Luxe Mahjong
Luxe Mahjong was founded in December 2023 by Leah Seidelmann and is based in Phoenix, Arizona.
Their products include tiles, mats, racks, tile bags and tote bags.
Western Tablescape
What do you love most about Mahjong?
The social bonds it forms around the table. Learning something new as an adult, knowing I will be able to enjoy this game for years to come. Hosting - I love planning events! And who doesn't enjoy playing with pretty things!
Why did you decide to start your own brand?
I learned how to play mahjong in early 2023. After that, I could NOT stop thinking about tile designs - so much so, it would keep me up at night. My professional background included 20+ years of corporate HR experience, so designing and manufacturing were very foreign to me. However, I knew I had to see this idea come to life otherwise I would regret it. Three years later I can say it was the best decision I ever made.
Country Club Tiles
Nothing makes me happier than seeing a vision come to life.
And even better, having customers share how happy Luxe Mahjong tiles and tablescapes make them.
I wanted to make tiles that represented personalities and personal interests, and in doing so I have found a love of creating elevated tablescapes.
What is special about your products?
I love earth tones, moody colors, and gender-neutral color palettes so my designs lean in that direction. I have a mix of themed-sets (country club, western, polo club) but also have tiles that lean more traditional with new designs being released this year.
Polo Club Tablescape
Can you tell us about a business challenge you’ve experienced and how it was solved or handled?
I had placed a large order for a new mahjong mat design. After showcasing images on social media, so many people reached out asking if they could pre-order, so I decided to allow it. The mats were manufactured on time, but they got stuck in US Customs for WEEKS without any movement. Once I realized no movement was happening in customs, I placed an immediate backup order as a plan B. Throughout this process, I kept all of my pre-order customers informed and sent weekly updates - I believe transparency is so important. The mats ended up arriving but much later than anticipated, so I offered my customers two options: cancel their order for a full refund, or keep the order but I would offer them a partial refund (as a thank you for their patience). Ultimately, the mats finally arrived, and I received SO many emails thanking me for my transparency, communication, and good customer service. Some things are outside of our control but it's what I CAN control that I choose to focus on.
Tell us about your design process!
People often ask me where I get my inspiration for designs. The truth is, it just seems to happen organically. I see something in nature, I come across an object and think "that could be good for the dot suit", etc. It really starts with just one small idea, and then I tend to formulate the suits and color palette around that. I don't have a set number of designs I want to create a year (i.e. I don't force the creative process) - it just comes to me over time. My favorite part of creating tiles and other accessories is choosing the color palette. A rainbow of endless options!
Provide a quick overview of your customer service policies.
Simply put, I treat customers how I would like to be treated. While I have standard policies, in place, I also understand sometimes exceptions need to be made.
Bougie Bee