Today we’d like to introduce you to Christy Frank.
Hi Christy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
As an older and recent grad, I had a hard time finding work during the recession of 2007. Therefore, I found a job I had a bit of interest in, custom framing. After getting laid off twice at that frame shop I dug deep and thought about what else I would want to do. I kept coming back to the home consignment. Interior design was always something I was drawn to and I had a knack for taking used items and putting together an inviting and beautiful space.
With $4,000 I set out to start my consignment shop, called Covet Consign & Design. I quickly found my first space for a mere $380/month. Granted it was a very non-traditional retail space with lots of issues (as I later found out). After a year in that space, I realized I needed to get out of there and find a real storefront.
I eventually heard about a guy that had recently bought a building at 38th & Chicago in South Minneapolis, He had renovated it and was specifically interested in a consignment shop to go into one of these spaces. I stopped in and immediately loved the space, and felt the owner was someone I would like to work with. I ended up staying in that building for 9 years.
As time went on my business finally found its place in the market. I was primarily focused on gently used modern furniture, with a larger focus on vintage mid-century modern furniture & home goods. I eventually came to be known for offering quality MCM furniture and home decor.
Alright, 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?
As time went on, the competition in the vintage MCM furniture market became more and more difficult. The timeless style had finally hit the mainstream and the good stuff was getting harder to find, and more expensive. As a result, I hatched another business idea, Frank Home. A new modern furniture store offering quality goods, and desirable design with a focus on small space living. What followed were many hard lessons due to the change in business models. I moved into another space in the same building, and it became a very unique shop. The front half of the 4,300 sqft space was vintage and the back half were my new goods. After many lessons, I finally felt I had a handle on the new business model.
That was until the tragic killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. His murder took place on my exact corner at 38th & Chicago. That day in our collective history changed a lot of things for a lot of people. It was a global awakening, and I was right in the middle of it. It became very clear that this corner had a bigger meaning and it was no longer meant for me. After many months of feeling frozen, I finally got my goods out of there and tried to find a new space. (It is also important to know that I had 4,300 sqft of showroom upstairs, as well as 4,300 sq. ft. in the basement where I had my custom frame shop, and an additional 1,500 sqft full of scratch and dent furniture. This was not an easy task).
What followed was another stage of the crazy times we have all lived through. Covid happened. The combination of Covid, as well as the rise of the Facebook marketplace, found me struggling to get the goods I was known for selling. A lot of people had become vintage dealers from the comfort of their own homes, with no overhead. All of this meant Covet Consign & Design was dead. No one needed a business like mine to sell or buy their goods from. It was too competitive and the prices got sky-high.
Thankfully, my recent business venture, Frank Home, came into play. Now the real challenge was to find a new storefront that I could afford. A challenge I am still facing.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I went to college as an older student. I majored in Art History with a minor in Spanish. Along the way one of my mentors said, “Christy you seem to have a thing for the ‘art of the object’.” Her words really resonated with me, my love of art and design was on a broad level, but I enjoyed the simplicity of good design. Which is why Covet made so much sense to me.
When I first drew up a plan for Covet, I knew I wanted to sell things that offered great design (at a reasonable price), as well as offer very simple and affordable custom art framing.
Over time, I brought all of my interests together, art, design, framing, and furniture, and all at an approachable price point. I eventually became known for having a store/gallery full of local artwork, affordable and well-designed furniture, and a small yet affordable custom frame shop.
What’s next?
I have been in a beautiful warehouse space in NE Mpls for a couple of of years now.
Unfortunately, it is only 940 sqft. I am still trying to find a semi-affordable space that is big enough to house a furniture store and a space that will allow me to add more inventory to fully display the full vision of Frank Home.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.frankmodern.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frankhomempls/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/covetconsign
