Lucas Delgado
In October 2023, Mina Starsiak Hawk revealed that Austin Aynes was no longer a member of the Two Chicks and a Hammer team. Mina explained that she had to let Austin go when she downsized her team, closed her retail store, and put her company's headquarters up for sale. She wanted to find a soft landing space for her employees and was able to secure a position for Austin at her brother Tad's company.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for Austin's departure | Mina downsized her team, closed her retail store and put her company’s headquarters on the market |
| Mina's statement on the matter | "I wanted to try to find a soft landing space for as many people on my team as I could, and one of the things that I did because Tad does have his own company is [that] I reached out to him and said two of the people on the team, Austin being one of them, I’m not in a position where I can maintain a large team anymore." |
| Mina's relationship with her family | Mina is not on good terms with her mother, Karen E. Laine, and her brother, Tad Starsiak |
| Mina's relationship with her colleagues | Mina is no longer on speaking terms with Karen, Tad and Corey |
| Mina's future plans | Mina closed her Two Chicks and a Hammer retail location in Bates-Hendricks, Indiana, and announced she was opening a new location in Noblesville, Indiana. Mina is also in talks for a new HGTV show |
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What You'll Learn
Mina downsized the team
Mina Starsiak Hawk, the owner of Two Chicks and a Hammer, made a difficult decision to downsize her team and let go of some employees, including Austin Aynes. This decision came after the announcement that the popular HGTV show "Good Bones" would be ending after its eighth season. Mina revealed her plans to downsize during her podcast episode in October 2023, explaining that she was no longer in a position to maintain a large team.
Mina's decision to downsize was likely influenced by the financial challenges facing her business. The home renovation industry has thin margins and high break-even points, which may have been exacerbated by the rising interest rates. By reducing her team size, Mina could cut costs and ensure the long-term survival of her company.
Austin, a beloved member of the demolition team on "Good Bones", was one of the employees affected by Mina's decision. Recognizing Austin's value, Mina reached out to her brother, Tad Starsiak, who had his own company. Tad agreed to take on Austin as an employee, ensuring a smooth transition for him.
In addition to downsizing her team, Mina also made the tough choice to close the Two Chicks and a Hammer retail location in Bates-Hendricks, Indiana. The store, which had been open for three years, was a gathering place for locals and visitors alike. Mina expressed her sadness about letting the neighborhood down but acknowledged that the decision was necessary for her business.
The downsizing of Mina's team and the closure of the retail store marked a significant shift for Two Chicks and a Hammer. It is unclear how many other employees were affected by the downsizing, but Mina's priority was to find soft landing spaces for as many team members as possible. Despite the challenges, Mina remained focused on the well-being of her employees and the long-term success of her company.
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Austin moved to Tad's company
After eight seasons of starring in HGTV's Good Bones, Austin Aynes was let go from Two Chicks and a Hammer. The show's star, Mina Starsiak Hawk, decided to downsize her team and close her retail store, Two Chicks District Co., at the end of 2023.
During an October 2023 podcast episode, Mina revealed that she was no longer in a position to maintain a large team and wanted to find a soft landing for her employees. She reached out to her brother, Tad Starsiak, who owns his own company, and asked if he could take on two of her employees, including Austin. Tad agreed, and Austin joined his company.
Austin's move to Tad's company came at a time when Mina was facing challenges with her business. In addition to downsizing her team and closing her retail store, Mina also put her company's headquarters on the market. She cited the need to make a difficult business decision, expressing her struggle with the feeling of letting down the neighborhood.
The decision to let Austin go from Two Chicks and a Hammer was a surprising bombshell for fans of the show. Austin, an Indianapolis native and Butler University graduate, had become a pivotal part of the Good Bones demolition team. His involvement with the show began when his friend and coworker, whose sister was Mina Starsiak Hawk, invited him to participate in the filming of the show's pilot.
While the reasons for Austin's departure from Two Chicks and a Hammer are primarily attributed to Mina's downsizing efforts, there may have been additional factors at play. Some sources suggest that the home renovation business operated on thin margins and dangerously narrow breakeven points, making it vulnerable in a high-interest-rate environment.
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Mina closed the retail store
Mina Starsiak Hawk, the owner of Two Chicks and a Hammer, closed her retail store, Two Chicks District Co., at the end of 2023. The store, located in Bates-Hendricks, Indiana, had been open for three years and was featured on the HGTV show "Good Bones," which starred Mina and her mother, Karen E. Laine.
