Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in printed decor and engraving but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Cassie Hammack, Co-Founder of B & C Signs, located in Ottumwa, IA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is B & C Signs. We are a family-owned business that specializes in printed wooden decor, laser cutting & engraving, and acrylic printing. All of our products are designed and created with the customer in mind. Every day, we put everything we have into providing the best products for our customers and providing the best service possible. Our customers are typically those who love to decorate their homes or those looking for custom gifts.
Tell us about yourself
I began painting wood signs in 2018. I was a stay-at-home mom who was looking for something crafty to do. My husband bought me a Cricut, and that's where my journey began. I quickly fell in love with making wood signs, and when I started posting them to social media, our business instantly took off. From there, we have continued to grow by leaps and bounds every year. We began by hand painting all of our wood signs, and now we have invested in a UV printer that takes care of the job and allows us to fulfill more orders.
This year, we have begun selling on a wholesale marketplace, which has been very successful since opening. I still stay home with my kids while also homeschooling and running my business. That is the biggest thing that motivates me each day to do what I do. If I can continue to run my business from home and love what I do, I can also continue to stay home for my kids and homeschool them. They are truly the motivation behind all of my work and the entire reason I want to continue to grow. Another thing that motivates me each day is hearing our customers tell us how much they love our products hanging in their homes.
Last year, our most popular product was photo-printed wood signs. We take our customer's digital photos and print them onto our wooden signs. Printing all of those memories for people and seeing how excited they get to see their products motivates me so much to keep going and growing.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is when I receive wonderful reviews and referrals. We absolutely love when people fall in love with our products. Another huge accomplishment was getting invited to sell on a major wholesale platform last month. We were on a waitlist for quite some time, and finally, being invited to sell on this platform was a dream come true.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The absolute hardest thing that comes with being a business owner is trying to manage the business while also making sure I am the best mom and wife that I can be. As of right now, it is still just my husband and me who run the business, and that comes with a lot of ups and downs. It is nice that we are able to run the business just us two, but at the same time, we have hit our limit on how much we can accomplish in a week. We look forward to growing in 2023 and hopefully hiring our first employees.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Always give your all when it comes to the products or services you offer. Never stop learning and improving.
- Be sure your customer service is always the best.
- Don't get stuck in a comparison trap with another business offering the same product or service.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://signsbybandc.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BCSignsandDesigns
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bandcsigns
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.