In conversation with Mississauga’s Bonnie Yu, owner of After 5 Furnished.

What inspired you to start After 5 Furnished?
I actually started After 5 Furnished as a side hustle. I’m a maker at heart and love getting my hands dirty building things. I wasn’t getting that satisfaction from my 9-5 job and started upcycling furniture as a little creative outlet after work. Out of curiosity, I listed some pieces for sale, and received a lot of interest. That’s when I realized that people actually want my products and I have the skills and tools to create it. One thing led to another and soon I found myself with a furniture addiction. I finally left my full-time job in June and haven’t looked back since.

What exactly does After 5 Furnished do/provide?
After 5 Furnished is a Mississauga-based furniture upcycling business. We take old unwanted furniture and transform it to fit an everyday modern home. Our goal is to provide you with unique quality furniture that can elevate your space.

What's been the most impactful lesson you've learned being an entrepreneur?
Acknowledging when you need help and taking the steps to get it. 

I’m more than just a “do it yourself” person, I’m a “do EVERYTHING yourself” kind of person. Having a well-rounded skillset and the ability to tackle any problem has definitely been helpful at times. But most recently, I’ve realized that the DIY mindset is limiting both myself and the business. When you have too much on your plate, it’s hard to take a step back and really prioritize what is important and needs to get done.

I was so caught up with building a website, social media, marketing, and trade shows. It left me overwhelmed and I felt that I needed more time in the day. In hindsight I should have outsourced the website development and marketing so I could focus on planning. Sometimes it’s easier to hire a professional than spend 100+hours of your own time.

How do you unwind?
Funny enough, making and building stuff is how I unwind, which also happens to be the basis of the business. When I’m having a bad day or just need a fresh start, I head into the garage and start sanding or cutting away at things. That often means that I’m left with unfinished projects which I started on a whim. That’s a future problem.  

What succinct advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Take risks and try new things. If it doesn’t work out, learn from your mistakes, and try something else. 

I feel like everyone gives the same tip of “just do it – you don’t know what you don’t know,” but it’s honestly really great advice. I’m the type of person who learns by doing and I learn the most from making mistakes.

I actually ventured into 3D printed products and wooden toys before I ended up on a furniture upcycling business. When I started flipping furniture, I had no idea what I was doing and didn’t know whether I would like it or not. I’ve learned a lot since then and still have much more to learn. But if I hadn’t taken that first step, I wouldn’t have learned anything at all. 

What are your goals for 2023?
I really struggled to answer this question. I’ve got a lot on my agenda and I’m still fine tuning as I go. Running a marketing campaign and growing the After 5 Furnished brand is at the top of the list right now. Expanding into a commercial space would be nice, as I’ve basically maxed out my garage workshop. I’m also looking to attend the Home + Reno Show (International Center Feb 3-5), so drop by for a chat or to take a look at our stuff! 

after5furnished.ca