Behind the Counter: Tiger Lily's Reopens in East Granby

After operating out of her Suffield home for about a year and a half, Shawna Nelson has moved her custom furniture business to East Granby.

Tiger Lily's features "repurposed, redesigned and re-finished furniture," according to its website.

The business, which gets its name from Nelson's nickname, reopened at 6B Herman Drive in East Granby recently.

Patch asked Nelson to give us the scoop on Tiger Lily's, and here's what she had to say.

Patch: When did your business open? Is it family-run?

Nelson: "I started out of my garage in July 2011. Tiger Lily is my nickname...My real name is Shawna Nelson and while recovering from yet another knee surgery, which ended my career as a paramedic, I repurposed an old bed into a bench. It came out pretty cool, so I made another. That one was bought by a neighbor who was driving by one day while I was working on it. One thing lead to another and I was off and running making custom furniture! It turns out that while I was spending time repurposing furniture, I was repurposing myself too."

Patch: What services do you offer at your company?

Nelson: "I provide custom building, painting and refinishing, and light upholstery services. I have three other female artisans that sell items in my shop like handmade bath and body products, signs and sewing, jewelry and antiques."

Patch: Why did you decide to open in East Granby and what made you interested in your field?

Nelson: "I had been looking for over a year for the right spot to move my business out of the house. I needed a place that offered me the ability to hold all of my project inventory, finished pieces for sale, as well as a place that customers can come to look at all of the products I offer in the custom building process."

Patch: Do you have a business mantra you live by?

Nelson: "'You make a living by what you do, you make a life by what you give.' ~ Emerson.

"I give every piece 110 percent of my attention and ability. It doesn't leave my hands until I am satisfied with it and I am proud of the attention I give to each custom order."

Patch: Can you tell us about your business background? What did you do before you opened your business?

Nelson: "I have always been a hands on/crafty person but before I was building furniture, I was a paramedic in Suffield and Berkshire County, MA."

Patch: Finish the sentence. When I'm not working I'm...

Nelson: "....I'm doing something that involves my kids! I have two boys 13 and 10 who wrestle with FishEye in Granby and a 7-year-old daughter who keeps me on my toes. When I'm not at work I am with my family on a hike or working on some home improvement project."

BUSINESS INFORMATION:

Business Name: Tiger Lily's
Owner: Shawna Nelson
Address: 6B Herman Drive, East Granby
Phone number: 860-849-1021
Email: tigerlily.sn@gmail.com
Website: tigerlilysfurniture.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tigerlilysfurniture