Meet Kristina & Linh T. Lechuga & Nguyen | Business Owners

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kristina & Linh T. Lechuga & Nguyen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristina & Linh T., we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
We never thought of going into business, it just came up organically. During the summer of 2016, my business partner and husband, Linh T. Nguyen, was working in Oklahoma City. The heat and humidity made everything stick to you, and wearing a surveillance coil around your ear was already uncomfortable. Add the heat and sweat, and it became unbearable. On his day off, Linh was roaming around a hardware store when he got the idea to wrap a surveillance coil. Once he figured out a prototype, he passed them around to his crew members to test. Soon after, we found ourselves taking orders via text message and email, and sometimes, running to the post office to ship out Walkie Woogies before our call times. We realized our casual sales approach was inefficient. Setting up a website for sales and information was something we wished we had done earlier. It was a great feeling to have everything organized through an online marketplace, giving us more time to concentrate on our product. In 2019, we officially trademarked Walkie Woogie’s, a significant milestone for our company. It showed us that we had a viable product on the market. We can confidently say that Walkie Woogies are being sold and distributed worldwide, with multiple vendors in Europe, Asia, and Australia. We ship just about anywhere in the world!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

We don’t just sell out of California but also hand-make our comfort surveillance coils. People think we outsource from abroad, but that’s not the case. We out source as many of our materials within the U.S.. Trying to keep as much of our business with in the states is important to support the local businesses, just like us. By making each product we have better quality control. This also allows for more personalized options such as custom colors or being able to address any issues customers may have. We are a small business that came up organically and genuinely care about our product.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Our favorite places in Southern California span a wide range of environments, from the beach to the high desert. Laguna Beach is a favorite; with its numerous coves and beaches, you could easily spend a couple of days exploring. Swimming, snorkeling, and hiking offer something for everyone. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino is a great place to spend a relaxing afternoon strolling through its pristine gardens, followed by dinner and drinks in Downtown Pasadena. The Griffith Observatory is a must-see in Los Angeles; the views are stunning, and the exhibits are well-curated. Down the mountain is The Greek Theatre. If you have the chance to catch a show there, I highly recommend it. It’s similar to the Hollywood Bowl but more intimate, and the parking situation won’t destroy your current relationship, HA! Heading east, there’s Joshua Tree with its beautiful scenery. Hiking during the day and stargazing in the evening makes this place truly magical. You could easily spend a long weekend here.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Our friend and designer, Darren Del Cruz, has been such a support system for us as a growing company. Darren not only designed our logos and product packaging but also created our website. His years of marketing experience have really helped us stand out. Without his knowledge and talent, we don’t know where we would be.

Website: https://walkiewoogies.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walkiewoogies/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WalkieWoogies/

Image Credits
Kristina Lechuga
Linh T. Nguyen
Abby Hauptman