Happy 2024 + A little venting
My last 3-4 years have been a rollercoaster ride, but I’m back – and this time, I’m going all-in on happiness.
In March 2020 I ended a relationship, the pandemic hit in Uruguay and I lost my job, so after a few months I moved to Punta del Este to be alone and go all-in on this project.
After a month living in Punta my father got diagnosed with cancer so I put this project on hold and came back to Montevideo to help him and his factory which was also struggling. He got worse and passed away 5 months later.
I inherited the company and decided to continue helping the manager until the bad tendency changed and then get back to my life.
Meanwhile, I left turnifure.com online, with no sponsoring and little updates. Every few days a notification hit me with a sale, an inquiry, or props. These were the only few times any professional activity got a smile on my face, during the lowest of lows, a single sale notification could even bring a few tears of joy. I felt like it was telling me “I’m still here”.
The first few months in my dads factory were the hardest, no money, trying new marketing strategies, failing, learning, trying again, failing again. The product line has too much cheap competition and a shrinking market share. November 2022 an important employee decides to migrate and resigns. A month later the man in charge of manufacturing turns 65 and retires. That was an interesting period cause we had to innovate and adapt fast. We came out of it better off though, cause we improved efficiency in every activity of the company and the payroll got lower.
By the end of February 2023 the financial situation was turning around so I thought ok, I’ll switch to helping remotely and get back to my previous plans, move to Punta del Este (a nice and quiet resort nearby) and split my time 50/50 between the factory and turnifure.com. 5 days later, March 2, 2023 the manager suddenly passes away due to a heart stroke. The next morning I’m back in the factory neck deep as the new CEO.
With the now-even-lower payroll the financials continued improving. This last quarter sales got a little better so in early December I finally got some peace of mind.
That peace was short though. Last week, December 24 (Christmas eve) at 23:40 I was dining with my family about to raise glasses and a neighbor of the factory called telling me some firework fell into the factory (filled with flammable chemicals) and everything caught fire.
December 2023 – What’s left of the factory
Enough.
I wanna be happy again. I’m in the process of closing the factory to get back to what makes me smile. Designing, making animations, your props and each and every one of your purchases.
Hope we all have a happy 2024.
See u there.
📅 Update 2024-01-18 – Some progress! Still a huge way to go.
More on the way.
📅 Update 2024-02-01 – Got to meet a local maker for a potential collaboration!. Prototype ☑️.
Feels good!
Greetings, Javier!
Couldn’t pass by your post and wanted to express condolences and support in your life journey.
Followed your work for a few years now, really like your approach towards design and finctionality of furniture.
If my e-mail address is visible to you, lets get in touch and talk business (I have a couple of factories that may be interested in your designs)
Best of luck!
Hey Kirill! Thanks a lot for your kind words, and purchase! these kind of interactions are what keeps me pushing towards a 100% turnifure.com future.
I did get your e-mail address so I’ll write you soon to discuss a collaboration. Your IP tells me you’re in Amsterdam is that correct?
Hope your 2024 started great!
I just stumbled upon your site while searching for sim racing ergonomics information (I’m going profile, sorry..). Can’t help but be touched by such a complicated story, I’m with you. Stay strong and keep going, I really admire your attitude.
heeeyy Omar! thanks a lot man, these encouraging messages are super valuable to me. That day I wrote the post I was kinda pessimistic with the fire and everything but as they say, everything happens for a reason and now I’m getting the freedom I needed to pursue my own goals. I totally understand going profile! if you’ve got the time it’s a stronger and longer lasting choice. This option aims to be cheaper, easier to make and assemble. Thanks and good luck!
Wow I was just searching for a cnc file for a gaming desk and I stumble upon such a troubling story that I am so sorry you’ve had to endure. I truely hope you have great things ahead of you after all that. I will be purchasing your desk files to support you and will also pass on your story in hopes to get ya more attention. Best of luck to you my friend.
hey John!! thanks a lot!!! Hopefully that horrible streak is ending now, that fire was a pretty rough storm to handle but also a blessing in disguise. I wasn’t happy doing that job and now I’m free and doing what I like. Besides a furniture designer I’m also a hobbyist coder and now I’m finishing an Android app for an algorithm I’ve been using to motivate me towards a healthier life. It’s not related to turnifure.com but I’ve been getting so much good props and valuable feedback from you people I’ll be writing about it here soon. I feel better now and think 24′ will end up being a great year. Thank you so much and hope your playDesk2 comes out great!!