CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Many business owners have shuttered their doors in the wake of COVID-19, unable to financially recover from months of stay-at-home orders.
But, Mike and Pam Sansevieri are finding an unexpected boost during the pandemic all from the comfort of their home.
“We started out with basically nothing, and 9 years later here we are full timing our quote unquote little business,” Mike said.
The cutting boards and coat racks Mike makes were supposed to just be a hobby until he left his job as a firefighter, and then later in corporate America.
The couple never opened a physical store but instead created Specialty Wood Designs online first on websites like Etsy and e-Bay and most recently on Amazon.
Amazon’s Handmade is an online program aimed to help connect local craftspeople.
"That put us in a whole different ball game. We’ve been super busy ever since,’ Pam said.
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In just a six week period, the couple has had nearly 450 orders just on Amazon alone.
It’s a full-scale business -- from the garage turned production facility to the mail room Pam uses just off the dining area.
“What I do in here is fill orders. I have all my boxes and everything to ship," she said.
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It’s hard work and a dream realized.
‘Every single piece is unique,’ Mike added.
The couple wants people to know if they can do it, internet challenged and all, there’s hope for other small businesses, too.
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