Meet Ashley Gohlke: Owner / Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Gohlke and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, what do you attribute your success to?
In a word, passion. I started this business because I wanted a creative outlet where I could utilize my love for arts and crafts with my graphic design experience. It’s what birthed my company, and it’s also the heartbeat that keeps my business going. Dedication, education and evolution are also important factors, but it means nothing if you aren’t passionate about what you do.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
At Lavaca Loca Designs, I create custom, durable gifts. As a mom and busy woman on the go, I want items that are going to last the test of time – things that can be kid-proof, go in the dishwasher, etc but still be cute. So that’s what I try to bring to our shop. My husband and I started by posting on Instagram and Facebook, marketing to friends and family, and we grew from there. We work with lots of local businesses but most of our business comes from our website. It has not been easy! We’re constantly learning new methods of producing quality items, as well as evolving our marketing strategies. I run 99 percent of our daily operations and all the behind the scenes stuff so that has been a challenge as well. Fortunately, we are looking into an assistant so we can grow even more! I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you have to continue to be a student who can learn and evolve. Social media is a great example. There are so many platforms and strategies to each of those. If you just focus on one or two things you want to learn and implement each month, you are growing. I want people to know that relationships are still important! Support small and local businesses as often as you can. We love to connect with other business owners, or even individuals, to create something that suits their needs.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are at least two main people I want to shoutout. First is my best friend, Lindsey, who owns and runs a custom t-shirt business (Golden Monkey Designs). She and I brainstorm ways to grow our companies and new design ideas, and we also refer business back and forth. Second would be my husband, Derrek, who is my second in command at Lavaca Loca Designs. He helps me with mechanical and technical support, laser engraving, and more. Without these two, I wouldn’t be where I am today.