Meet Chris Lowe | Custom Van & RV Designer

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

Hi Chris, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’m a serial entrepreneur. I’ve worked for myself for the last 30 years. A few times, I tried to work for others, but it never resonated with me.

I like the freedom to create what I’m inspired to create, and if it fails, I know that at least I tried, and it was leading me to the next (ad)venture.
Most of my businesses have been divinely inspired. My last company was making/selling weighted hula hoops.

The first time I saw an over-sized hula hoop and tried it, I had a vision of making and selling them, teaching fitness classes with them and having them on Tv. A few years later, that happened, and my hula hoops premiered on the Home Shopping Network. It all happened because I kept showing up to the next opportunity, with no real attachment to the outcome, and finding joy in the journey. I worked hard for that business and made over 10,000 hula hoops by hand, but it was worth it, seeing people act like kids when they tried one.

I now currently renovate motorhomes and build custom Van conversions with my boyfriend. This vision also popped into my head as I was traveling the country in a 33 foot, borrowed motorhome. I was on a kindness tour of 22 states in 22 days, honoring my late son. On this trip, I realized that the RV was too big, and also not “female friendly” I had a vision of designing campers catered to women.

My boyfriend was a custom home builder, so together, we started creating custom vans and RVs that women would love. The guys love them too.

So, for anyone who has an idea pop into their head, run with it, and if it runs out of steam, don’t give up, rather, realize that it was leading you to next next idea or opportunity.
Some of the best and most successful businesses start with a spark, and it’s up to us to follow it or not. If it’s meant for you, it will find you.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Our business started organically. In 2020, we converted a Mercedes Sprinter Passenger Van into a tiny house on wheels. We did this so we could travel freely in the US, during a time of the unknown.
Our van is a fully off-grid vehicle, complete with white ship-lap, white drapes, solar, a kitchen, king bed and a wet bath. When we would roll up somewhere, people would call us Boujee. That eventually became our company name, Boujee Builds.

As people started seeing our van, they wanted us to build one for them. During this time, we also purchased a motorhome, and renovated that with my daughter. As we went to sell it, we started getting inquiries to renovate motorhomes for others.
In both vehicles, we did epoxy resin counter tops. We taught ourselves how to do it, and now incorporate it into our business.
We didn’t start out trying to build a van business, but with my eye for design and marketing skills, and my boyfriends 30 years of building experience, it just naturally happened.
We have loved interacting with clients and helping them drive off with the van of their dreams.
Bringing someone’s vision alive is something we’re both passionate about.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’ve lived in Florida since 1988. Two years ago, I sold everything and moved to Southern California. I absolutely love it here. The first place I went when I arrived, and where Id take a visitor is Carlsbad and Oceanside beach. It just feels like the California you always see in movies.
You can see the mountains behind you and cliffs by the beach, which is something I never experienced in Florida.
I’d go there just before sunset, park the van by the beach, grab a fish taco from Harbor Fish cafe, set up a picnic and watch the acro yogis in the grass park as the sun goes down. Then we’d find a cool place to park and camp for the night.
I’d get up early the next day and head to Joshua tree Natl. Park to see the unique landscape of the dessert and camp there for the night, watching the sun go down from the top of the rock formations.
The next day I’d head early up to Big bear lake and inflate the Paddleboards to explore the lake. If it was winter, we’d go sledding or skiing on the mountain. We’d cook lunch in the van on the waters edge. As we head back down, I’d make a stop into old town Temecula and take in the quaint shops and delicious restaurants.
We’d then head back to the beach, Huntington Beach this time, for a long bike ride along the ocean, stopping into Sanchos for the best veggie burrito around. Then we’d stop at the numerous spots along the water with live music and dance and people watch until another beautiful sunset is seen.
California is all about being outside. Having our camper van makes it possible to pull up anywhere and enjoy that, while still having the comforts of home.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to my daughters, Dakota and Delaney, for inspiring and helping me along the way, often coming up with new ideas for the business. They would always show up to help, even when they didn’t really want to. Many times I wanted to give up and they would inspire me to keep going. My son, Hudson who is now an angel on the other side, has been an intricate part in bringing the right people into my life and showing me the magic that exists around me. Also, a shoutout to my Boyfriend Bobby, for always bringing my crazy ideas alive and making them magical.

Website: Www.boujeebuilds.com

Instagram: @happilytravelingeverafter

Facebook: Boujee Builds

Youtube: @happilytravelingeverafter

Image Credits
For the solo photo: Mandy @Shootmylovestory photography