Today we’d like to introduce you to Manuel Lopez Jr. and Martha Sophia Lopez.
Manuel and Martha, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I (Manny) started my leather work when I bought a motorcycle; I needed straps to hold a bag on it. They were pricey all around so I venture out to a leather store and picked up some supplies and made them myself. My wife, Sophia, was impressed and asked for a wallet, then a tote. She had so many interests, I began making different things and before I knew it I had a business.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It hasn’t been easy when you both work full time and have a business that demands full time can be challenging. Last year when we decided to do markets, we didn’t know what to expect. We look back now and ask ourselves how we made it through. We went through the last three months of the year with 1-2 hours of sleep to no sleep.
Since we worked full time and heavily involved in other areas of our life, at that time we only had nights, late nights to prepare for our markets. Our time with our toddler was cut short. While we continue to push forward Bear Cub Leather this year we have made a greater effort to maintain some work-life balance.
Please tell us about Bear Cub Leather Goods.
What sets Bear Cub Leather apart is the focus on our idea that lasting leather goods don’t need to be a thing of the past, rather they can be made here in the heart of Houston.
Hand cut and hand sewed, 100% handmade leather goods. Each item is given the most precious commodity we have, time. Made carefully and patiently to guarantee that our labor of love is with you for a lifetime. We specialize in women’s totes and our minimal wallet design for men.
We pride ourselves on offering heritage leather goods that will tell your unique story as you carry them through your life.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
This is a tough one. We don’t think we would do anything differently or more of we can’t think of something in particular. We believe everything was meant to be how it went, maybe one thing would be to balance life.
Learning to balance everything in a healthy way might have given us more sleep. (haha) Honestly truly everything, how it has happened has taught us something or has open the door for something.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bearcubleather.com
- Email: manny@bearcubleather.com
- Instagram: bearcubleather
- Facebook: facebook.com/bearcubleathergoods
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