Rising Stars: Meet Therese Stevens of Avon Lake

Today we’d like to introduce you to Therese Stevens

Hi Therese, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Our journey with Laser Focused Crafts, LLC began in 2019, sparked by a deeply personal moment. My mother gave me a handwritten recipe from my late grandmother and asked if I could create something special with it. Determined to preserve this cherished memory, I did extensive research into various technologies and discovered a tool that seemed perfect for capturing the exact essence of my grandmother’s handwriting.

Using this new technology, I created a custom cutting board featuring an exact engraving of her handwriting. The result was a cutting board that preserved every loop and flourish of her script in stunning detail. The emotional response from my mother when she received this unique gift made me realize the powerful impact that such personalized items can have. This experience ignited my passion for creating custom products and led me to turn this passion into a business.

Starting the business myself, I initially focused on crafting custom items for friends and family, whose strong support and feedback were instrumental in helping me refine my small business. Their enthusiasm and encouragement were crucial in building confidence and shaping the business. As word spread, it became clear that there was potential to grow this hobby into something much larger. We started on Etsy, where we began building our online presence and connecting with customers. This year, we expanded by building a Shopify site, allowing us to offer even more customization options and improve the shopping experience for our customers.

Over the last five years, we have heavily invested in advanced technologies, including various equipment for different materials and size jobs, as well as printing technologies that allow us to offer full-color customizations. We use only premium, high-quality materials to ensure that every product we create meets our high standards and exceeds our customers’ expectations.

My business partner, who is an attorney, shares my passion for creativity. His legal expertise complements my creative vision perfectly. Together, we’ve built a strong partnership that fuels our innovation and success. His support and shared enthusiasm for crafting unique and personalized items have been crucial in navigating the growth and challenges of the business. We connect with customers directly, seeing their reactions firsthand, which continuously inspires and motivates us.

We are tailoring our technology for mobile abilities, focusing on becoming the most advanced mobile technology provider. We are heavily investing in mobile customization to ensure that our mobile operations are as cutting-edge as possible. In addition to our advanced technology and high-quality materials, we are rebranding our mobile hat bar to “The Hat Factory Xpress™.” This rebrand reflects our commitment to offering quick, personalized headwear and other apparel items on-the-spot, including instant transfers of pet photos and custom designs to hats, pet bandanas, shot glasses, and more at festivals and events, enhancing the customer experience with timely and unique customization.

At these events, customers often experience new technology for the first time and are amazed by what’s possible. Many don’t realize the extent of customization and immediacy available until they see it firsthand. Witnessing their reactions as they see their designs come to life right before their eyes is incredibly gratifying. We’re not just making products; we’re making dreams come true.

We also offer a range of services including private parties, corporate gifts, bulk orders, and custom products, catering to various needs and occasions. For private parties, we bring our mobile hat bar directly to your event, providing an interactive and personalized experience for weddings, birthday celebrations, corporate events, and more. Whether it’s custom hats for a wedding, unique birthday gifts, or special items for corporate functions, we tailor our offerings to match the theme and significance of the event, making each occasion memorable. We also accommodate bulk orders with no minimum order quantities, ensuring flexibility for businesses and large events.

We have also partnered with local artisan stores to showcase and sell our items. This collaboration has helped us build a stronger presence in the community and connect with more customers. Come see our work at Talents in Avon Lake, where we display a selection of our custom creations. We plan to host events at these stores where customers can see their custom gifts being made, adding a personal touch to their experience.

Additionally, we collaborate with other makers to create some of the products we offer, such as our Made in Ohio cutting boards and dog bandanas. We’re proud to work with Richmond Woodworking for our handcrafted cutting boards and Ellie’s Bandana Shop for our custom dog bandanas. These partnerships allow us to provide a diverse range of high-quality, locally crafted items.

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?
The road hasn’t always been smooth, but each challenge has been a valuable learning experience. Balancing my role as a full-time Product Development Engineer with running Laser Focused Crafts, LLC has been one of the biggest hurdles. Managing both required countless late nights and weekends, and there were times when it felt overwhelming.

Navigating rapid business growth posed another challenge. As demand increased, we needed to invest in new equipment, which was both exciting and nerve-wracking. Each new machine, including our latest additions, came with its own learning curve and significant financial investment. Transitioning into markets and festivals also introduced unpredictability, including weather, customer turnout, and technical issues on-site.

We have a high standard to make each product perfect, and maintaining this level of quality requires constant attention to detail. Every item we create undergoes meticulous inspection to ensure it meets our premium standards. This commitment to excellence means that we are continually refining our processes and techniques to deliver products that exceed customer expectations.

Additionally, each event provided us with valuable insights into how we could enhance our booth setup and product offerings. We continuously learn from these experiences, refining our approach to improve the customer experience. Whether it’s optimizing our booth layout for better visibility or enhancing our product presentations to make them more engaging, we are committed to evolving based on feedback and observations. This ongoing process of improvement helps us better meet our customers’ needs and ensures that our products and services continue to exceed expectations.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
*This was answered in the your story section*

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
COVID-19 was a significant turning point for my woman-owned business based in Cleveland, Ohio. The pandemic catalyzed our early success, with a surge in demand for at-home activities like DIY paint kits and custom decision dice. This period taught us crucial lessons about adaptability and responsiveness to customer needs.

One major lesson was the value of a strong online presence. Since I had not yet begun participating in in-person events, the shift to online sales allowed us to expand our global reach significantly. We saw a remarkable increase in international sales, demonstrating the essential role of digital platforms for business growth.

The experience also underscored the importance of product diversity. Offering items that aligned with customers’ needs during lockdowns helped us tap into new segments and sustain growth. It reinforced the necessity of staying connected with customers and adapting to their evolving needs.

Overall, while the pandemic presented challenges, it also created opportunities that contributed to our business’s growth and global reach. It taught us the importance of flexibility, innovation, and understanding our customers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.laserfocusedcrafts.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/LaserFocusedCrafts
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaserFocusedCrafts
• Other: https://www.laserfocusedcrafts.etsy.com