Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Lawlor.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My grandfather started this company when he was forced to retire and couldn’t handle spending too much time with my grandmother. Funny story is when he retired they bought a new car drove to Florida for a long stay and after a week he gave her the car keys hopped on a plane and bought this pace before she got back to Illinois. I started sweeping the factory during my summer vacation from seventh grade. Then every holiday and vacation after that. Started working after school and eventually became a full time employee. I’ve done every job there is to do in this company learning every nut and bolt on every machine. Me and my grandfather had a great relationship apparently that didn’t sit well with my grandmother because after the passing of my grandfather she fired me. It was a terrible day my wife was about to give birth and my mother wasn’t in the best of health and I was out of a job for the first time since I was 12. So off to court we went I had a contract with my grandfather to purchase the business he would finance me and I would pay interest and there was a lot of interest to be paid his estate would had gotten well over a million dollars over 10 years but that wasn’t good enough so in the court room the lady I’ve know my whole life as gram was just a different women for the first time I seen the women my grandfather had described to me on a couple occasions. That evil side came out more and more as my mother’s illness progressed. Back in the courtroom she demand her money in one lump sum and being a 29 year old about to have a baby I was in no position. That didn’t stop my lawyer though he spoke up and told the judge absolutely Mrs. Drabik can have all her money at once of course she started smiling for the first time. Then with a long dramatic pause he said with a discount how much the judge asked 50% he said she started pounding the desk went ballistic people had to calm her down the judge suggested we take a break and see if we can come up with a number we did and came up with $600.000 which was pretty darn close to that 50%. So with that done I had 30 days to make it happen that was a tall order $600.000 in 30 days. Off to the banks I went with no luck at all so I brought in a partner who worked in the office and she but up her house as collateral I but up my house as collateral and we still fell short so in the final hours my mother took a loan out against her house and gave me what I need to secure the loan. Now the real pressure begins I jumped in with everything I had I knew if we didn’t grow we were doomed to fail. I started expanding making new designs and going after every market I could so I could get these loans paid. First one to be paid was my mother of course then after the rest were low enough to give a little breathing room it was time to expand again which didn’t sit well with my partner but I see the writing on the wall companies were going under all around us China was knocking on our door. So it was go big or go home and my partner went home so back into debt I went alone this time. It was the best decision for the company though and I had a vision of making large shades so off to Vegas I went to open up a whole new market and what a great and exciting market it has become. With the help of my trusted staff who none of this would be possible without we were able to create some awesome designs. Most of my staff have been here over a decade some even two decades and a couple 3 decades. I am truly blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life who have stuck by me thru this crazy ride. They were there when I got fired vowing never to work for anyone but me if I chose to continue with Lampshades Inc. or start a new company. That is what got me thru the hard times and still does knowing I never want to let them down well there is so much more but I hope this is on the right track
Peace Michael Lawlor
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Lampshades Inc. story. Tell us more about the business.
We are so much more than just a lampshade company we manufacture all types of pendent lighting we are known for are large scale pendent lights which separates us from other companies I am proud that we will not turn down a job we will figure out a way for our customer no matter what
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I am always hopeful to see more products being made in the USA. I hope we continue to be more eco-friendly also not just as a nation but as a planet.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4041 west Ogden
Chicago IL. 60623 - Website: needashade.com
- Phone: 773-522-2300
- Email: lampshades@sbcglobal.net
- Facebook: Lampshades inc
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