LucyBalu, always be sincere and transparent
Published on 5 April 2024
Mathias Wahrenberger & Sebastian Frank co-founders of LucyBalu. LucyBalu’s offices are a wild yet cushy haven nestled in the heart of Munich. The perfect reflection of the universe the brand has developed for cats. It’s hard to imagine that back in the early days, mice were more at home in the space than humans! So, what stroke of fate ultimately sparked the success that left the brand feeling like the cat that got the cream?
THE BACKGROUND STORY
When designer Sebastian Frank received a call to help a cat shelter, the feline furnishings he ended up creating were so breathtakingly beautiful that a visitor, Mathias Wahrenberger, got in touch with him to launch a brand. Since 2019, LucyBalu has consequently been enhancing the lives of countless family felines without detracting from their owners’ interiors. Toys, catwalks, feeding stations, scratching posts, chaises longues: Sebastian Franck and Mathias Wahrenberger have absolutely every need covered and ensure that their prototypes are thoroughly tested by experts, vets and cats. Being the recipients of the 2022 Future On Stage award gave the German duo the opportunity to showcase their stylised, fun-filled and practical designs to an international audience. And in one final flourish that really put the cat amongst the pigeons, they set the design world buzzing by inviting Karl Lagerfeld’s four-legged princess, Choupette, to make an appearance at Maison&Objet Paris, blatantly meowing in the face of the trade fair’s no animals rule.
THE ROCKY START
Mathias Wahrenberger : « Pour démarrer notre aventure, nous nous sommes installés dans une ancienne serre. Lumière, nature et beaucoup Mathias Wahrenberger : “When we first started out, we set up our business in an old, dilapidated greenhouse. Bathed with light, surrounded by nature and boasting so much space, it seemed like the perfect spot for an animal-based business. After making some substantial investments, which included renovating the glass structure, clearing up the garden and equipping the office space, we began to see our dreams coming true in our little urban jungle. But then autumn turned to winter. It was cold. Biting cold. We snuggled under rugs, glued ourselves to portable radiators, and had to shout to make ourselves heard when the rain began beating down on the glass. It soon became clear that our special space wasn’t quite as perfect as we’d imagined. The mice were far more at home than we were!”.
THE TURNING POINT
Mathias Wahrenberger : “We simply couldn’t bring ourselves to wave goodbye to our greenhouse forever, so we turned it into a creative hub. We’ve since moved offices, but we still use the space as our design workshop and our photo studio, and it allows us to express our crazy side. I’m sure that our madcap story was instrumental in us receiving the Maison&Objet Future On Stage award. We told the jury that we had managed to last for a whole year inside our glass-paned premises, creating our first products, celebrating our first sales. It helped us forget just how bleak our surroundings actually were.
“Own your mistakes, even when standing in front of a jury”
THE MORAL OF THE STORY
“Our worst experiences are also what makes us special”Mathias Wahrenberger : “Hold onto your innocence! The energy that propels you forward at the start of an entrepreneurial adventure can almost be verging on recklessness. No-one would ever launch a business if they calmly sat down and weighed up all the risks. Giving your all is also a form of courage. Do things that no-one else dares to do, because it’s when you do crazy things that magic happens. Even the most terrible experiences end up becoming stories to be told, setting you apart from the crowd and forming an integral part of your brand narrative. Do things differently and hold onto that mindset, even just a little, throughout your entire adventure!”
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