Meet Jeremy Lugo | Founder, Woodgrown

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeremy Lugo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeremy, what inspires you?
What inspires me is a washer and dryer that my parents have had since the ’80s. As silly as it sounds, it’s the truth. It’s not because I have a love for agitated laundry and clean smelling clothes, but rather due to the fact that things just used to be built better than they are today. I started Woodgrown because I wanted to build products the way they used to be made — to last. Every product is made with the intent that it should be kept for as long as possible, but still be functional, stylish, and bring joy to your home. It’s hard to imagine buying something from a big box store thinking one day you might pass it on to your loved ones. We live in a nearsighted disposable world that fails to take the full life cycle of products into consideration. What inspired me is the idea that products should be made to last, but once their usable life ends, they can be safely and properly recycled or disposed of. We strive to accomplish this by designing and building high-quality products out of materials that are easy to repurpose or recycle when you’re done with them. And we’re just getting started.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We design, manufacture, and sell well-built home and plant decor. We currently manufacture 100% of our products locally in Southern California using high-quality, natural materials, and believe that it is the quality of our products that set us apart from the rest. I feel that my background in hospitality and manufacturing helped get me to where I am today business-wise because running a successful business requires both strong customer service skills as well as the technical knowledge. There’s nothing about running a business that I would say is easy, but it has its challenges in the best possible way. The best way to overcome the challenges of operating a business is to look at problems with the mindset of “how” you will overcome an obstacle rather than “if” you can overcome an obstacle. We’re committed to building a brand that solves problems rather than one that creates them.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
While we don’t currently reside in San Diego (we’re headquartered in Long Beach), my wife and I did spend the most incredible anniversary weekend visiting not too long ago. We stayed in an awesome downtown Airbnb known as the Urban Treehouse, had an amazing dining experience at Born and Raised, then ended the night with a couple of drinks at False Idol. A weekend in San Diego isn’t complete without stopping at the beaches, checking out the San Diego Botanic Garden, and a quick stop at Communal Coffee.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A shoutout to my Uncle Scott, who showed me what it means to own and lead a successful business. I began working for him at his business when I was 15 where I swept floors and eventually learned how to fabricate with metal and wood. To this day, his entrepreneurial spirit inspires me.

Website: https://woodgrown.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodgrown/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQppiGiW-nS_Z_jonUHfccQ

Other: Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/woodgrowncompany/

Image Credits
Brad Hansen, Ashley Bohm