The sleek and organized realm of LB Closets offers unique modular storage solutions, providing clients with customizable systems that help homeowners keep their closets, garages, pantries, laundry rooms, and other spaces in order. Located in Tempe, Arizona, the company empowers local communities to transform their homes into visually appealing and practical sanctuaries, not only meeting but exceeding every customer’s unique needs.
LB Closets’ foundation relies on the pillars of integrity, innovation, and unmatched client-centric services—values blossomed from the people behind the business. Founded by Lance Bevans in 1996, the company leverages his over 37 years of industry experience, bringing dreams of tailor-made closets to life. Though Lance established LB Closets, the firm’s story dates back to Neil Balter, a Californian man who started California Closets years before.
After moving to California, Lance was hired by an oil company, working on the rigs of Bakersfield. With two small children and a wife at home, he was looking to shift his career and return to the family. Serendipitously, his path crossed that of Neil—an event that sparked a meaningful partnership that redefined living spaces in both California and Alberta, Canada. For 12 years, Lance owned and operated a California Closets branch in Calgary, later promoted to a consulting role out of Arizona, where his family moved in 1995.
After Neil sold the business, Lance embarked on a (not so) solo entrepreneurial journey, founding LB Closets in 1996. Though he was the sole founder, the company has emanated an essence of family and collaboration since day one. Katrina Wright, COO and Lance’s daughter, shares: “My dad is old-school when it comes to business. At LB Closets, your handshake is your word.”
Never straying away from Lance’s philosophy of honesty and integrity, the company survived the toughest of times without significant losses, including the 2008 economic crash and the epidemic of businesses closing down amidst COVID-19. Despite his infatuation with tradition, Lance’s mindset always remained open to change, embracing technological advancements and innovation to adapt to the ever-evolving world.
Looking fondly at the times that shaped LB Closets’ fabric, Katrina reminisces Saturday afternoons in Arizona, when she, her brothers, and her mom would help Lance serve every client, harnessing the powerful family dynamic to fulfill even the most intricate wishes. “This company truly is our legacy. It put my brothers through college, helping one of them become a passionate dentist and the other – a driven entrepreneur. We all had a hand in building LB Closets from the ground, just like it helped us build our dream lives,” she adds.
After traveling the country with her husband and prompted by Lance’s request, Katrina returned to the office in 2015, ready to take over more responsibility as her dad slowly transitioned into retirement. In 2017, the company gained another family member – Brando Salazar, a dedicated individual who, after moving to the US from Mexico at the age of 6, found purpose in the world of hotel renovations. Raised by a single mother, he fell under Lance’s guidance at the right time, eagerly learning the secrets that made LB Closets special and developing a profound passion for creative, unique, and functional storage spaces.
Brando, or who Lance earnestly calls ‘his adoptive son,’ organically became an integral part of this family-run business, eventually taking ownership and pledging to keep fulfilling the founder’s mission. With his values aligning with Katrina and Lance’s, the shift was a natural transition that fueled the company’s growth and prominence while honoring the employees and customers who have built LB Closets over the years.
Enriching the company’s human-centrism is LB Closets’ involvement with local communities, charities, and philanthropic organizations. This year, the firm focused on launching a women’s shelter initiative that encourages clients to clear out closets and donate beautiful apparel that collects dust on the back hangers. Through this, LB Closets not only will empower women in distress but also help customers maintain a clean, organized, and intentional space where every piece of clothing is worn and appreciated.
As the world edges toward more people-oriented movements, amplifying the human element often lost in the digital era, Katrina’s words resonate now more than ever: “It’s all about looking forward to the future while cherishing the past, being there for customers whenever they need us, and taking care of those who take care of us.”
