We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Heidi Stanford a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Heidi, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
This is closely associated to why?!My purpose is to support my family. My mom was a single mom and growing up she sacrificed so many things so that her three children could be fed, clothed and educated. Most importantly she showed as what a great work ethic is and not to be afraid to step over the ‘fear’ barrier and try new things. For me, finding myself in a foreign country (I am Australian), as a new mom at 40 years of age and without support system I delved into buying and selling my first piece of furniture and surprisingly I made a good profit, mostly due to the pandemic frenzy here in Austin and my reputation for high quality furniture. I also realized that I had an aptitude for restoring vintage/mid-century modern furniture pieces and this is a skill I have continued to master over the past few years.Modern Arc handpicks every item and offers only the best quality pieces for our clients. Our attention to detail, drive for perfection, and use of the best quality refinishing products, set us apart from others with the furniture we restore.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am originally from Australia, and for the past eight (8) years I have come to call Austin, Texas my home where I live with my son and husband. I focus on mid-century furniture refinishing and sales. I handpick everything and focus on American and Danish Modern vintage furniture. My home incorporates the ‘old’ and ‘new’. I strongly believe that vintage furniture can seamlessly blend with contemporary designs and a goal of mine has been to dismiss the myth surround ‘old stinky furniture’ through education and visual appeal of restored mid-century modern furniture. What makes this furniture so appealing to interior designers and everyday clients wanting to elevate their home design is the exquisite craftsmanship and clean lines. I sell almost exclusively though my social media platform on Instagram @modern_arc_midcentury, and now have a few bespoke items at the new vintage store in Austin, Potluck Vintage on South Lamar. In addition to sales I also offer custom refinishing services. I value quality above all else, and restore on about 90 percent of the pieces we offer for sale. Additionally, I offer a limited number of custom refinishing and restoration services to clients in the Austin area. Our focus is on factory-correct refinishing, keeping in line with the original finish from the manufacturer.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Dive in, feel the fear and do it anyway! Give your self permission to fail and surround yourself with people who who lift you up. It definitely takes a village!@
If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
As an online business, there is so much focus on your (instagram) following. I think it’s hard not to get caught up with the numbers game. Although this definitely helps with credibility, what I have come to understand that not all your followers are clients. My goal is to sell and this needs to be my focus. I am always authentic, and truly care about what I do and this passion shows., If you cannot do these two things then I think the longevity of owning a small business which needs consistent drive is not for you!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @modern_arc_midcentury
Image Credits
Lauren Lindley
