You do not have to be a part of the GlenOak business program to have an idea for a business.

Senior Hailey Harper is similar to a member of the show “Barnwood Builders,” where she takes wood people do not want, and makes unique signs out of it.

“I‘ve always loved painting,” Harper said. “They started off as gifts to people, and I decided to make a business out of it. I turned this into business last summer.”

While some people would choose to go the route of going to Lowes, Harper chooses to go a different route to get some wood with character.

“I find old wood on Facebook marketplace and salvage it,” Harper said.

Harper has made a variety of signs. For instance, she made a wood sign with the show “Friends” logo on it. Harper described this sign on Instagram as “an awesome request by a friend, and I absolutely love how much it pops.”

Another sign she made was the words to Isaiah 41:13. This sign was one Harper has a unique connection with. 

“I have never seen this verse before, but I absolutely love it now,” Harper said. “When I was asked to do a Bible verse, I had no idea what I was going to do and how I should put it together. Even though my sketches made sense, I still had no idea if I could actually do it. It may not have been quick or easy, but it all paid off in the end.”

Of course, like everything this year, Harper’s business has been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“People have not been buying because of the pandemic,” Harper said.

However, just because are not buying does not mean there is a lack of quality. People who have bought from Harper have found they are impressed with what she has made.

“If anyone I know is in need of a special gift that is both meaningful and homemade, I recommend Hailey to them,” senior Katelyn Hippich said. “She does such a wonderful job with the signs, and I know whoever asks her to make one will be as happy with their sign as I was with mine.” 

Hippich was originally in a pinch for a gift and then remembered Harper’s business.

“I needed a gift to give to my sister for her birthday,” Hippich said. “The sign I asked Hailey to make for me had a ‘CLE’ on it. My sister loves sports so the C was decorated as the Cleveland Indians, the L was decorated as the browns, and the E was decorated as the Cavaliers.”

This experience has left an indelible mark on Hippich, as she is considering commissioning another sign for her family.

“I have been thinking about doing a sign for my grandma that has all of her grandkids’ names on it,” Hippich said. “She loves to play word games, such as scrabble, so putting the grandkids’ names on the sign like a scrabble board would be very meaningful to her.”

If you would like to learn more about Harper’s wooden sign business, follow her Instagram: @handmade_wood_signs.