Today we’d like to introduce you to Ally Gaetz
Hi Ally , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
When my husband and I started planning for our wedding, I quickly realized how fast everything added up.
With the help of some family and friends, I ended up making all of our wedding signs, center pieces and floral arrangements.
I had so much fun creating the designs, that I thought, what if I offered this to other brides who don’t have the time or resources to make this stuff, but also be able to charge at a much more cost friendly price?
I created an Etsy page and started offering wedding signs. We got married in September and by Oct/Nov I started making acrylic ornaments in our basement. I did my first vendor show that December and the ideas just kept flowing after that.
I knew I wanted to get into apparel – mainly shirts and sweatshirts but I definitely never imagined I would be here making all the items I have to offer, barely a year over my start date!
I had friends reach out for various items – cups, tumblers and bags… As people asked for more things, I made them and added them to my page to sell!
After a few months of adding to Etsy and realizing all the fees I had to pay, I made my own website and social media accounts and here we are!
I travel about an hour radius of our house for vendor shows and work out of my office that my husband built for me in our home!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would say the hardest part for me since beginning this journey aside from finding the time to run a successful business (I do work full-time, have two small kiddos and am married!) – would be gaining clientele!
I have been so lucky to have supportive friends and family who share my posts and give my name when they can but competing with bigger businesses in such a small town, can be very challenging!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I like to say if you need something, I can make it!
I am known for my custom tees but along with t-shirts I make – cups/tumblers, acrylic signs + ornaments, hats, keychains, and canvas bags.
I am probably most proud of my shirts only because the options are endless when it comes to designs! I have always been creative so ideas come to my mind fairly easy. But my favorite is when someone sends me a picture and asks, “can you make this?” & I get to bring it to life!
I have also been very fortunate to partner with many local businesses to make them apparel as well!
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I truly believe the biggest risk I took, was genuinely jumping straight into this head on.
I didn’t give myself much time to think about what I was getting myself into. Heck, I didn’t even talk to my husband about it, I just called him one day and said “I signed up for a vendor show to sell my ornaments!”
Which is huge for me and I think shocking to my family, as I am very much an over thinker.
I knew one day, I was meant to run my own business and if I didn’t take the leap when I did, I’m not sure I ever would have done it.
I would have never called myself a risk taker before jumping into this business. I definitely like to stick to my routines, I need to have a plan and this was very much the opposite.
Now I would encourage anyone to take the leap into something they are contemplating. Don’t second guess yourself. Don’t worry about all the “what-ifs”. Your decision could be one of the best things that happen to you or your family. The worst that could happen is it doesn’t work out but at least you tried! It’ll always then be something you did instead of “I wish I did __”
Pricing:
- Toddler + Youth Tees start at $10
- Adult Tees start at $10
- Hats are $15
- Glass Cups are $10
- Sweatshirts start at $18
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gaetz-workshop.square.site
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaetzworkshop/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gaetzworkshop2023
