Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in furniture but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lina Awad, Founder & Creative Artist of MaRiTama Home, located in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
MaRiTama HOME is a Canadian Woman Owned business and an "Ontario Made" approved Manufacturer that specializes in unique creative refurbishing and custom-made furniture of all styles. We bring a flare and love of color to all our designs. No two pieces are alike. We modernize antiques and age contemporary furniture. Being environmentally conscious, we up-cycle, restyle, restore, create and update furniture to produce eye-catching accent pieces. Our focus is to ensure the best quality of all our products and services.
My customers are anyone looking for furniture for their primary or secondary residences, anyone looking to restore, refurbish and restyle their old furniture, and anyone looking for a creative twist for their homes.
Tell us about yourself
I am a Mom to three girls, an Industrial Engineer by profession, and a Creative Artist at heart. After working in my Engineering profession for 15 plus years, I decided to leave that behind to follow my heart and start my Artistic career. The best decision I ever made! I found that my previous calculated and organized background, my strengths in multi-tasking, and my quality-oriented behaviors, along with my creativity and passion for art, really enhanced and added great value to my artistic career and shaped me into the person I am today.
I have great inspirations from my Mediterranean background, world travels, life experiences, and a great love and passion for color and unique creations. I have combined all of that and focused it into my work and designs that make my world a happy place. When I produce a piece that turns heads and people love the uniqueness of what I do, that motivates me to create more. This motivation makes my creativity levels increase to produce unique work...and hence the cycle continues.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
As a business owner, my biggest accomplishments are my returning Clients and my loyal, satisfied customers that continuously recommend my work to others.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things I face as a business owner is the consistency of work and income. Some days it is overwhelming with work, and other days it slows down slightly; hence income slows down as well.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
I have several tips to give, but the ones I go by are
- Do what you love and love what you do. When you do something you love and are passionate about, you enjoy your work, and you achieve professional gratification at the same time.
- Do NOT give up. Always remember, you have to fail to succeed. You have to keep trying, and it will happen. Just be patient and do not give up.
- Quality matters. If you want to do a good job, quality of work really does matter in the long run, so don't undermine quality.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://maritamahome.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaRiTamaHOME/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MaRiTamaHOME/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lina-awad/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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