Today we’d like to introduce you to Roberto Lazo.
Hi Roberto, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born in the summer of 1963, in Nicaragua to a cattle ranching family. I grew up with 12 other siblings and was the 5th child and 3rd oldest boy. School was never something I liked since all I wanted to do was be on the ranch helping my father and brothers cowboy. Ranching and farming was what I knew and all I wanted to do with my life until I became 18 years old.
The Nicaraguan revolution had just begun, completely changing my life and leading me to a different path as I was inadvertently swept up in the conflict. After, I moved to Granada, a major city along the coast of the Lake Nicaragua. There, I met my wife and learned how to weave wicker at a factory my cousin ran. I stayed for many years until I decided I wanted better for my family.
I moved to the United States in the late 80’s and settled in the Bay Area, CA. Initially, I was working in cleaning positions and delivering newspapers all around San Francisco. One day, my brother-in law drove me to a small shop in Berkeley called The Caning shop in hopes of getting a job. The owner, Jim Widess, initially denied me until a customer walked in with a wicker child’s chair, a chair he admitted to the client he could not repair as he did not know. I told him I could do it and he gave me an opportunity and one month later I was officially employed.
The Caning Shop and Jim Widess taught me much more when it came to how to repair many different furniture types and my knowledge for the trade really grew under him. I was very grateful for the opportunity and the doors Jim opened for me. He is a dear mentor and friend. I worked there for 10 years, even reaching the rank of teacher teaching caning classes along with my daily duty of repairing furniture that came in.
After 10 years with Jim at The Caning shop, I started my own shop in San Leandro, CA in 2001. I was there 5 years making a name for myself throughout the bay area in repairing high quality furniture. At one point, I helped Garry Knox Bennett, famous Oakland custom furniture maker with some caning for some chairs he was featuring in a book he was doing. He gave me a book and signed it thanking me for work I did, a book I still have today.
In 2006, I moved to TX and was looking to change careers into Real Estate. I failed the real estate exam 3 times by a question and remember being stuck about what to do. One evening in 2007, I was studying again for the exam when my youngest came to me and I explained how I was unable to pass due to one question. His advice that day moved me as he told me to do what I knew how to do. The next morning, I went out and leased a location where Lazo’s Caning & Wicker began.
Serving the Greater Houston metro area since 2007.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I don’t know of anyone who has a smooth road. Challenges are what make you or break you and I am grateful for the ones I endured because they have allowed me to grow and be the person I am.
Moving to a new country was a challenge and then having a business in which majority of clients spoke English was another since at first I struggled with English and still do at times.
The language barrier was a big hurdle when I started my business long ago.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At Lazo’s Caning & Wicker, we specialize in repairing and restoring furniture of all types from caning, wicker, upholstery, refinishing and chair weaving from rush to Danish cord, reeds, seagrass, rush and much more.
We are known for high quality repairs and restoration services but most notably for caning and wicker as it is a rare trade now a days and not many people know how to do it.
What sets us apart from other shops is that we really do it all when it comes to repairs. We are a one stop shop when it comes to weaving, wood repair, refinishing, and upholstery along with the wicker.
I am most proud of the journey and that we are still around to serve our great customers who make it a joy to do what I do when I see them so excited and happy to see the work we did to their furniture. Clients joy to our work is priceless.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can work with us by reaching out and we like to take care of our customers. We believe in exceptional customer service.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lazoscaningwicker.com/
- Instagram: @lazoscaning
- Youtube: @lazoscaningwicker
