Support LullCo's New Dedicated Space!

LullCo began with a mission: to save the upholstery trade and empower others to rebuild, restore, and create. It started as a solution to a problem—my first furniture fabrication business couldn’t keep up with demand because there weren’t enough skilled tradespeople to hire. When I had to close that business, I shifted my focus to teaching, training nearly 500 people in just 3 short years, in upholstery, restoration, and design. Half of them have returned for more training, and dozens have launched their own businesses using the skills they gained. I even managed to nab a few of these students to begin growing the next phase of this journey, which is having a brick and mortar to see how big we can get this baby to grow.

Today, LullCo has grown into a thriving community of thousands of furniture enthusiasts, artisans, and creators. Now, I’m ready to take LullCo to the next level by opening a permanent dedicated studio—a one-of-a-kind hub for design, education, creativity, and custom furniture and decor. - But I can’t do it alone. I’m providing the tools, materials, ideas, education, and passion—but I need the community’s help to secure the foundation for the first year.

Why LullCo matters: LullCo is more than a business—it’s a movement to preserve a dying art, make custom design accessible, and empower people to build their own creative futures. By training more skilled tradespeople and creating a space for community connection, LullCo is addressing a critical gap in the industry.

Here’s what we’ve achieved so far:

Trained nearly 500 students in upholstery and furniture restoration.

Supported dozens of new businesses launched by LullCo graduates.

Built a loyal community of creators, with over half of students returning for further training.

Partnered with local non-profits to train volunteers and provide restoration services to families in need.

Challenges of Growing as a Small Business: It’s no secret that small businesses face challenges when trying to grow without access to capital. I have built LullCo using only my own resources, along with the support of friends and family, AFTER closing my business with lingering debt. After our first attempt at running a furniture fabrication business, my husband and I learned some tough but valuable lessons: we were fulfilling a strong demand, but without capital, security, staff, and external support, it simply wasn’t sustainable. We had all of the talent without many of the means to make it work.

Working out of a community maker-space has been instrumental in allowing me to rebuild, grow, and refine LullCo. It’s given me access to tools, a supportive environment, and a space to work and teach. However, I’ve now reached a ceiling for growth due to the physical limitations of my current space, and without a ‘next phase’, all of this success I managed to rebuild, could wither up and die. In just 3 short years, I’ve organized the systems, built the team, and cultivated national interest to make this endeavor more successful than ever. What I lack is the capital to secure a dedicated space that will allow LullCo the time and space it needs to flourish and grow. This is where I need your help, and the support of the community.

The Vision for the New Space: This isn’t just a shop, or community work space. It’s a furniture and design studio where people can learn, create, and connect. When you walk in, you’ll feel the energy of a tattoo shop or alternative hair salon—cool, vibrant, and inspiring. Large windows showcase the activity inside: artists at work in the 'Chair Salon', customers browsing furniture, fabric, tools, and supplies, while students learn the craft of upholstery.

Here’s what the space will offer:

The Chair Salon: Furniture restoration while you wait. A creative hub where customers can choose their own frames and materials, select an artist based on their personal style, and watch their furniture come to life. If I've learned anything in the 13 years I have been doing this professionally, it's that people love to watch and be a part of this process. I want to make them a part of every step.

Workshops and Classes: Weekends transform the space into a hands-on learning environment for DIYers, experience makers, and aspiring professionals alike who visit from all over the US and Canada.

Retail for DIY Enthusiasts: Specialty designer and discounted fabrics, professional-grade tools, and supplies—everything you need to create something extraordinary without having to have a tax-id number to gain access.

A Home for Creatives: Community members can rent access to personal workspaces, use tools, and work on their own projects without the risks or overhead of starting their own business. They can pay by the hour, day, week, month, or year to utilize these resources.

Events for Everyone: Free community events and youth workshops that make creativity and design accessible to all. We want to inspire the next generation of furniture design enthusiasts.

Who It’s For:

DIY Enthusiasts: People who want to learn and create with their own hands.

Residential and Commercial Clients: Those looking for unique, custom furniture or fabrication services to elevate their spaces.

Aspiring Professionals: Individuals seeking training and mentorship to launch careers in upholstery and restoration.

Local Artists and Furniture Enthusiasts: Creatives who need access to tools, materials, and community support.

Location Goals? Downtown Ypsilanti would be ideal for me, but ultimately I am looking for the best option to grow. Ypsilanti is a developing creative, vibrant community filled with potential. I am also looking for spaces in Ann Arbor, close to Maker Works, where I will remain a member as an extension of my business.

By opening this space anywhere, we can:

Create immediate jobs for local furniture artists.

Offer affordable, sustainable custom design options.

Build a hub for learning, creativity, and connection.

How You Can Help: We’re raising $30,000 to cover our first year of expenses and transform this vision into reality. Here’s where your support will go:

Rent and Deposit: One full year of rent and security deposit to secure a space.

Set-Up and moving Costs: Shelving, tools, tech, and fixtures, to create a fully functional Chair Salon and workspace.

Utilities: 1 full year of estimated utilities including gas, water, electric, and Wifi. Keeping the lights on for workshops, events, and daily operations.

This will give LullCo a proper runway to execute our plans for 2025 and see if we can grow to the next level!

The impact has already been made on my classes. I currently have my classes scheduled out through March, but we had to move them to HouseN2Home who was gracious enough to have us until March, but by the end of that month I will need a new solution. It's time. Here is the hope for the timeline moving into 2025.

Timeline:

by February 2025: Secure the space and begin setup.

by March 2025: Open our doors to the public and launch our first series of classes and events.

Join the Movement: LullCo has come a long way, but this is just the beginning. With your help, we can create a space that inspires creativity, builds community, and grows the upholstery trade for future generations. This isn’t just about furniture—it’s about empowering people, preserving a craft, and creating a greener, more connected world.

Let’s build this together.