May Le explains how she went from working in finance in America to handcrafting concrete basins on the Surf Coast.
Jay-Z and Beyoncé have broken California’s real estate record after purchasing an eight acre Malibu property for $US200 million, NY Post reported.
The 40,000 square-foot mansion is an all-concrete structure designed by Pritzker-winning architect Tadao Ando and features a private art collection from its previous owner William Bell Jr.
The passion she has discovered for making concrete basins and homewares is unrivalled.
From a career in finance in America to getting her hands dirty in concrete on the Surf Coast, May’s journey is one full of adventure.
Six months ago Mayde Concrete came to life with the encouragement from May’s partner Nick Lindsay, co-owner of Form Concrete Studios. He was also the one that came up with the name.
“I give him full credit for the name, I don’t have the confidence to put my name to something, but he did a good job sneaking it in there,” she says proudly.
May loves working with colour. Photo: Ginger + Mint
May had been working with Nick on creating big benchtops and fireplace plinths for his business, and more often than not the product would be grey.
When someone requested colour she would get very excited.
“It was natural for me to step out on my own, but still complement them,” May says.
“I stopped working with them in December and put all my efforts into learning to make basins. It was a lot of trial and error but I loved the process.
“Each time it got better and now I’m at a point where I’m so proud of my product.”
May knew the basics of working with concrete, having worked for Form Concrete Studios, but she found the hardest part was making the moulds.
She watched many YouTube tutorials, did a lot of research and asked her suppliers a lot of questions.
“There are a lot of companies doing concrete basins but mine are different, they are corrugated and hand packed. The plain ones are easier but I like mine,” she laughs.
May handpacks and makes a prototype before making a mould off it.
“It’s not clear cut and easy,” she says, adding that she also makes plant pots, trays and door handles.
May makes a prototype and then a mould before making the actual product. Photo: Ginger + Mint
“The corrugated one I line with paper and filled in all the holes to get the shape and finish. And they all have a matte finish.”
The colour oxide is mixed through the concrete and May says it is a safe way to add a splash of colour to a home.
She currently has 19 colours on offer but is planning more.
“Choosing colours was the fun part, I spent days sitting around mixing oxides, it was hard to narrow it down,” she says.
Her own personal favourite colour at the moment is dark green.
In a heavily male dominated industry, May is hopeful other women will be encouraged to take up something they didn’t think they could.
“Six years ago I didn’t know the difference between a drill and a driver, now I’m in there building my own things and using my own tools,” she beams. “If I can do it, anyone can.”
Being a small business, May wears many hats. Not only does she make the product but she also looks after the social media and marketing and accounting.
May is based on the Surf Coast. Photo: Ginger + Mint
She loves working with concrete. Photo: Ginger + Mint
And she says social media has been the hardest thing, as she just wants to be working with her hands on concrete.
“I spent days reading up on what lights I need to buy, how to make reels and read algorithms,” she explains.
“I knew I had to promote it on Instagram. I have a whole new appreciation for small business owners.”
May quickly discovered the reality of doing everything for her business was a lot, and can’t wait for the day she can hire someone to manage the social media side.
But in the meantime she is thrilled to be able to be doing what she loves.
It is a far cry from working 60-80 hour weeks in America.
Originally from California, May worked in finance after school and admits to spending her 20s trying to make others happy.
She also makes pots, trays and door handles. Photo: Ginger + Mint
But in her 30s she started making more time for hobbies as she was burnt out.
“I ended up travelling for three years across Central America and South America. I worked odd end jobs including three months at a dive school in Panama and in Peru at a surf school,” she says.
“I arrived in Torquay seven years ago in the middle of winter and I loved it.”
May knew no one in the Surf Coast town but worked at a local restaurant and made friends with people that introduced her to her now partner Nick and she never left.
“I started concreting with him and fell in love with the medium,” she says.
“I love that you can customise it and do any colour and shape, it has so much character.”
A big part of why they both love concrete is their love for the outdoors.
The pair’s lifestyle includes surfing, snowboarding and rock-climbing regularly.
May is selling her wares online, but is hoping to get into stores soon. Plus she has plans for workshops in the future.
Follow @maydeconcrete on Instagram and visit maydeconcrete.com.au