I am Susana Molina, and I’m excited to share my personal journey with you, the birth of Mexports by Susana Molina!
Since 1996, Mexports has been synonymous with high-quality handcrafted luxury furniture. However, the creative force behind each unique piece has often remained in the shadows. That creative force is me – the designer and maker of these distinctive styles.
Today, I extend a warm and personal welcome to you as we unveil Mexports by SM (formerly known as simply Mexports). This transition signifies more than just a name change; it represents a transformative shift in our approach to business. It’s about forging deeper connections and offering you an enhanced, more intimate experience.
Allow me to share a glimpse into my journey since 1996.
I was born and raised in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, just across the border from Laredo, Texas. It was here that I inherited my mother’s impeccable taste in fashion and home decor.
In 1980, I embarked on my academic journey, graduating from a Mexican University with a degree in CPA (Certified Public Accountant). However, my path soon led me to Monterrey, where I pursued a Master’s Degree in Finance. It didn’t take long for me to realize that accounting was not my true passion.
My heart gravitated towards the worlds of design, fashion, and interior decoration.
Mexports is known for it's high quality hand-crafted furniture Since 1996. We specialize in the beauty of nature using only top quality materials found in Mexico. Ranging from travertine stone tops, to hammered copper and mesquite wood tops.
TIMELINE
1984 Me and my sister Veronica start an Interior design Corporation called Molina’s House in Monterrey, Mexico. I decorate only Commercial Clients as Maseca, Papelera Maldonado, Transportes Senda, Las Pizzas de La Familia, to mention a few.
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1994 Peso Devaluation Economic Crisis!!!
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1996 We decided to expand our horizons into the US market, so my former Canadian husband Gregory Wariner and I moved to San Antonio, TX. We started by renting a small 300-square-foot warehouse on Bandera Street and serving only San Antonio and the surrounding areas. We grew very fast.
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1997 In Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, we opened our first shop to fabricate iron bases.
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1998 In Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, we opened a shop to manufacture travertine tops and fabricate mesquite wood tops.
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1999 We incorporated Mexports Inc. in Laredo, Texas.
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2000 We rented 5,000 square feet of retail space and warehouse space at 3704 San Bernardo Avenue.
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2002-2004 We attended the Dallas Furniture Markets in temporary showrooms twice a year, expanding our business throughout Texas.
We started selling only to the trade (B2B), and we achieved the inclusion of our product line in catalogs such as King Ranch, Neiman Marcus – Horchow, Black Forest, and Western Passion.
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2002-2004 We attended the Vegas Furniture Markets Temporarily Showroom, expanding our reach to clients in Nevada, Colorado, and Arizona. |
2005-2017 Open permanent showrooms at the Dallas Furniture Market and Vegas Furniture Market, attending twice a year. Continue growing until online shopping starts to take over, then close the showrooms and focus on building a website and online sales. |
2006 We purchased the next-door building at 3710 San Bernardo, which is 10,000 square feet in size, and prepare it to ship merchandise out of state. |
2005-2007 We attended temporary showrooms at the High Point, NC and Atlanta, GA furniture markets, hoping to expand our horizons. However, the results were not as we expected. |
2008 US Financial Crisis affecting High End Furniture. House in Monterrey, Mexico.
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2009 Got Divorced!!!. Too much tension with economic problems. |
2012 Bought the next-door corner lot, completing a total of 21,000 square feet of showroom, shop, and warehouse space. |
2014 I completed a full rebranding and created the brand Mexports by Susana Molina |
2015 At the Vegas Market, we met with Wayfair and Perigold CEO Niraj Shah and began selling our products through their websites, which we continue to do to this day.
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2016 We launched our fine furniture store on Etsy, a handcrafted online e-commerce store, and we continue to sell on Etsy today |
2018 We registered our trademark and copyright for the name “Mexports,” the logo “SM,” and the designs of our catalogs. a few.
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2020 COVID-19 pandemic and other crises caused my wholesale clients to suffer from store closures. Also in 2020, we saw an opportunity to start selling B2C online retail. We revamped our website, mexportsinc.com, with new photos and a better customer experience. |
2021 We started receiving orders from different states, including New York, West Virginia, and Massachusetts. I never thought we would be able to sell our furniture line to such a diverse range of customers. |
2023 Celebrating our 27th anniversary in 2023, we are thrilled to open our first retail store in San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León, Mexico. The most beautiful, affluent, and secure county in Latin America, we are eager to see how our Mexican customers embrace our designs. |
