Skip to content
It’s funny how life takes unexpected turns. Just over eight months ago, I started Perry Design, a high-end personalization business that's now on track to reach six figures in its first year.
If you’re looking to scale your maker business, I hope I can offer you some helpful ideas and inspiration from my story.
For background, I've always been entrepreneurial. I’ve been a hairstylist for 21 years and worked my way up to owning a salon. I still own that salon to this day, and I’m not planning to give that up...just yet.
Along the way, my partner and I adopted a child, and with a new desire to focus on my family, I downsized the salon. But I soon started to miss the daily challenges of growing a business. That’s when I began to look for a new creative outlet.
Perry Design was honored to support the military with on-site engraving at a local community event for the Soldiers Wish Organization.
Finding a Business Idea
At first, a friend suggested we start a rental space for events, like baby showers and wedding parties. We found a great space, but there was a problem that prevented us from pursuing that location.
The rental space industry has tons of competition, so I knew we had to be different. My idea was to offer a great rental space plus all the supplies for the event in one convenient package.
So I listed up everything you need for a great wedding shower. I’m talking napkins, cups, swizzle sticks, all the things. After months of research, I realized that to make these items, I would need thousands of dollars of equipment and plenty of training.
So what did I do? I got started. Like a baker, I burned a lot of cakes, but it was necessary to get good at my craft.
I bought equipment. I made things. I even threw my three-year-old a big birthday bash at a wedding venue with all the decor and personalized items, catering, you name it. It was a Kardashian-level party and completely ridiculous for a three-year-old, but it was fun and it helped me to explore what we could do with the business.
Want to try out a selection of MakerFlo laser blanks at a discount? Get 10% off your choice of items with our Laser Blank Build-a-Bundle.
Through all of this, I realized that running an event space wasn’t the business I wanted to run. Instead, personalization had way more potential to be profitable. That’s when I started Perry Design.
Perry Design was honored to be a sponsor at the 2025 Susan G. Komen Gala.
Growing the Business
I published my website with great excitement, expecting customers to burst through the doors. But I didn’t get a sale for two months.
After lots of outreach and networking, I landed a job engraving vape pens. Thirty-six thousand of them, to be exact.
I laugh now, but my whole life revolved around those vape pens for three and a half weeks. I learned a lot about working productively and the need for outsourcing in a business like this.
The turning point came when I started researching organizations and personalization groups. I stumbled upon the Awards and Personalization Association (APA). They were holding their annual conference just one month later, so I became a member that night and bought a plane ticket to Vegas.
The conference taught me so much. But more than anything, it showed me the huge potential of the personalization industry. I saw people making money with things I had never thought of before and noticed the huge passion everyone had for what they were doing.
That night, I asked myself, “Am I going to continue as a crafter? Or am I going to do something big?”
When I got home to Tulsa, I started researching other businesses like mine in the area. I invited each business to grab a coffee. Some said no, but most accepted. I learned more from those meetings than any amount of research could have taught me. I learned about community.
(By the way, my goal was never to copy other businesses, but to figure out what I could do differently and create lasting relationships with my neighbors.)
At APA Expo 2025 with friend and LogoJet CEO, Susan Cox.
4 Things Working For Me Today
#1 - Understanding My “Why”
The most important aspect of having a business is knowing your why. For me, my goal has always been to reach customers with elevated expectations. That might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s exactly where I thrive. I truly enjoy creating meaningful, high-quality gifts for this demographic.
Your why will guide you, but you have to be willing to follow where it leads. From the items I offer to the packaging they come in, I want the whole experience to feel elevated for my customers. That alone has played a huge part in attracting the right customers and increasing my sales.
#2 - Going Out to Meet Customers
I continuously reach out to businesses and potential customers. I’ve cold-called, I’ve sent emails, I’ve shown up to businesses to make connections. I keep sales samples in my car so I can show them anywhere. This has helped me to land great clients that needed bulk and repeat work.
#3 - Balancing Corporate & Personal Gifting
Like many in this industry, I’ve experienced the highs and lows, and I’ve found that balancing corporate and personal gifting helps smooth out the seasonal shifts. That’s why we’ve built a strong line of personal gifts on our website, while also steadily growing our corporate offerings.
We’ve dabbled in B2B, and while it’s a beast, it’s one we’re preparing to tackle intentionally. We’ve taken risks where needed, but we’re making sure all bases are covered before we fully launch that side of the business.
Moral of the story: build your confidence in what you know and own it. The rest will come and when it does, you’ll be ready to conquer those mountains on your own terms.
#4 - Working With MakerFlo
I’ve loved working with MakerFlo since the beginning, especially because the product quality meets my standard. Not to mention, the packaging is beautiful and ready to go out of the box.
MakerFlo has an amazing product line with everything I need, yet not too much to be overwhelming. I know that I can order 500 cups today and restock the same cups 6 months later when I need them again.
Some of my personal favorites are the camper mug and the 40oz tumbler with removable handle. They’ve been a big hit with my customers and have led to repeat orders from satisfied customers. Also, the whiskey decanter sets? No words. Well, actually…they’re absolutely beautiful and top-tier quality!
[product=whiskey-decanter-set]Choose from a 2-glass or 4-glass set complete with beautiful packaging.[/product]
One thing that really sets MakerFlo apart from other suppliers is their ability to buy one-offs or mix-and-match bundles. These give you a solid variety of products to test out, whether it’s sublimation, resin, engraving, or even UV printing so you and your business can make informed decisions about what to offer.
Want to try out our best cups and tumblers at a discount? Score 10% off your choice of items with our Powder-Coated Tumbler Build-a-Bundle.
[product=12oz-coffee-mug-colors]This powder-coated coffee mug comes with a lid! Choose from multiple colors.[/product]
You Can Grow Your Business—Here’s How
One thing I would say is that you never know what’s going to work for your business. The faster you can experiment and try new things, the faster you will find success.
My second piece of advice is to be bold and show up. Go out and network with other business owners, pick up the phone, send the email, visit companies, and give samples to family and friends.
[product=40-oz-tumbler-with-handle-powder-coated]Our best-selling 40oz tumbler is easy to craft with an optional handle and comes in 10 colors![/product]
Be prepared for some negativity. Not everyone is going to like you, and that’s okay! After years in the salon, I learned firsthand that you can’t please everyone. So be bold, show up, and most importantly…BE YOU. The right people will connect with your authenticity.
Some people expect it to be easy, but growing a business is never easy. I always strive to keep navigating out of my comfort zone. Because the moment you become uncomfortable is the moment you begin to grow.
Thank you, Joshua, for sharing your insights with us! Connect with MakerFlo by joining our free MakerFlo Makers Community and following us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Find more great resources for growing your maker business by visiting our MakerFlo Pro resource hub.
