Today we’d like to introduce you to Ronda Wenger.
Hi Ronda, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Thank you for having me. I am proud to introduce RoRo’s Retro, a family business made up of my mother, partner, and me. We specialize in the upcycling of vinyl records and their album covers, creating one-of-a-kind, sustainable, and functional products for music lovers, artists, and individuals who have an appreciation for vintage and eco-friendly items.
Our business emerged from a remarkable chain of unexpected and fortunate events. In 2020, my mother’s health began to decline, leading to frequent hospital stays. Then, in 2022, I experienced the loss of my job, prompting me to make a life-changing decision: leaving my 30+ year career in property management. From that point on, my focus shifted towards providing the care and attention my mother deserved, which I felt was lacking in the memory care facility where she resided. It was a situation I had prayed about, and it led my partner and me to the decision of bringing her to live with us.
I discovered that in order to provide daily activities that truly captured my mother’s interest, I needed to approach it with thoughtful consideration. It was during this time that I began to focus on our shared love for music. We started revisiting our collection of records and discovered a shared enjoyment that brought us even closer together. It became a cherished activity that we both looked forward to and has created precious memories along the way.
As someone with a deep appreciation for music and now on a new budget, I decided to get creative with our gift-giving at Christmas time. We upcycled some of our old records that were scratched and no longer playable, turning their album covers into notebooks. They were a hit with everyone who received them, and they encouraged us to keep making them.
In February of this year, we were invited to sell the notebooks at an art show at Riches Art Gallery in Austin, Texas. My mom, partner, and I worked together as we listened to music, making enough notebooks to sell at our first show. The show was a huge success, and it was incredibly rewarding to see others appreciate our work as much as we love creating it. From there, we were invited to sell at other events in Austin, including Antone’s, two shows during SXSW (South by Southwest), and a fashion show.
After the positive feedback and success from our initial shows in Austin, we quickly realized the potential of our products and began to focus on turning RoRo’s Retro into a business. As proud Houstonians, we are excited to have recently started to collaborate with events and markets right here in Houston.
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?
Losing my job was unexpected and a challenging experience, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It served as a profound wake-up call and redirected my focus towards what truly matters in life – my family.
I would say it has mostly been a smooth road. The support we have received from everyone we’ve encountered has been nothing short of remarkable. A turning point came when I enrolled in a business class at Houston Community College, taught by the curator of Shop Local Market. This invaluable opportunity has provided us with an abundance of support, resources, and tools.
As part of the class, I was given the opportunity of joining the Creative and Maker Community and IDEAStudio the makerspace at Houston Community College’s West Houston Institute. This incredible facility has equipped me with training in simulation, laser cutting, and the creation of essential business materials necessary for our marketing ventures. The opportunities that have stemmed from enrolling in the business class have truly been inspiring, and the friendships we have built along the way have made a profound difference in both my life and that of my mother.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
RoRo’s Rero is now an online store and pop-up shop dedicated to handcrafting unique and sustainable products that pay homage to art and music. By repurposing vintage vinyl records and album covers, we create functional and timeless pieces that bring joy to our customers. Our mission goes beyond nostalgia; we strive to be environmentally conscious by breathing new life into old materials.
Each album cover notebook is made using an album cover, making it stand out from typical notebooks. With 70 blank pages, a twin loop metal binding, and protective clear sheets on the front and back covers, these notebooks are both professional-looking and practical for everyday use.
Our upcycled drink coasters are crafted from vinyl records that have seen better days and are no longer playable. Made to showcase the center art of the record, each coaster is approximately 4” in diameter and includes protective clear coating and a cork bottom to prevent damage to furniture. The coasters are both functional and conversation-starting.
What sets us apart is we are more than a family business; we are a labor of love born out of a desire to care for my mother and create meaningful products and memories together. As we work side by side, we pour our hearts into every aspect of our work, including meticulously crafting our notebooks and coasters. From hand-cutting and sanding to carefully sealing each coaster, we ensure that every piece is a testament to our commitment to quality and attention to detail. We want our customers to feel proud to own and use our products. Through the process of upcycling, we find value and meaning in items that may appear old or broken. By breathing new life into these forgotten treasures, we celebrate their worth and showcase their hidden potential.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Both of my parents instilled a deep love of music within me from a young age. Growing up in a small town in Kansas, my musical journey began at the age of five when my parents started taking me to live music performances. Some of our most memorable adventures was the 12-hour drives to Pasadena, Texas, to see the legendary Mickey Gilley perform at his iconic club called Gilley’s, which held the title of the world’s largest nightclub at the time. It was during these years that I had the incredible opportunity to witness numerous musical legends from several genres, creating lasting memories that fueled my passion for music and the artists who create it.
I owe much of my musical influence to my older brother and my father, who not only shared their own eclectic taste in music but also accompanied me to countless concerts and festivals. It seemed like they never hesitated to take me to any show I requested. My dad introduced me to blues at an early age, and it is something that has touched me to this day.
My love for blues music and older musicians is an integral part of who I am and will forever hold a special place in my heart. People would often tease me, joking that the average age of my friends was 80, and perhaps they were right. One of my dearest friends for the past 25 years is Sweet Betty, a talented blues and gospel singer from Atlanta, Georgia. We were always together and traveled throughout the country and overseas during my time in Atlanta. Even now, we maintain regular communication, and she remains a significant presence in my life.
My journey through the world of blues music has been filled with encounters with extraordinary talents along with a deep level of respect. While the loss of many of my blues musician friends weighs heavy on my heart, their spirit lives on in my commitment to keeping their memories alive. Rather than pursuing a career in the music industry, I preferred to focus on my genuine friendships with older musicians, offering my support and assistance behind the scenes. By helping them navigate the challenges of travel and everyday life, I did my best to allow these remarkable artists to focus on their true passion, creating music that touches souls and leaves a lasting legacy. The times spent with them, both on and off stage, created moments of pure magic that I will forever treasure. The impact of these artists goes beyond their music; it has helped shape my perspective, enriched my experiences, and cultivated a profound appreciation for the power of music to touch souls and transcend generations. The love and admiration I have for music and older musicians who created it is a gift that will stay with me always.
Pricing:
- $25 Notebooks
- $10 Drink Coasters Each
- $30 Set of 4 Drink Coasters
- Free Shipping When You Spend $25
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rorosretro.com
- Instagram: @roros.retro
- Facebook: facebook.com/rorosretro
Image Credits
The Mighty Orq
TMO Photography
