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

Hi Donna, what do you attribute your success to?
I have stuck to three words that describe this brand: Beautiful • Unique • Eclectic. I believe this is what most endearing, fine homes are made of and curate over the years. For every product we purchase and display, the effort is to provide each customer with something that doesn’t feel duplicated or simply a trend. It should always have an end result that feels “special” and customarily yours. I have been dedicated to this with a passion.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Nothing is easy about small business. We rise and fall and fall to get back up. Our small business has evolved. It has taken years to get to the heart of the matter with process and values as a leadership team. Today I am most excited about having a passion for what we do from a whole body, soul and heartfelt perspective. We always had a solid core, but not having a full on process in the early years, hindered us from moving into a realm where we can say without hedging, that we have our whole hearts involved in offering excellent customer service from the top to the bottom and from the left to the right. This has not been easy at all! We have failed people along the way, but not without deep and severe lessons learned. Our store and brand has always been built on being Beautiful ** Unique** and Eclectic. But as they say, beauty radiates from the Inside Out – and I am most proud of us for continuing on a growth journey that has led us to “inside” beauty.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Azzuro’s at Hughes Landing for lunch. A little Italian white wine and the scallops…the scallops!

Pappadeux, you can’t beat it for raw oysters and a very skinny margarita, shaken. Just tell them very skinny and they will do it.

Amore’s in Conroe on Hwy 105….. this is simply the warmest environment and the food is cooked with love. Family owned.

Red Brick Tavern…Debbie Glenn – “The Owner” knows how to entertain a small crowd with her charming venue, good music and excellent comfort food! Breakfast Lunch or Dinner

And back to my house for the best nightcap, outdoor patios and sky view in all of Walker County. We will stay up until the cows come home, literally.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I partnered with Summer Classics several years ago and became a Licensee store for their Gabriella White Brand; this includes Summer Classics outdoor furniture and Gabby indoor furniture. Gabriella White Brands are a family owned business and the CEO, William White, offered me a little book called “Traction.” I ate it up. The Entrepreneurial Operating System called my Name. It was like I was finally understood. EOS has made a huge difference in the direction of our Family Owned Operation and Team. When you work with family, it can be a wonderful experience or it can be divisive. Family can walk away with very hurt hearts and walls built high if not handled in a healthy manner. I chose the Entrepreneurial Operating System, and hired a local Integrator to work with us for several years. They have helped us take a look at a family owned operation from a healthy perspective. Many deep dives into family dynamics and ownership has occurred over the years. I am a true believer in necessary moves to remove the toxicity. It hasn’t been easy, but severely worth it! Now, we have a sustainable road map for those that choose to stay on board and continue. And with that being said, I am most proud of my beautiful family who leads our entire Team as a part of our broader family. We face ups and downs together and resolve issues by getting to the heart of the matter.

Website: https://dhfonline.com

Instagram: @donnashomefurnishings

Facebook: Donna’s Home Furnishings Texas

Image Credits
Courtney Leigh Photo

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