Meet Pat Murray | Furniture Refinisher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Pat Murray and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Pat, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
In starting my own business, risk has played a major role. Before I left my cushy salary job and dove into the unknown, I had many well-meaning people caution me about making the transition. This in itself is not poor advice, as I would naturally advise the same thing to someone I care about before they leapt into entrepreneurship. There is, indeed, inherent risk in this path. However, what most people don’t discuss is the risk involved in staying in a career path that stifles creativity, growth, autonomy, and breeds misery. I found myself in a midlife crisis at the ripe age of 30 years old, asking myself, “what’s the point?”. Had I worked hard all these years just to feel unfulfilled, unhappy, and miserable with what I was doing for 50+ hours a week (a third of my time), just to get by? I don’t think that’s what life is about. I think life is more about developing inspiration, expressing creativity, and building something that you actually care about. I had to reach a point where the risk of staying on a path that was causing stagnation and despair seemed greater than venturing off into the uncharted territory of entrepreneurship and financial insecurity. My theory is that if I’m doing something that I’m inspired by and that I care about, that I will do it very well; and if I have the ability and willingness to stick with it, then it will only be a matter of time before I will flourish. This has been my experience thus far and it hasn’t failed me yet!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I own a Furniture Refinishing business called Murray’s Modernized Furnishings! It all started by simply watching some videos I saw on social media of folks doing it, finding myself intrigued by it,  and thinking to myself, “I could do that!” I’m pretty handy and have experience painting from previous jobs growing up, and I always have loved being creative. However, it wasn’t as simple as picking up an old piece of furniture and a paint roller then expecting perfection; I had to teach myself almost everything through trial and error and lots of Youtube videos. Anyone can slap some paint/stain on a dresser, but it takes time and patience to be able to achieve a finished product that someone would spend hard earned money on. This has been one of my challenges- achieving a “factory finish” in a timely fashion. Another one of my major difficulties was being able to appropriately quote a price and a timeframe when refinishing someone’s furniture for them. I was underbidding myself due to a lack of confidence and expecting to not run into any issues (rookie mistake). After finishing one piece, I’d realize I only made about $7 an hour after all said and done. This is when I began taking a step back to focus a bit more on the business side rather than simply “playing in the garage”- after all, this is my livelihood. However, I am grateful that I began with low prices as I was able to experiment with a lot of different techniques, develop skill, and build a following rather quickly. What excites me about what I’m doing, that separates me from other furniture refinishers and retailers, is my focus on modernization and uniqueness. After visiting all of the local furniture stores I saw that no one sold anything like I do. At first, this frightened me as I thought maybe my style was off base from consumer desires, but then I saw it as an opportunity for market share! Many people love the work I display on social media and saw perhaps there would be a desire for my products. I do, also, complete jobs currently that are outside of my style, as a base to keep money coming in, as I’m fully exploring my future goals.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Prescott, AZ and there is so much beauty here! The first spot you have to check out is Watson Lake- it’s where my wife and I got married! Located right in the Granite Dells, it has an other-worldly feel to it, absolutely gorgeous. Next, I’d head down to The Square in downtown Prescott. The city has done wonderfully to preserve the small-town, cowboy, charm despite immense growth in the area. There are countless little shops and restaurants as well as the famous “Whiskey Row” housing many old-time saloons. Lastly, I’d take the opportunity to go on some hikes in this beautiful city! I’d go to Thumb Butte, Constellation Trail (where my wife and I had our first date), and Glassford Hill.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There is a long list of folks who have helped me to get to the point that I am at now. First, there’s my wife, Jenna, who was willing to jump into head first with me on this path. She saw how unhappy I was in my previous career path and was willing to walk with me as I created something new from scratch. She continues to be there for me to cheer me on and offer a different perspective when I can’t see clearly. Second, my parents have been incredibly supportive and offer indispensable suggestions with their years of professional experience. Third, there are my close friends who encouraged me to follow my heart in the midst of fear and continue to offer support and guidance on a daily basis. Lastly, is my friend Angie who gave me a part time job cleaning houses while I was building a portfolio, reputation and workload. Instead of trying to keep me working for her, in a profession of high turnover, she offered her expertise in entrepreneurship, counseled me when I was feeling nuts, and unselfishly pushed me to shift into making my dream a full time gig.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/people/Murrays-Modernized-Furnishings/100094498537883/

Instagram: @murraysmodernized

Facebook: @murraysmodernized

Other: TikTok- @murraysmodernized