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Meet Lisa Lambright of The Great Create in Southeast

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Lambright.

Lisa, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have been very blessed and fortunate in all my careers. I have always worked with wonderful managers and staff in all my careers. I have had many great professions from a civilian employee in government, working for an IT software developer, software training company and software consulting firm and full-time MOM.

My passion has always been sales and marketing. When my youngest went to school full time, I was fortunate through a good friend of mine to be introduced to JHB. The start of The Great Create actually started under JHB. JHB was a fashion button distributor that was founded by Jean Howard Barr (JHB) in 1969. She started JHB in her home for the first few years and then built a building in Southeast Denver. She was the first person to import the metal buttons for knitted sweaters. JHB is a story in itself and I would love to provide more details on the history of JHB. I worked for JHB from 2006 until 2014.

During my time at JHB, I spoke to the owner, Jay Barr about diversifying JHB to include craft products. During this time, JHB was seeing a decline in fashion buttons being used as the industry of sewing was declining. With the support of Jay and multiple craft artists together we created a couple hundred craft products. Working with the artists was wonderful as they brought new mediums and the understanding of the craft world to me and JHB. My responsibility was to be the liaison to the artists as well as selling to the big box stores like Michaels, JoAnn’s, Hobby Lobby and many small moms and pops shops. I was responsible for the sales, marketing and work with the artists for product development. The owner of JHB decided to close and retire in 2014/2015. I decided that I wanted to continue the craft division, so I talked with Jay and we agreed on a price and the deal was done. I officially owned the craft division of JHB which I renamed The Great Create. I guess the funniest thing about owning a craft company is I don’t craft. I am truly in love with working with the artists and doing the business responsibilities. With the help of our artists, we were able to stay in Michaels and Hobby Lobby for many years.

I believe I have a great outlook on life and business. As blessed as I have been, I have also had many personal challenges. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. Once I was diagnosed, I knew that my focus had to be on my cancer journey and my health. With a husband and three kids ages 9, 8 and 7, I knew this was going to be a crazy time and I need to dig deep and bring my A game! I had to have a double mastectomy, multiple rounds of chemo and radiation. Unfortunately, that was not the worse thing that happened to me that year. Shortly after my last cancer treatment, I lost my Mom unexpectedly and then forty-five days after her passing, I lost my stepfather. This was definitely a hard and dark time for me. I am blessed with a large support system of family, friends and co-workers. They say that opportunities or blessings come from challenges.

After breast cancer, I was blessed to be selected by Ford Motors as a Model of Courage Warrior in Pink representative. Ford selected 15 ladies in Colorado and I was one of them! I belong to an amazing breast cancer support group. These women have made me a better person and have given me so much insight to life. I also set on the board of Hope Held By A Horse. Its a breast cancer equine therapy program. To learn more about this program, please visit www.hopeheldbyahorse.org.

I continue to own The Great Create, but as any industry the craft industry has changed as well. I have wonderful artists, business associates and customers who continue to support my company The Great Create.

But wait there is yet one more career. In 2018 a good friend of mine Sandy Haworth was doing fix and flipped in Colorado. She had done about eight houses and kept encouraging me to do a home with her. I agreed to do one home with her and two years and eight home later we are having a great time. Sandy and I are business partners and best friends and love doing remodels. Our company is called LAS Ventures. I have learned so much from Sandy and the remodeling industry and once again, I have a great partner and we have an amazing construction staff. I do not know what will be next but know that there will always be something.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I believe I have a great outlook on life and on business. As blessed as I have been, I have also had many personal challenges. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. Once I was diagnosed I knew that my focus had to be on my cancer journey and my health. With a husband and three kids ages 9, 8 and 7, I knew this was going to be a crazy time and I need to dig deep and bring my A game! I had to have a double mastectomy, multiple rounds of chemo and radiation.

Unfortunately, that was not the worse thing that happened to me that year. Shortly after my last cancer treatment, I lost my Mom unexpectedly and then forty-five days after her passing I lost my stepfather. This was definitely a hard and dark time for me. I am blessed with a large support system of family, friends and co-workers. They say that opportunities or blessings come from challenges.

In 2010 I was diagnosed with uterine cancer. Luckily, being a crazy self-advocate and very demanding about my health it was caught early and all that was need was a full hysterectomy. I also encourage everyone to do self-exams and really listen to your body and don’t take no for an answer if you believe something is going on!

Please tell us about The Great Create.
The Great Create is a craft and hobby manufacturer and distributor located in Denver, CO. We specialize in polymer clay tools and accessories for Christi Friesen and Lisa Pavelka. We have over 200 products. We are known for texture stamps, molds, craft embellishments, UV resin, surface FX and many other products. I am proud of how we got started and that we sell all over the world. What sets us apart is that we are designer based. Some of our products are designed by our artists and they are exclusive to only The Great Create. I feel the gift that our artists give to the creative industry allows other people to start their company by using our products to create their artwork to sell at craft fairs for an income. I also feel that our artists provide an outlet to many people that help alleviate stress and anxiety. Art is very important and for me, I feel great when people young and old connect with our artists and use our products to create.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Be a crafter! I know each of our products and I know how to demo them and what they are used for. I just really don’t like to sit down and craft. I admire those that have a passion for crafting and love that we can provide products to meet their needs. I tell people there are people that make and people that buy pieces that are made by artists. I am a buyer! I love to support my artist friends and I love to encourage them to follow their creating dream.

I also tell people to purchase from artists. It is so nice to give a one of kind as a gift and then to support the artist. I am not sure I would have done anything differently. I loved all my experiences both good and bad. I feel I went through them to get where I am today and enjoyed (mostly) every minute.

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Lisa Lambright

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