INSPIRANZA DESIGNS IS NUMBER 157 ON INC. 5000 LIST

Inc. 5000 Names Inspiranza Designs A Fastest Growing Company

When we received the announcement package from Inc. 5000 we were so excited and anxious to discover one thing, our ranking. It was a complete mystery and we had no way of knowing that we would receive the announcement that Inspiranza Designs is Number 157 on Inc. 5000's list of fastest growing companies in America.

Earlier in July, we found out that Inspiranza Designs was on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies in America.  Over the years the list included companies such as Microsoft, Timberland, Vizio, Intuit, Chobani, Oracle, and Zappos.com.  While we knew our growth was amazing, we had no idea that it would land us in the winner's circle of Inc. 5000. And now that we were on the list, we wondered where in the rankings we might fall. Was it too much to think that we might end up in the top 500? Trying not to look too anxious and also hold the scissors without cutting more than the box, we got down to the business of getting that box open. We each took a swipe scoring the tape to be fair because we are equal partners in the business, come what may, we share in the good news and the bad news.

We'd already experienced the bad news. That was a period of time that hit after the downturn of the economy where we struggled to remain afloat. What followed was a five year period where we came to work day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year and didn't take home a paycheck for most of that time. Instead, we used every dime to pay down the debt that had accumulated during the season we called a silver storm.

When the economy turned down, our product costs increased. Back in 2005 when we started the business silver was just over $7.00 an ounce and at the height of the silver storm in April 2011 it was nearly $50.00 an ounce. As a result of the downturn in our economy, people were losing their jobs and naturally stopped having expendable cash, our products stopped moving out of the warehouse and silver manufacturers and direct sales businesses closed up right and left. It was truly an economic storm and we started eliminating everything to stay afloat. We stopped our own paychecks in hopes the storm would end soon and we could continue paying our employees but months into it we knew it was not going to be a quick end. One by one we had to let our employees go and that was the hardest part of the season because we loved them but we could no longer pay them. Lots of disappointment and lots of tears but we did not give up faith, we knew that God would not end what we felt He inspired us to begin. We held on trusting He was not finished with us.

But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day! Habakkuk 2:3

We shared that silver storm, the bad news experience, and we would share in the celebration of the good news together as we opened the box to find that we were ranked 157 out of 5000. We were giddy, speechless, and teary-eyed as we realized the good news was really really good!

But the description of the list, fastest growing companies, didn't really fit. We didn't grow fast. We started in 2005 and grew at a steady slow pace until that silver storm nearly wiped us out. But then, as storms pass, the sun came out and the economy began to reflect a slow recovery. We learned a good deal about storm survival and storm recovery but mostly we learned to be patient and trust in God! 

Join us in celebrating ~ Inspiranza Designs Number 157 on Inc. 5000 List of Americas fastest growing Companies!