Meet Rick + Brandy McLain | Architects + Entrepreneurs

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rick + Brandy McLain and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rick + Brandy, how do you think about risk?
Being a business owner isn’t for everyone. You’ve got to be willing to take risks. To us, a risk often looks like an opportunity! When we started Modern House Numbers, Brandy made the hard choice to leave her role in planning and architecture to take the reins of the operation. When she did, it created the flexibility to create and grow a company that consistently reflects our values. The decision to follow our passion and take the chance to start our own company is one of the best and most fulfilling decisions we’ve made.

What should our readers know about your business?
Starting our own business has always been our dream. Our home renovation in 2008 was our inspiration and motivation. As a final touch, we wanted to install modern address numbers on the exterior. To our surprise, we couldn’t find anything we liked. With our background in architecture and construction we decided to make our own. After we installed them, we had friends, family, and even strangers knock on our door to ask about our new numbers. We thought “Wow, other people want this modern aesthetic too. We could help!” We jumped at the chance to make it easy and fun for folks all around the world to add beautiful, modern addressing to their own homes. We took our idea and created a collection of numbers in timeless, modern fonts, along with matching mailbox decals and curb numbers.

From the beginning, we knew we would create our products in Tucson, one customer at a time. We wanted to be hands-on every step of the way and have a manufacturing model rooted in sustainable practices. We quickly decided that everything we sell would be modern, durable, and waterjet cut from 100% recycled aluminum. These decisions resulted in a hybrid manufacturing model where we became experts in mass customization. These core principles guided our decisions at the onset of Modern House Numbers and continue to inform our decisions today. We’re proud to say that everything we sell is still made by us and our team in Tucson.

We’ve always pushed beyond the conventional and avoided trends. We offer iconic design options to stand the test of time. Additionally, we’ve been laser focused on quality, and on taking the very best care of our customers and staff. We do not waiver from these commitments.

As an e-commerce company, we’ve learned that you cannot be complacent with short term success. We’re always looking to improve and innovate. From our internal processes to our website, we consistently work to stay curious and relevant.

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.
We’re so lucky to call Tucson, Arizona our home. The people are friendly, the food is amazing – especially the Mexican food! – the history is fascinating, and the Sonoran desert is spectacular. If you came to visit, we’d be sure to take you to visit as many of these spots as possible:

-A stay at the charming and historic Arizona Inn
-The Sonoran Desert Museum
-Mercado & MSA: can’t miss Seis Kitchen for delicious contemporary Mexican food, Presta Coffee, La Estrella Bakery for traditional Mexican pastry, and a stop at MAST boutique
-Saguaro National Monument
-Congress Street, and especially a meal at Cup Cafe at the historic Hotel Congress
-A drive by the renowned Judith Chafee Ramada House
-Tito + Pep, incredible food in an MCM building near our office
-El Charro, the oldest Mexican restaurant in America, founded in 1922
-Pueblo Vida Brewing Company
-Lost Barrio shopping district
-Hiking in Sabino Canyon
-Museum of Modern Art & Cafe a la Cart
-University of Arizona – Mall walk and visit to Meinel Optical Science building, & School of Dance buildings
-San Xavier Mission on the Tohono O’odham reservation
-Day trip to Bisbee or Tubac

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
We’d like to give our shoutout to author Malcolm Gladwell and his book Outliers. Gladwell writes that you don’t have to be a genius to achieve greatness. The main factors that contribute to achievement are typically the environment and the people you surround yourself with. With this insight, we created a plan to build our business around a great idea, with an empowered team in a creative environment. With these conditions, we were confident our business would thrive. “No one—not rock stars, not professional athletes, not software billionaires, and not even geniuses—ever makes it alone.” – Malcolm Gladwell.

Website: https://www.modernhousenumbers.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-house-numbers/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernHouseNumbers

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIOwJewuqc0V8jiCvQqN0xA

Image Credits
Headshot of Rick + Brandy and staff photo with mtns – Gerry Loew