In a statement, Mina expressed her sadness at having to close the store, acknowledging the support of the local community and the show's fans. She also cited numerous "challenges" as the reason for the closure, implying that financial difficulties may have played a role in her decision.
Indeed, some observers noted that the home renovation business operated by Two Chicks and a Hammer had thin margins and a dangerously narrow breakeven point, making it vulnerable to a high-interest rate environment. Mina herself hinted at financial strain when she announced that she was downsizing her team and putting her company's headquarters on the market.
In addition to closing the flagship store in Bates-Hendricks, Mina also revealed that she was no longer on good terms with her mother, Karen, and her brother, Tad Starsiak. She also confirmed that none of the cast members of "Good Bones" still worked for her company. However, she did announce plans to open a new store location in Noblesville, Indiana, which was welcomed by the town's mayor.
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Mina's company had thin margins
Mina Starsiak Hawk's company, Two Chicks and a Hammer, had thin margins, which meant that it was vulnerable to high-interest rate environments. This vulnerability, coupled with the company's high overhead costs, meant that Mina had to make some tough decisions to keep the company afloat.
In October 2023, Mina announced that she was letting go of some employees, including Austin Aynes, a beloved member of the team who had been with the company for almost 10 years. Mina explained that she was no longer in a position to maintain a large team and wanted to try to find a soft landing for as many people as possible. She reached out to Tad Starsiak, who had his own company, and he agreed to take on Austin and another employee.
In addition to downsizing her team, Mina also made the difficult decision to close the Two Chicks and a Hammer retail location in Bates-Hendricks, Indiana, at the end of 2023. The store had been open for three years and was a gathering place for locals and visitors to the city. Mina expressed that she felt she was letting the neighborhood down, but the decision was necessary for the company's survival.
The company's thin margins and the subsequent decisions made by Mina to downsize and close the retail location highlight the financial challenges faced by Two Chicks and a Hammer. These challenges ultimately led to changes in the team dynamics and the company's direction.
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Mina's family dynamics were strained
Mina Starsiak Hawk's family dynamics were strained, with the reality TV star revealing that she was not on good terms with her mother, Karen E. Laine, and brother, Tad Starsiak. Mina, who starred in HGTV's Good Bones with her mother, announced the show's end after its eighth season in August 2023. She also closed her Two Chicks and a Hammer retail location in Bates-Hendricks, Indiana, and downsized her team, letting go of contractor Austin Aynes, who joined Mina and Karen in many home renovations on the show. Mina cited financial difficulties as the reason for the closures and downsizing, stating that she was “not in a position to maintain a large team anymore."
Mina's strained relationship with her family was revealed during a podcast episode in August 2023, where she told listeners, "We all put our big kid pants on and pretend to be nice... then go back to our corners of the universe and talk s--t about each other... My mom and I aren't in a great place. My brother Tad and I aren't in a great place."
Mina's oversharing of family dynamics received mixed reactions, with some viewers finding it unnecessary and dramatic, while others empathized with her situation, acknowledging the family's history of dysfunction.
In addition to the family strain, Mina also faced challenges with her businesses. She closed the Two Chicks and a Hammer retail store at the end of 2023 due to numerous "challenges," expressing her struggle with the feeling of letting the neighborhood down. Mina also revealed that none of the show's cast members still worked for her company, indicating a significant shift in her professional relationships as well.
The strain in Mina's family dynamics was further exacerbated by the closure of her retail space and the downsizing of her team, which included letting go of Austin. These changes, coupled with the end of Good Bones, marked a significant transition for Mina, both personally and professionally.
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Frequently asked questions
2 Chicks and a Hammer, owned by Mina Starsiak Hawk and her mother, Karen E. Laine, was facing financial challenges and had to downsize its team. Mina decided to let Austin go and helped him find a new position with Tad Starsiak's company.
Austin Aynes was a contractor and a pivotal part of the demolition team at 2 Chicks and a Hammer. He joined the company after skipping a social psychology test to participate in the filming of a TV show pilot.
The company closed its retail location in Bates-Hendricks, Indiana, and Mina announced that the HGTV show "Good Bones" would end after season 8.
Yes, Austin continued his work in the construction industry by joining Tad Starziak's company.
Mina Starsiak Hawk continued to work in real estate and opened a new business location in Noblesville, Indiana. She also revealed that she was not on good terms with her mother, Karen E. Laine, or her brother, Tad Starsiak.
