HOW DID WE MAKE IT TO HGTV HOME TOWN KICKSTART? 

Let me begin by sharing a little bit about us. Some have asked, but my name is not Luna lol, my name is Laura and the name of my business is LUNA VERDE DESIGN which means green moon.  This name has both cultural significance in Colombia and points to my inspiration from nature. 

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME 

I was born and raised in Colombia and didn't move to the US until I was 25.

I always had a passion for art since I can remember and I really wanted to get an art degree but that required going to a private university that was impossible for my family to afford. So I ended up studying psychology for 5 years and just as I was about to graduate, I moved to the US after marrying my husband. I hoped once in the US I could finish my degree but since I couldn't find an internship here and my credits wouldn't transfer I was unable to finish my degree. That made finding a desirable job here really difficult for me and I ended up working as a preschool teacher for several years.To be honest, moving to the US, learning english, adjusting to the culture and then feeling stuck in a job that I didn't really enjoy that much was really really difficult but I was always looking to find ways to improve.

THE BEGINNING OF LUNA VERDE DESIGN 

                                         

Christmas 2019 I got $100 from my in laws which I spent on some basic clay materials and I started working my first clay earring pieces.  I had no prior experience but was able to experiment some and make some unique pieces.  At this time though I just figured I had found a fun hobby but one day I took some of my earrings to work and ended up coming back with $150!  That's when my husband Mitchell stepped in and helped me to make a business.  About a month later Covid hit and like so many others I found myself out of a job so it was time to focus 100% on Luna Verde Design!

Of course though, I still had so much to learn and was juggling trying to create a business while also taking care of my 1 year old at the time. Mitchell helped me to open my first Etsy shop and we both quickly tried to learn the world of e commerce.  In fact at the time I didn't even had an Instagram account and didn't know what a hashtag was!  I was nervous and didn't really think anyone would be interested in what I was making but Mitchell encouraged me through this and he always has more trust in me than I do myself.  So we opened the shop and within weeks more sales than I could imagine started coming in and I knew I wanted to focus full time on this and not return to work.  It was really challenging with a young child to take care of at the same time but I knew sacrificing down time and sleep would be worth it if I could make this work and do something I really enjoy!

                                                                                                                  

CHANGES FOR LUNA VERDE DESIGN 

After a year and a half on Etsy, we decided we wanted to try and further expand our business so my husband helped me open a shop in Shopify where we would have a little more freedom to expand marketing, grow our email list, do more in depth analytics and explore new products. We started selling a lot more than just clay earrings and now we have cell phone cases, stickers, journals, canvases and more and we hope to expand!  With digital art, we can sell unique designs but print them on demand which is far less time consuming than all of my hand painted work. I'm so thankful for all of my husband's work helping me with all this.  He is truly the business minded person and I focus on the art so together we make a great team!

   
                                                                                                                                                                 

HGTV 

In November 2021 we got a message on Facebook from a producer of RTR MEDIA to contact us about some "show" being filmed in La Grange.  At the time we had no idea that it was going to be on HGTV!  After a series of a few interviews, they chose us to be on the show as one of two small businesses to be featured in the Alley Loop project.  However, there was one BIG issue.  We had planned a trip to visit my family in Colombia in January and we were going with some friends who were planning their first trip out of the country.  After HGTV interviewed us at our home in December, we found out that the other filming time would be two days after our departure for Colombia.  We had a really tough decision to make but we decided to postpone our trip a few days (and that meant losing our tickets and having to purchase 6 new tickets to Colombia).  I really want my business to succeed and so I knew this was a risk I would have to take and thankfully our friends completely understood and we ended up having an amazing time in Colombia! 

On May 15th, 2022 our episode aired and I'm so thankful for the opportunity we were given to even just briefly showcase my work and for the exposure the show has given us.  I'm thankful that RTR found us and contacted us and so thankful for the town of La Grange being so kind and supportive! 

My only regret is I wish my husband could've spoken on the show. They interviewed us together, but cut out just about everything. I wish he was shown because without him there is no way we would be where we are today and this business would've never started.  

                                                                                                                                                     

FOR THE FUTURE

My goal now is to continue to grow Luna Verde Design! In my wildest dreams, I'll be able to make enough someday where my husband could work full time for the business but for now we're so thankful for what we have and God's provision for us through this small business. Through it all I have experienced the love and support of friends and family and of course all of my amazing customers!  I was to truly thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued support!

                

The horse trailer belongs to the town of  LaGrange,

 but in their kindness they let me use it. 

Last valentine's day at 32 degrees outside, 

we were selling goodies at the chocolate crawl on LaGrange. 

                                             My boys, always with me!                                                              

Thanks for reading,

Laura.