cabinet or open the bar to evaluate and expand your selection. There’s a drink for everyone with aperitifs to savor and soothe and spirits to energize or mellow your mood. For those who love to shine, edible glitter bombs are your ticket to a neon spritz. The upgrade in beverage packaging, combined with the myriad of choices, means you’ve got options to punch up a traditional tonic and mix a fabulous fizz. Libations are the new liquid accessory.

We’re excited to take a trial run of these spirits and sparkling powders in the coming weeks. If you’re also in the mood to mix it up, tag us and let us know what you think. We’ll do the same on our social media channels. If you have your favorites, we’d love to hear about those.

Two non-alcoholic:

Ghia - We’ve read about this beverage in multiple places and look forward to taste-testing, especially the ginger flavor. Ghia comes in a canned spritz to enjoy chilled or mixed with tonic or soda water. It’s also available as a bottled aperitif. The plant-based refresher is made with fruits and roots to keep you calm and connected.

Kin Euphoria - This high-vibe, low sugar beverage has a zen-like marketing appeal; from energy boosting to sleep-inducing, there are different choices for your mood or mindset. The High Rhode’s social magic is meant to be a mixer with juices or soda, an energy boost for the afternoon errands or the holiday socials. If reducing stress and quieting your mind is the goal, Dream Light may be the Kin choice for you, with its mushrooms and melatonin to mellow your mood. (Side note: For the fashion-forward among us, Bella Hadid is a Co-founder.) One last tip, Kin’s FAQ page is helpful if you’re not sure what to select.

A Festive Fizz:

Cotton candy has come a long way from the days of county fairs. With the launch of Art of Sucre, this sweet treat has spun its way into sparkling drinks with Glitter Bombs that transform a glass of bubbly into a party delight. You’ll find flavors that sound like a good time they promote, from Mimosa to Metallic and Rainbow. These colorful sweets dissolve into your glass to instantly create a party atmosphere.

Glitter and Shimmer:

What once began as a colorful topping for cakes and cookies has now expanded into a sparkling drink mix by Fancy Sprinkles. Like a sprinkle of fairy dust, edible glitter packets dissolve into your glass to create liquid bling. Pick from Opulust Edible Glitter, Pretty Young Thing, or any number of bright jewel tones to match your party theme.

One for Your Radar:

Salt Point Beverage is the gold winner of the 2022 International Spirits Competition. This Northern California crew makes canned cocktails touting all-natural ingredients, with varieties including Moscow Mule, a Gin Highball, and the cranberry lime, Cape Cod. The Greyhound’s grapefruit soda and vodka sound like a festive option too. Aside from the award-winning taste reviews, what caught our eye is the Salt Point can illustrations with an outdoor, rugged appeal. We think the explorer vibe will resonate with many of you. All good news. Now for the bad news, this option is not yet widely available. Those on the west coast will have to sip and share with us. (Their team did reply to my inquiry that they’re in expansion mode.)

Whether your spirit of choice sparkles and shines or is mellow and muted, you can make merry with the swirl of a spoon.

Sip and Share. As you surprise friends with these unique beverage finds, pair your favorite mixes, mocktails, or spirits with the artisan cups and textures found in our handcrafted gift boxes. As distinct as the spirits you serve, this combination will ensure an elevated drink experience.

Your Guide to Holiday Gift Ordering

The arrival of crisp air swirling outside the studio means seasonal celebrations are on the horizon. How can it possibly be time, you ask? (I know, our bathing suits are barely dry.) You’re busy living your best life, so we want to make it easy for you to give your best gifts.

As fans of giving unique artisan gifts and seeing the impression they make, you know ordering ahead wins the day (and the gift recipients). Whether for holiday weddings, a warm welcome, or a heartfelt thank you, select your gifts and secure a ship date that delivers big smiles on the other end.

Need some inspiration? Here are two blog favorites that can help:

Are Your Client Gifts Saying What You Think? - Do you want to know more about our custom craftsmanship?

Simple Steps to Sending your Best Client Gifts - Need ideas and options around what to give?

Keep this Gift Guide bookmarked as you (and your team) plan ahead. You’ll be glad you did, and so will your clients, colleagues, and friends.

1. Craftsmanship means attention to detail. The beauty of artisan gifts is that no two are the same. Even if the gift box or cutting board style is the same, each one is unique. Our wood is hand-picked and hand-finished, and the artisan pieces are handcrafted and hand-woven. These details take planning, skill, and time; the result is a distinctive, one-of-a-kind gift.

2. Festive and flexible gift cards. Each gift includes the option to select an artist-designed gift card (no additional charge). Pick our unique “Joy” card to add your holiday message, or choose one of our colorful artisan-designed cards to add your seasonal message. If your order is not for a holiday, select a card at checkout and add the appropriate personal note or well wishes.

3. Select now, ship later: Use our “Request a Due Date” section at checkout to indicate your preferred shipping timeframe. Don’t delay and risk missing the chance to send your favorite artisan gifts. Booking in advance means you select and pay for your gifts now and secure the time and inventory while available. If you request a specific week on your order, we’ll confirm your status via email.

4. Skip the last-minute scrambling. Avoid late shipping charges and make sure your gifts arrive on time. December 8th is the deadline for Fed Ex ground economy shipping. (This means we need to have your unique gifts on our schedule in October or November.)

5. “What else should we know?” This is the catch-all section of checkout, where you can tell us anything else that will help us create a memorable gift experience.

Our goal is to give you all the information you need in advance to help you plan, select and secure the artisan gifts you want, so we can all raise a glass to a relaxing holiday season.

