Passion Perspective Interview Day 2-Forever Vintage Rentals
As you have seen from the past two days posts, Rhonda and Cara have created a very special business. We continued their interview with more specific questions about their hopes for the future and what they have learned along the way as they have worked together to establish Forever Vintage Rentals.
We asked them…..
What are your long-term goals and dreams?
“Continue to follow wherever the Lord may lead. He has opened so many doors and allowed for opportunities we would have never dreamed possible thus far.”
How has your inventory changed and expanded?
“Every day brings something new… literally:). One of our favorite pastimes is shopping for the business. We are constantly scouting new finds that will suit our brides and the latest trends. We are currently building another FVR storage barn and it will be full in no time at all.”
They have wonderful decorative pieces that they stage for their clients on the vintage pieces of furniture. They love to help brides create their own personal theme with accent pieces.
How do you promote your business?
“We have found social media and our website to be most effective. Rhonda is diligent about keeping FVR active on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. In addition, we have been featured in highly acclaimed national wedding blogs such as Style Me Pretty, Green Wedding Shoes, Ruffled and many others. The blogs are probably our best form of advertisement because of the fact that they are earned rather than purchased, they speak volumes to our clientele.”
What are the next steps for your business?
“Continue to supply for the unique vision of each of our brides and current trends within the industry.”
What marketing mistakes have you made?
“We have tried advertising in Wedding Magazines; to our knowledge it has not been near as successful as word of mouth and social media.”
What marketing techniques have worked?
“Each year we stage a large booth at the Cal Expo Bridal Show. It provides exposure for our business within the industry and an opportunity to personally meet with hundreds of brides.”
Our family has personally benefitted from their business. In 2012, Bethany and her husband, Mike, had a beautiful wedding at Leaning Tree Lodge-the property where Cara lives (Rhonda lives next door to Cara) and from where they run their business and house their Forever Vintage Rental inventory. (We will feature pictures and more from our family’s experiences with Forever Vintage Rentals in our post tomorrow so check back!!!!)
Tell us a few of your favorite stories of how your business has blessed others.
“It was an honor for us to provide and style the Food For Families event hosted by Raley’s last year. The event raised 80K for needy families in the San Joaquin Valley. It was a week long styling event for us and we were blessed to supply the rentals to them and our design work became our donation to Food for Families. Another wonderful opportunity was made for us to supply complimentary rentals to a leukemia patient for her 4th birthday party. This year, we will have the opportunity to donate our design work to Valley Christian School for their first ever Barn Prom in May 2015. These are the things that make life so rich and meaningful.”
Rhonda and Cara both have a deep and strong faith in Jesus Christ and this has been the strong driving force behind them pursuing their passion. We asked them about the blessings and challenges of this journey.
How has your faith played a part of this journey?
“In every way and every day we are completely reliant on the grace of God for direction and inspiration.”
“What have been the challenges-expected and unexpected?”
“Our greatest challenge has been to keep our commitment of remaining debt free in the process of building a business.”
What has been the biggest blessing-expected and unexpected?
“Our greatest blessing has been to remain debt free. It really keeps us aware of God’s provision for us and this business.
Then we finished their interview by asking about the wisdom they have gained along the way.
What tips would you want to share with others?
“If you can find a job that uses your God given passions and talents, your work won’t feel like work, it will be fun!”
What positives and negatives have you experienced while pursuing your dream?
“It is worth it. Being in business is much like that of a marriage… ironically because that is what we do. But realistically, we have to consider each other before ourselves in order to really work as a team.”
What wisdom you have gained personally and how has it affect you?
“Wisdom from our parents, who ironically were also business partners in the early 90’s. They have definitely inspired our entrepreneurial spirit and taught us the concept of servant leadership.”
How you have grown in this process?
“Growing pains are very evident if you take a look at each of our garages and barns. But even more, the business has stretched us and made our commitment to each other and our families even deeper.”
So as you can see, this journey of developing their passion into a business, has taken all that God has created them to be and combined it with their gifts and talents and desire to serve and bless. They have taken their love of people and love of family and opened their hearts and homes (literally) to serve and bless others. Check back tomorrow to see some VERY SPECIAL PICTURES from how Rhonda and Cara blessed our family. Check out their website www.forevervintagerentals.com and maybe you could be the next recipient of their amazing magic as they create an experience of a lifetime for YOU!!!
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