Conversations with Brianna Marlow and Christian Ramirez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brianna Marlow and Christian Ramirez.

Hi Brianna and Christian, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
One day, Christian and I were walking through Michael’s craft store when we saw a Cricut machine. Intrigued and full of time, we decided to buy it.

We were amazed by the number of things we could create with this machine, and our creativity took off. We started making signs, designing t-shirts, and even making custom orders and gifts for family and friends. We began doing the OB Farmer’s market on Wednesday nights, where we wheeled down all of our supplies in a wagon. We loved meeting our customers and seeing how much they loved our work.

When we moved in together, we realized our need for shelving in our tiny home. That was when we moved from signs and t-shirts to geometric shelving. A local shop, Petra de Luna, was the first to give us a shot to showcase our work. We didn’t have much space or resources, but we made do with what we had. Christian worked full time, and I was going to nursing school, so it was a way to also supplement our income when we had the time. When the pandemic hit, we weren’t sure what was going to happen. But, luckily for us, our sales skyrocketed. We went from selling 40 triangles in 2019 to nearly 700 in 2020.

We were able to move from working out of our living room and backyard to constructing a workspace and expanding and improving our toolset. We now have our products in two local stores, Shara and Vervor, as well as selling through Etsy and other local farmer’s markets. Although our sales have slowed down in 2021, it has allowed us to reflect on the last years and appreciate the support and progress we have made, as well as look to the future on what we can innovate next. We are constantly striving to improve our work and create something new that our customers will love.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely has not always been a smooth road, and there have been a lot of ups and downs along the way. At first, there were a lot of technicalities to figure out. The angles, the best ways to adhere the triangles and make them sturdy, all while making them look as good as possible. Although there were these obstacles we had to overcome, it made us improve everyday.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We specialize in custom geometric shelving. We offer over 15 different designs and stain options and are always open to custom requests. We are very proud of the detail and time that we put into each shelf. If you read our reviews, our processing time may take longer than others, but it is for a good reason. Each one of our shelves is sanded and sealed a total of four times and is made to order. We try to deliver excellent customer service and accommodate any specific requests or concerns that a customer may have. At the farmer’s markets, we offer new designs every week, as we are constantly innovating and trying to provide our customers with something exciting every time they see our work. We are both extremely passionate and hardworking individuals, and I would like to think this comes through in our work.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to us, and what has always mattered to us, is the quality of products that we are providing to our customers. There is nothing better than getting a review and reading how genuinely happy someone was to open their package and see their custom shelf. To see repeat buyers purchasing our products time after time to place their most valued items on in their homes. While creating these products, we look at every detail- choosing the wood grain, sanding, staining, sealing (4 times), and choosing which side and direction look best, so that we believe it is worthy of a place in your home.

Contact Info:

• Email: Imperfectlysimpleco@gmail.com
• Website: Imperfectlysimpleco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imperfectlysimpleco/
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/8wAXXUvPWg4