Every September, we take a few moments to reflect on the past year’s adventures and look toward the future of LBE Design. This year’s reflection feels particularly poignant as we celebrate six years of business at LBE Design. Reaching this milestone is exceptionally meaningful as it signifies we’ve made it over the dreaded 5-year hurdle. It has deepened our appreciation for our journey and the countless other businesses that pour time, effort, and care into every product they create. Building a business is a labor of love, and we’ve come to understand that the process is just as important as the outcome.
6 Years of LBE Design
After the whirlwind of growth during the pandemic, followed by the subsequent slowdown as we all readjusted, the word that resonates most with me this year is “refine.” This past year has been about looking at our products and processes critically and identifying improvement opportunities. We created a new wholesale portal from the ground up to better serve our partners, reshot our product photography to showcase our ceramics better, redesigned our website to optimize the customer experience and share our story, and continued perfecting our 100% plastic-free packaging, including the proud achievement of shipping our 50-pound 15” planter plastic-free. These steps may seem small, but for our tiny team of five, they’ve been vital in positioning us for sustainable growth.
Moving to Mexico has allowed us to slow down and be more intentional with our designs, focusing on constant improvement. Personally, our renovation project for the Artist Studios in Mexico has also taught us valuable lessons in patience and adaptability. The process hasn’t always been easy, but it’s brought us closer to fulfilling our vision of providing a place where artisans and business owners can refine and workshop new designs that honor both the craft and its purpose. We’ve learned that while you can’t control everything, you can influence how you approach challenges and trust that things will come together in time.
What has always set LBE Design apart is the relationships we’ve built—with artisans, shop owners, and customers. What began as a side hustle quickly evolved into something larger because of these connections. It’s never just been about the products; it’s about the people behind them and the community we’ve created together. As we celebrate six years, we’re excited to continue this journey, deepening those connections, refining what we do, and creating meaningful products. Thank you for being part of this labor of love—we look forward to what lies ahead.
