Today we’d like to introduce you to Reebok Brown.
Reebok, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
The deal was that I would keep my current job so that we could eat until my husband (Travis) graduated from seminary. Then I would look for a job that sparked my passion. So, he graduated, we moved to Georgia, and he started work. We had both wanted a dog since we got married, but our work schedules during seminary made it impractical to get one. Once we got to Georgia, however, I had no work commitments! It didn’t take too many shelter visits to pick out the newest member of your family, who we named Finn.
Fast forward a couple of harrowing months… (I’ll be honest, I wasn’t ready for the level of crazy we were inviting into our lives with this little critter). It was October, and Hurricane Irma was flying up the East Coast. We didn’t have anywhere near the damage that our coastline cities experienced, but it was enough to knock our power out for a few days. On Day 2 of no power, we were sitting in the living room, and Finn was mesmerized by the swaying of the trees outside the window. I thought to myself, “He would make the cutest little charcoal drawing”. So I grabbed some charcoal pencils and a pad and went to work. I was right. He did make the cutest little charcoal drawing. I showed it to some friends and family, and they agreed. My dad said, “You could do this, you know. People love their pets. You could build a business out of this.” And here I am. I put my little picture of Finn up online as an example photo that winter and my clientele has been growing ever since!
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?
Haha. I doubt that anyone who has started their own business would characterize it as a “smooth road”. The biggest learning curve for me has been the ‘business side’ of things. The artwork has always come easily to me- it’s the finances, the planning, and the meeting new clients that have proven the most challenging. In fact, I hadn’t been thinking of pursuing Treebok Pets as a business for too long when an opportunity presented itself to me in the form of business coaching through the Business Boutique Academy by Christy Wright. Christy’s teaching changed the way I approach my business from the top down!
My most recent business challenge, of course, has come along with the Coronavirus. While my website and social media pages are great, my biggest resource for meeting new clients has always been attending live festival-type events in local communities, which are currently suspended on an indefinite basis. One of the most popular comments I have heard from clients is that seeing me drawing in person really made the difference when it came to deciding to place an order. Drawing LIVE on social media has been fun, but it’s just not the same as seeing me at work in person.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I can draw your pet from a photo! Treebok Pets specializes in Custom Charcoal Pet Portraits- original artwork of your furbaby, mailed to you in approximately two weeks from your order date. My artistic style is very lifelike and is packed with stunning, full-color detail, which is why the majority of my pieces are 11×14 inches and under, although I am able to work larger.
At my live events, I set up an easel so that I can draw, including a copy of the client’s photo clipped above the artwork. As people observe me at work, the exclamation I hear most frequently is, “Wow! That looks better than the photo!!” And it’s true because with Pet Portraits, I get to accentuate the important areas such as the eyes which are commonly thrown in shadow, and leave out elements that the client might request, such as a collar or an unruly sprig of fur. Pet Portraits add a touch of elegance to your space that an everyday photo could never offer.
As I mentioned earlier, the artwork side of things has always come naturally to me. It makes me so happy that I’m able to share my eye for detail with my clients, and I just love hearing the stories of how one of my pieces tied their space together perfectly or made the most meaningful and unique gift to a loved one!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
My lifelike artistic style naturally makes my product a unique one that my clients can’t find anywhere else, but just as important, I think that my disposition toward detail-oriented work and willingness to go above and beyond for every client is vital to Treebok Pets.
After college, I worked in customer service for several years, and it taught me that there is no cookie-cutter when it comes to addressing an individual’s needs. That’s why I ask my clients so many questions and offer honest advice about their project before I start. Once I have all the information I need, I approach every portrait with a desire to produce a unique piece that my client will enjoy for years. And, after it’s finished, I follow up to make sure the result fulfilled their expectations! I think my artistic style is important, but it’s that style paired with my predisposition to get the details right that really makes the magic happen!
Pricing:
- Custom Portrait of One Animal starts at $58. Please contact me directly for an individual quote!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.TreebokPets.com
- Phone: 423-914-0961
- Email: brown.r.n.s@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/treebokpets
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/Treebok
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