Lucky Round Avocado, with its joyful name, is a perfect example of how form follows function with a healthy dose of artistic beauty. In essence, they make a simple fruit stand, available in various sizes, but it is beautiful to behold, like a piece of art. It would look equally graceful on your buffet as it would on the cover of Décor magazine. It immediately caught my eye as I walked by Agota’s booth. Here is their story:

Can you describe what your business does?

I sell fruit bridges (stainless steel kitchen accessories) that protect fruit from spoiling too early. Fruitbridges are the opposite to fruit bowls because they allow air to circulate around the fruit to keep it fresh, whereas fruit bowls trap ethylene gas that makes fruit age and spoil prematurely.

Where did the idea come from?

The idea came from a major frustration, a problem I faced in my kitchen, when I was a design student: I "created" too much food waste; especially fruit and vegetables. I used to keep them in bowls but often they were rotten and moldy before I could eat them. A little research revealed that I am not alone with this frustration and that food waste is actually quite a big problem.

Can you describe your typical work day?

I work from home and divide my time between online teaching, my fruitbridge design business, and hanging out with my family. On a typical day, I am likely to spend hours reviewing my students' amazing design projects or making quick video demos to upload.

My fruitbridge journey requires me to do something different every day, but it's all about learning new things. Sometimes it's visiting the metal shop where the pieces are laser-cut, and some days it's doing a photoshoot to create social media content.

I started this endeavor just a few months ago, and since I don't yet have a proper workshop, I file and sand my pieces on my own kitchen countertop. All these activities can get awfully noisy, so I am amazed and so grateful for how patient my husband and the kids have been. At the end of the day, we usually hang out with the children, as nighttime is family time. We rarely even go out as we prefer to make healthy good dinners at home, and when we can, play games after our meals.

You have several models, so what is your best-selling product?

I would say it's the "nesting pair" fruitbridge combo. It is my favorite too; I have used it for many years. It is a lovely configuration of two fruitbridges that make a beautiful sculptural centerpiece, even when empty. Once you have a couple of pieces of fruit to store, you can rotate the fruitbridges on top of each other, so they properly overlap and the five holes open up. If you have more, about 15-18 pieces, you can place the fruitbridges next to each other to build a nice big fruit pile over these two pieces. Even piled up high, the fruit will stay fresh longer because they are elevated and air can circulate around them.

What sets you apart from other businesses?

I am doing this with no background in business, just learning everything as I go. I create small batches of fruitbridges and sell them one at a time. I am a designer educator who found an exciting new endeavor by realizing that when you design and make something that solves a problem many of us have, it is possible and even fun to share it with others. In a way, I am doing this because I want to show my students someday that if I can make this happen, so can they.

How is social media important to your business?

I use Instagram and I have been on LinkedIn for many years. I would love to get back to using my old Pinterest account someday. No TickTock for me, or should I say not yet. I am still learning the basics, like how to make videos, and I feel very strange about selfies, but I will get better! I enjoy sharing images about fun events, how the fruitbridge pieces work, and how they were made.

What are your thoughts on technology today?

I work on a PC laptop, and I subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud to use Photoshop and Illustrator whenever I need image editing. My husband is a graphic designer, and I am super lucky because he helps me with printed material for marketing. He created the beautiful side view shot of the fruitbridge that usually hangs off my table; it makes fruit appear floating and is a sure conversation starter wherever I go. For printing, we have used Nextdayflyers in the past; they are fast, professional, and very helpful when you have questions about something new to you.

I know you have mentioned it above, but regarding all the work that the business requires, do you hire contractors and how does your family participate?

This is a single-person endeavor (I am a sole proprietor for now), but that said, I have been fortunate to find help every step of the way. My husband can help with graphics, which has been such a gift (and significant savings in my budget), and I have of course asked family and friends to help. Many friends have offered encouragement, and some shared insights about how to create a decent-looking website, how to photograph the product or how to conduct market research. My family helped by lending tables, and other items I have used at markets.

A little over a year ago, a dear old friend and I decided to meet on Zoom weekly to learn together. We study new things, and we support each other. We recently completed The Artist's Way book together. (I think everyone who wants to live a creative life might love this book). Some day I know I will hire help but for now, it’s just me and my very kind and helpful family and friends.

For finding new customers, doing outreach, and marketing, how do you manage this?

I recently started having a sign-in book on market days, and learning how to start an email list. I am putting together new material for a free gift. Stay tuned for a fun new free downloadable PDF on the Lucky Round Avocado website soon! Starting a blog is also on my list to be added to the website in the near future.

Practically speaking, how do you balance work, growth, and personal time?

I have always been terrible at time management, but I believe that it helps to be aware of this painful fact. I try to improve by always keeping a notebook and blocking time for my various activities. My personal time? Well, some days, it is only the 5-minute meditation in the morning, and if I can find the time to write my morning pages. Unfortunately, I stay up late because I love the quiet of the night; it feels like I can get things done easier when everyone is asleep.

Regarding the environment, social issues, and being a partner to the community, do you have any specific things your business focuses on?

For the longest time, I have been struggling with the material choice of the fruitbridge. It is not easy because it must be very strong and easy to clean and maintain in a wet environment. It appears that I (my product) cannot yet be part of the biological cycle in which your product (the material) returns to the soil (biodegrades) because such material doesn't yet exist or isn't yet available to me. This will be the next generation of fruitbridges, and I am keeping an eye out for it.

Until then, the challenge is to be part of the other, the technical cycle (as opposed to the biological cycle). This cycle is the cradle-to-cradle cycle of highly recyclable materials like aluminum or steel. These metals can become "technical nutrients" in manufacturing new products. The goal is to remain inside a closed-loop system or flow with zero waste. A fun fact: the small round shapes that fall out of the fruitbridges I collect and use them as I make small products like tealight holders.

What do you see as the outlook for the future of your business?

I believe the world is changing and most people today want to spend their hard-earned money on, and surround themselves with, beautiful, functional, high quality and long-lasting products. My plan for the next couple of years is to design other new, useful, functional items for the home, and keep sharing this unique one of a kind fruitbridge with more and more people because it’s not only a good-looking addition to any kitchen but also a hero in helping fruit stay fresh much longer.

Do you have a final thought for the readers?

For the longest time, I had a product that worked so beautifully, yet I believed there was no way for me to do anything with it. I thought the world was already full of other great products, with no room left for me. The author Adam Grant says that most people abandon their ideas because of fear of failure. He suggests that instead, we should find the courage to go out there and do the vulnerable and scary thing of starting small.

Where can people find out more about you and Lucky Round Avocado?

You can find all the info about my fruitbridges at these links:

Agota Jonas and Lucky Round Avocado

Ipshita & Shelly and Blossom & Brew