Today we’d like to introduce you to Hila Reicks.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In 2015, I was a General Manager of a struggling bar in Santa Monica. I worked 60 hour weeks, weekends, holidays and double shifts. I was unsatisfide, unfulfilled and unappreciated. For months I was trying to find a new job, contemplated going back to school and looked for a new direction. Chic Doctor started as an experiment. With no wood-working experience and little experience in arts and crafts I decided to pave a new career path by myslef for myself. With the mental support of my family and friends and the economical and moral support of my husband Keith I started my company “Chic Doctor”. (Pronounced Sheek Doctor! Not Chick Doctor, even though some may consider me a chick).
I found some used furniture in the alley and began working. Sanding, painting, reupholstering… everything I knew was thanks to watching YouTube videos, trial and error and gut instincts.
Today, with a couple of years of experience under my belt, I have my upcycled furniture online store, I offer in-home furniture CPR (Carpenty, Paint & Resoration) services and I take custom requests focusing on using recycled materials and paint, reclaimed wood and used tools.
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 biggest challenge has been to convince myself I can succeed. I had no formal education, a very limited budget and no experience in the field. But customers kept on coming back and the Yelp reviews kept on looking good.
In addition, I’m still looking for affordable ways to deliver my large furniture to places outside of LA county but the costs of the delivery are usually higher than the price of my furniture. There’s only so much that can fit in my work car, my Honday CRV…
Lastly, rent is pricy by the beach, so I don’t have much space to store my furniture. It’s better for my clients cause that makes me mark the prices down and sell everything quickly to create more space for my next project.
Please tell us about Chic Doctor- Upcycled Furniture .
I am the Chic Doctor, I am a different kind of Doctor, a furniture Doctor. I can restore, repair, repaint, or completely transform your old furniture. It could only be a nice coat of my homemade chalk paint. At times it’s a “Face Lift” with new Upholstry. And sometimes it’s a complete makeover from dresser to buffet with new hardware, a handmade wine rack and a new stain.
I also sell my own upcycled furniture on my website www.chicdoctor.com, Etsy, Facebook, instagram and other apps. I specialize in shabby chic looks, coastal Chic and rustic farmhouse looks. What sets me apart from the rest of the stores is my personal taste. From a very dainty, feminine look to the bold rustic solid wood. I love taking a piece and making it mine. It feels like such an accomplishment to create something beautiful from something that was going to be in a landfill contributing to the vast amounts of garbage on this earth. It feels like I’m saving them and giving them a second life.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Summers on the beach in Israel, where I’m originally from. My favorite place on earth. The cold lemon popsicle dripping down my chin, the warm sand under my feet and my dad throwing me up in the air and into the water.
Pricing:
- Dining chairs seats upholstery $40 per chair
- Handmade wall decor and wall Hangers $30-50
- Restored dressers $150-250
- 15% off all my items when you like my Facebook page @Chicdoctor
Contact Info:
- Address: South Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Viewing by appointment only. - Website: www.chicdoctor.com
- Phone: (303) 618-9484
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: chic_doctor
- Facebook: @chicdoctor
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/chic-doctor-redondo-beach
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChicDoctor?ref=hdr_shop_menu
Image Credit:
Zerbalunit photography
