Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsey Chapman.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Novo Designs Co. officially began once the walls of my small apartment were completely filled with my own creations and antiques but I didn’t want to stop creating and antiquing. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and the stuff off my own walls (well, some of it) and start my business.
Novo Designs is all about making old items new again and finding the beauty in the history of a piece. The name “Novo” came about because I wanted to make sure that I encapsulate the notion of bringing new life to old treasures. Novo means “anew; once more” in Latin, so it fit perfectly.
I dove right in and signed up for my first flea market season in May 2017. After that season, I immediately launched my Etsy page and website. After learning several tricks of the trade, I have participated in some winter markets and am preparing for a more robust summer season in 2018!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The more boring answer here is that one of my main challenges has been seasonality. The winter season with online sales can be super slow, which is vastly different than the booming summers where you can sell a whole tent full of things in one day.
However, another struggle has been SPACE. Remember how I mentioned my walls being filled? Well whatever doesn’t hang on a wall is put in some corner of our apartment, so you can imagine how cluttered my space is with treasures. And that also means that, I have no space to do projects either, let alone a yard. I have basically been banned from my building’s parking lot after accidentally getting spray paint all over the newly paved lot! #cityproblems.
Please tell us about Novo Designs Co..
Novo Designs Co. is a home decor business where I find well loved homegoods and repurpose them or simply spruce them up to be like new again!
Some recent projects have been making old cabinet doors into chalkboards, flower vases out of worn down shingles and mason jars, decorative signs out of bed frame pieces, shelves out of antique silverware organizers, and more!
I think that is what is most unique about Novo: repurposing somewhat surprising materials into home decor items. I love the character and the story that Novo’s pieces contain and that there is not one item that is the same!
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I officially started my business on mother’s day of 2017, in honor of my mom. My mom passed away almost 5 years ago when I was 22 years old. She was by far one of the most creative individuals I know. She was a part of our town’s garden club, owned a yarn store and would bead and craft in her spare time. One of my favorite childhood memories is when my mom would decorate for holidays and I mean, any “holiday.” She would prepare the house for weeks to celebrate the first day of fall and would make sure there was some form of a heart in every room when Valentine’s Day was coming. She would even make us stop on the side of the road if she saw a cool branch or pile of pine cones that she wanted to use for a centerpiece. I aspire every day to be half as creative as she was and can only hope that my business would make her proud!
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.novodesignsco.com
- Email: lindseylchapman@gmail.com
- Instagram: @novo_designsco
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/NovoDesignsCo/
- Other: http://www.etsy.com/shop/NovoCo
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
