When we first began offering furniture purchasing tours in Guadalajara, the vision was straightforward: act as a bridge between American and Canadian clients and the remarkable vendors and craftsmen who make this city one of the design capitals of Latin America. Over the past six years, those tours became more than just shopping excursions. They were journeys of discovery—introducing clients to the artistry of Mexican furniture, the warmth of local workshops, and the unique experience of creating custom pieces rooted in cultural tradition.
From a vibrant new home remodel in Punta Mita to the possibility of a hotel project in the United States, the opportunities that grew from those tours were extraordinary. They opened doors, built friendships, and gave us a deeper appreciation for the way creativity thrives when you blend cultures, perspectives, and ideas.
But as our business expanded, and as the immigrant community in Guadalajara grew rapidly, we noticed a shift. While many clients came with respect and curiosity, a few interactions did not reflect the values we’ve built our company on—collaboration, humility, and respect for artisans. And when the very relationships with vendors that fuel creativity began to feel strained, we realized it was time to do something few businesses are willing to do: pause, reflect, and start over.
Why Starting Over is Not Failure
It would be easy to frame suspending the tours as a setback. After all, they were successful, beloved, and even iconic in their own way. But in the creative process, starting over is rarely about loss. It is about refinement.
Creative growth thrives on change. Every painter knows the value of a blank canvas. Every writer knows the liberation of deleting a page. Every designer knows that the strongest rooms are the ones edited down to what truly belongs.
Starting over is not failure. It is the moment you step away from “what worked before” and make space for what’s next. It demands courage, but it also creates clarity.
Lessons From Six Years of Growth
The tours taught us invaluable lessons that we carry into this new chapter:
Respect fuels creativity. Vendors and craftsmen aren’t just suppliers—they are collaborators whose artistry elevates every project. Protecting those relationships is non-negotiable.
Opportunities multiply through alignment. By staying true to values, we found ourselves connected to projects far beyond tours—full custom furniture fabrication, interior design projects in Mexico, and even international hotel collaborations.
Nothing is wasted. Every conversation, every showroom visit, every client experience built the foundation for what comes next.
These lessons are the threads woven into our larger story of starting over—not as a retreat, but as a strategic, intentional move forward.
The Creative Reset Button
Think of starting over as pressing a creative reset button. It doesn’t erase what came before—it recharges it.
By stepping back from tours, we’ve made room to focus on what lights us up most:
Custom furniture design in Guadalajara and Jalisco using parota, rosa morada, and other locally sourced hardwoods.
Full-scale interior design projects that combine Mexican craftsmanship with international sensibilities.
Project-based sourcing trips that give clients curated, values-driven access to artisan work without the pressure of mass tours.
This shift allows us to refine our energy, protect relationships with artisans, and double down on the kind of work that inspires true creative growth.
Why Starting Over is the Secret Ingredient in Creative Growth
So why is starting over so powerful, whether in business, art, or personal life? Because it teaches us to:
See with fresh eyes. You stop recycling yesterday’s solutions and begin to notice opportunities others overlook.
Grow new skills. Every reset forces you to learn different tools, processes, or languages—fuel for future creativity.
Build resilience. Once you’ve let go and landed on your feet, you know you can do it again. That confidence carries into everything you create.
For us, starting over doesn’t mean abandoning our past. It means honoring it, protecting it, and allowing it to become the fertile ground for something new.
Looking Forward
Right now, starting over means shifting our energy into custom design, fabrication, and collaborative sourcing—the work that truly celebrates Mexican artistry and connects it with clients across North America. It means focusing on projects that bring out the best in every partner involved, whether it’s a family furnishing their new beach house, or a developer launching a boutique hotel.
Most of all, it means staying true to the values that brought us here: respect, collaboration, and a belief that creativity grows stronger when nurtured with integrity.
A Creative Life is a Cycle
The truth is, every creative life follows the same rhythm: build, break, begin again. Starting over is not a detour—it’s the yeast in the dough. It’s what makes the whole thing rise.
By letting go of what no longer aligns, we make space for what’s ahead. And if the past six years are any indication, the next chapter will be even richer, even more connected, and even more aligned with what creativity is all about: growth, renewal, and the courage to begin again.