We were lucky to catch up with Brandy McLain recently and have shared our conversation below.

Brandy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

Modern House Numbers distinguishes itself in the industry by redefining the standard for modern addressing products. What sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to handcrafting each piece with precision and care in the USA, a departure from the commonplace mass production overseas. Unlike industry norms, we prioritize the individuality of our customers by avoiding pre-made inventory.

When ordering from us, customers receive a uniquely crafted item that can be tailored specifically to their needs. We also provide a customized drilling template with each order to ensure a seamless installation experience. Our products are crafted from solid 3/8 inch thick recycled aluminum, emphasizing durability and sustainability. Providing exceptional customer service is also at the forefront of everything we do. The result is a positive and supportive experience for every customer.

Our focus on timeless design, durable materials, and a personalized touch ensures that our addressing products not only stand out for their modern aesthetic but also reflect the dedication to quality that defines the Modern House Numbers experience.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

We’re Brandy & Rick McLain. We reside in Tucson, Arizona with our three children Jack, Avery, and Taylor. We met in architecture school and have always shared an entrepreneurial spirit and passion for design. The idea for Modern House Numbers came shortly after making a set of address numbers for our first 1950’s home in 2008.

Towards the end of our remodeling project, we searched for a set of stylish house numbers to complete the exterior portion of our renovation. To our surprise, we weren’t able to find anything that felt just right. Given our backgrounds in architecture and design, we opted to create our own instead of settling for something uninspiring. As soon as we installed them, family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers, started knocking on our door to ask where they could purchase these house numbers. We quickly realized that we weren’t the only ones who sought to incorporate modern details into their homes. We saw this as the perfect opportunity to use our creative, entrepreneurial drive to make it easy and fun for others to add beautiful, modern addressing to their own homes!

We started Modern House Numbers in 2008 with the mission to provide beautiful addressing products, made with durable materials and straightforward installation. Today, we’re known for our timeless collection of modern numbers, letters, symbols, plaques, signs, and decals in 7 fonts and 5 finishes that accent any architectural style. We’re most proud that everything we make is still handcrafted by our talented team in Tucson, Arizona, without outsourcing production overseas. At least five sets of hands touch each product during the production process before being carefully wrapped and shipped. This is how we maintain our incredibly high standards for quality.

What people might be surprised to learn is that our products are made-to-order. Each order arrives with a drilling template individually created by a member of our design team. After we receive an order, we design a digital layout where we space everything to ensure a professional installation. From there, the order moves into production where each individual product is waterjet cut from solid recycled aluminum, hand-sanded by our craftsman and the final finish is applied. Lastly, our in-house team individually reviews each product after manufacturing before wrapping and mailing each order. Our whole process is designed to ensure our products are high quality and last a lifetime.

We’ve taken great care to create a straightforward installation process that makes it simple for anyone to achieve a high-quality outcome. In addition to the pre-spaced drilling template, customers receive floating hardware to ensure a gorgeous installation. Our customers tell us every day their Modern House Numbers are their favorite exterior detail. We think that’s because our products are a design detail that allows customers to express their own personal style, at an accessible price point, and offer incredible satisfaction upon installation.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

Rick and I both have always dreamed of starting our own business. Our home renovation in 2008 was the spark that inspired and motivated us to go for it. We realized after making our own house numbers that we had a fantastic opportunity to use our expertise in design and construction to help other people add beautiful, modern details to their homes.

In the beginning Modern House Numbers was our side hustle. We both worked full-time in the design field, Rick as an architect and myself as an urban designer. We were willing to work hard and do whatever it took to make it successful. After three years of grinding on nights and weekends, I took the risk to leave my full-time position in 2011 to manage the daily operations of Modern House Numbers. In five years, we were fairly well established as an online marketplace but knew if we wanted to grow we needed to expand our team with the right people who could bring their knowledge base to help achieve our long-term goals. Our team is the heart of our operation.

Our key milestones in our entrepreneurial journey include hiring our first employees in 2012, transitioning to Shopify in 2014, and purchasing a commercial building to house our studio in 2015. Designing and constructing our 3500-square-foot office building seemed unreal at first. Moving into our own space allowed us to expand our team, purchase material in bulk, and create weekly/daily routines that helped us grow faster than we had ever imagined. In 2019, our team expanded to over 20 members and today, we’re approaching 30 team members strong!

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best source of new clients for our business has evolved over time. Initially, blog features, particularly those on platforms like Oh Joy, Design Milk, and Apartment Therapy, played a significant role in attracting attention. This attention led to us being featured on several HGTV TV shows and magazine features. Showcasing our products at the Dwell trade show was also instrumental in reaching a broader audience. As our reputation grew, word of mouth from satisfied neighbors became a powerful force in driving new business. Notably, in the last 8+ years we have gained the loyalty of repeat trade customers who have been a consistent and valuable source of growth for our business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.modernhousenumbers.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernhousenumbers/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModernHouseNumbers/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-house-numbers
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIOwJewuqc0V8jiCvQqN0xA
• Other: Email: [email protected] Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/modernhousenumbers/