Espresso Yo’self

Pumpkins, spice lattes, and apple cider cocktails are back on the menu as we adjust to work attire sans flip-flops. We’re getting back in the swing preparing for the adventures of autumn. Between updating our home decor, travel, and family commitments, things can get frazzled around the edges if we’re not careful. Let’s temper the fall frenzy while we take care of business by keeping artisan inspiration close at hand. Of course, we have ideas…

Your Secret Stash of Summer - Collect your note cards, photographs, and mementos in a luxurious gift box for a bit of inspiration. When your mood needs a boost, the fun memories are close at hand. The visual display makes them easy to enjoy and share the vibes with visitors.

Espresso Yo’self - Level up your beverage cup when your daily agenda warrants a wake-up call. A unique pattern or a special glaze could be just what you need to perk up a meeting.

Post-Its with Panache - Upgrade your post-its to something with a little more panache. With the colorful graphics and variety of these Little Notes (non stick), to-do’s and requests appear with a festive flair instead of presenting as a pesky reminder.

Re-imagine the To-Go Cup - Breathe deep and relax in the rocking chair, catch up on reading on the window seat or take the office on the road. Look for alternatives to the traditional travel cup, like this hand-thrown ceramic mug that sports a cork lid. No spills, whether your goal is to explore or escape. The lid also keeps your morning java from spilling on that important client folder.

Ride the Wave Into September Celebrations

A few more weekends remain to soak up the sun and take a dip by the water's edge. After a season of hosting happy hours by the beach, patio parties under the summer sky, and floating festivities, your party invite is on everyone's wish list. To finish the season strong, we're sharing a few of our favorite casual yet stylish moments to inspire you, with the help of our friends in the Red & Rugged community. (A hat tip to all who shared photos.)

Here's to riding the waves into a new season of celebrations.

• Table for two? Treat yourself to the easy and elegant style of serving boards as you watch the sunset by the water.

• Sip a flute of your favorite sparkling as you lounge lakeside.

• The door is always open to welcome friends.

• An invitation to mingle with guests is in full bloom on this colorful patio.

• Keep the festive mood rolling by mixing treats and textures on the bar cart.

• Whether it’s shaken not stirred or Margaritaville, a happy hour on the deck, amid fresh flowers and lush greens, is music to our ears.

Feisty at Five

In July, we passed the five-year mark in our business. It's a milestone for the company and as a husband and wife founder team. Looking back on photographs and our weekly emails (This month marks #114 emails, plus the blogs.) reminds us to be proud of the progress. When you're knee-deep in all the things, you forget how much has been accomplished. The list of future goals is long, so we don't spend much time looking behind us. We'll make an exception today and take a moment to share photos from our first year compared to today. Here are three lessons learned, a testament to how things change over time.

1. Partner preferences.

If your significant other, with whom you are in business, tells you they don't want to be involved in “X” (finances, operations, marketing, sales, business), believe them. Don't spin your wheels trying to use your superior persuasion skills only to be frustrated. Take that energy and find an alternative; do it yourself, hire help, ask a colleague, move forward. If your partner changes their mind, great; if they don't, you've already found a solution. For those of us who are more stubborn or persistent :) this lesson took a while to learn.

2. Pause before you proceed.

As designers of handcrafted wood pieces, we like to create new pieces each year to add to our selection. We listen to our clients, look at the Marketplace, consider the trends and go from there. With a talented craftsman at the helm of our workshop, there are many beautiful options to consider. What type of wood, which combinations, what is the price of wood, and how can we make this efficiently in quantity? Creating a brand new design is about a three-month process, from design options to prototypes, evaluations, and final craftsmanship edits. Once the specialty item is declared complete, photos are taken, descriptions written, and content is created for the website.

Creating a new product is not something we take lightly, and it's done with intention and careful consideration. In the early days, we made pieces and posted them online in a much shorter time frame. Then, we'd inevitably determine that a few design tweaks would look even better and allow for a more efficient process. But by that time, all the front office work of descriptions, promotions, pricing, and posting had been done. It's not ideal to backtrack from there. No one is happy to rewind a project at this point.

Today, the process has evolved and allows a window of time between when it's "finished" and when the front office team engages. We let any brand new designs rest on the workshop bench for a time for us to review and discuss. This way, any changes in the design can be done at a reasonable pace; there's no wasted time or money spent before the final version is complete.

3. Sometimes, things don’t go as planned.

In 2020, we wanted to create a holiday card to bring "Joy" to our clients. You may remember there was a U.S. election that year and a global pandemic happening. A big decision was determining when to send the card. Before the election? Is that too early, and people would be distracted? Or later, after Thanksgiving, they'd be swamped with other holiday cards and seasonal events. It was decided that "Joy" was a good thing to send earlier that year rather than wait, so the first week of November was it.

Our cards were meant to be fun and included a tear-off postcard (stamp included) that you could mail to family, friends, or a colleague. Checkboxes and fill-in-the-blanks let the sender personalize the message. Many hours went into the design and handwritten notes on each card. We were excited to send them off, imagining the big smiles of our recipients during such difficult times. Weren't we surprised when people sent us photos of their festive holiday cards arriving in March 2021? Say what? Turns out that the postal service had some machinery removed, and deliveries were impacted that season. All that excitement and debate around the perfect date didn't matter. It wasn't exactly the seasonal impact we had planned, but we like to believe that joy is welcome anytime.

Photos below left to right: The workshop has expanded significantly with tools and ergonomically improved design; we started with two box options, detailed specialty boxes and other pieces have since been added; and the days when “red” was still red, and today.