There’s a shop in downtown Salina, Kansas, dedicated to breathing new life into things.
It’s called Flipping Fabulous… and owners Lisa Holmes and Karie Bogart have truly mastered the Art of the Makeover, in so many ways.
It All Started In a Driveway
The business had humble beginnings under a tent in Lisa’s driveway, where she would take old things that were destined for the garbage dump, make them useful and beautiful again, and then post the before and after images on social media.
Intrigued by the projects Lisa was posting, Karie, who was working full time as a social worker at the time, reached out to Lisa through social media and the two formed a partnership that has lasted years and continues to grow.
Since then, the business has only expanded, outgrowing a few spaces along the way. Their first big move was from Lisa’s driveway into a space they rented at 102 North Santa Fe. Both women recalled how overwhelming and risky that decision seemed at the time. But word got out about the amazing work they were doing and they quickly outgrew the tiny warehouse space.
Then an amazing thing happened – Maureen Mattison, owner of Eccentricity down the street, reached out to ask if they’d be interested in moving into her building, which had a vacant space next door to her shop.
Lisa and Karie took the plunge, upgraded to the larger space, and added many retail items to their offerings.
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An Education and A Few Challenges
This move would prove to be so much more than a square footage upgrade, as Maureen and her husband Roger (co-owner of Eccentricity) took Karie and Lisa under their wing, so to speak, and taught them so much about business.
Lisa and Karie agreed that they owe much of their ultimate success to Maureen and Roger, because they made it so affordable for them to get the business up and running profitably, and generously shared their knowledge and experience in operating a retail business.
But a few challenges would come into play that would forever change the way Flipping Fabulous did business. Two of those challenges came in the form of the pandemic and the Santa Fe street-widening project.
But Lisa and Karie aren’t the type to throw in the towel when things get tough. Instead, they pivoted into e-commerce. By focusing on their website, their social media presence, and their Etsy shop, Flipping Fabulous managed to not only stay afloat, but to thrive through challenges that might have broken them.
In point of fact, their Etsy shop (FlippingFabulousKS) is now a top 1% seller on Etsy, and the largest seller in the entire U.S. for one of their suppliers, ReDesign by Prima. Neither designation is a small feat, and both are a testament to the Lisa and Karie’s entrepreneurial spirit and can-do attitude.
As the pandemic ended, and the project to widen Santa Fe was completed, Karie and Lisa turned their thoughts to finding their own retail space, a dream they’d had from the very beginning.
A Dream Realized
One of Lisa and Karie’s main goals is to leave a legacy for their kids, to create generational wealth from their life’s work. Owning the building that houses their business is a big part of that plan.
With the Downtown Salina project gaining momentum, Lisa and Karie decided to go all in on the purchase and renovation of the 127 North Santa Fe building, which was built in 1932 and had been vacant for a decade. It was a massive step for them, as, up to this point, they had never before borrowed money for the business.
Lisa and Karie pulled so many pieces of this puzzle together in order to make the move possible:
- They applied for and received several grants, including ones from the Salina Chamber of Commerce and Salina Downtown, Inc.
- They applied for and eventually, after a huge amount of work kand a process that took a very long time, a SCKEDD loan.
- They worked closely with Jaden Miller and the rest of the team at First Bank, who helped them navigate the business loan process.
- Karie’s also cashed out her 401k to help fund the building purchase and the renovations.
- They did most of the renovation work themselves, with Karie’s husband Dan Ade taking a full month off of work in order to focus on getting the project finished.
- And they chose to purchase a building large enough to accommodate other retail and office spaces, the revenue of which contribute greatly to their overall profitability.
There were a few challenges along the way during the reno, including the discovery that the building didn’t even have a heater, a very large and unexpected expense, as well as the stress and time commitment of keeping the storefront open across the street while they worked to get the new space ready.
Paying It Forward
But they did finally finish out the reno and opened their new doors in December of 2022, where they now offer so much more than they ever dreamed possible:
- Furniture, both used (refurbished) and new
- Home decor, from wall hangings to lamps to vases
- Gifts and kitchen items such as coffee mugs with hilarious sayings on them (I dare you not to laugh when you browse through them)
And of course, the original service that the business was founded upon – the transformation of tired, old pieces into something useful and beautiful and beloved.
Karie attributes their ongoing success partly to the fact that they offer such a wide range of products and services, and at such a wide range of price points. If you’re looking for inspiration to freshen up your home, you’re sure to find something at Flipping Fabulous. They even offer DIY workshops to help inspire your own creativity.
And in a brilliant turn of serendipity, Maureen and Roger Mattison’s kindness is now being paid forward many times over. Flipping Fabulous is providing the opportunity to many local artisans to showcase and sell their creations – jewelry, crafts, soaps, home decor, t-shirts, and more. Karie and Lisa are no doubt teaching these small business owners the ins and outs of retail, much like Maureen and Roger selflessly taught them.
Owning, managing and operating a retail business is not without its challenges. One of Lisa’s biggest hurdles is having to wear so many hats as a small business owner. It’s tough to find time to take care of critical business activities such as marketing when she spends the bulk of her time doing custom refurbishing work for clients. And Karie admitted that it’s difficult to find a balance on things such as the best use of the space – what to purchase, keep and display – as well as how to manage her time and prioritize the many things that need to be done.
And both Lisa and Karie are always looking for ways to scale the business, since custom work, which they’d love to do more of, is a very time-dependent type of service.
The Deeper Inspiration
Hearing the history of their business, it’s not hard to imagine that they’ll find a way to make it work. After all, creativity is the primary driver behind the business. The whole mission of Flipping Fabulous is to help people express themselves creatively, whether that’s decorating their home or refurbishing an old, worn out piece of furniture.
The true inspiration behind Flipping Fabulous is the beauty of the Makeover.
It’s about giving new life to old things, whether that’s furniture, a long-vacant building, or a struggling business. It’s about turning what may have been destined for the trash heap into something gorgeous, useful and beloved.
And it’s about breathing new life into old things.
What started as a passion and a hobby under a humble tent in a driveway, has received the ultimate makeover.
It’s a now thriving business in its own right, as well as an opportunity for many local business owners and artisans.
It’s creative expression for the many customers and clients of Flipping Fabulous.
It’s a way for Lisa and Karie to contribute to the community and the ongoing success and growth of Salina.
And it’s a legacy for their children. A legacy of courage, of hard work, of dedication and determination. More than anything, THIS is why Lisa and Karie do what they do.
So check them out online at:
- Their Facebook page, where you can get inspiration from their completed projects, and where you can message them pictures of your furniture and quickly receive an estimate.
- Their Etsy shop, where you can browse and purchase paints, transfers and more.
Or better yet, stop by Flipping Fabulous at 127 North Santa Fe and see for yourself all the beautiful, inspiring things they offer to add style and flair to your home or office.
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