Rising Stars: Meet Lexi Herbers of Cincinnati

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lexi Herbers

Lexi, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Lexi Lou’s Crafting Co. began with a Cricut and no plan—just a passion for being creative. I never imagined it would grow into the business it is today, but life had other plans.
In the beginning, I focused on simple, single-color vinyl apparel. I spent countless hours cutting, weeding, and pressing designs, making Cincinnati-themed shirts and sweatshirts that quickly gained popularity. As demand grew, I realized this little hobby of mine had potential.
That’s when I decided to take a leap and buy a small embroidery machine to expand my business. I had no prior experience— I didn’t even know how to sew—but I was determined to learn. After weeks of trial and error, I proudly released my first embroidered crewneck. Encouraged by this milestone, I opened an Etsy shop. While sales trickled in, it was a rewarding side hustle that kept me motivated.
As my confidence grew, so did my ambitions. I upgraded to a larger embroidery machine with more capabilities, allowing me to expand my designs and increase productivity. The workflow became steady, and I realized I was ready to take things to the next level. I made my business official and invested in a commercial-grade six-needle embroidery machine. This was a game-changer—production time was cut in half, and I could handle more complex, multi-color designs.
With this momentum, I started releasing holiday collections and attending craft fairs. Soon, I saw an opportunity to work with businesses, creating branded apparel for restaurants, car dealerships, schools, gyms, and more. To meet growing demand, I upgraded again—this time to a 16-needle Melco Amaya XTS, one of the top commercial embroidery machines in the industry.
Today, with both machines and a ton of experience, I’m proud to provide high-quality, custom work for businesses, schools, and everything in between.
From a Cricut to a thriving custom embroidery business, I’m incredibly grateful for how far this journey has come and excited for what lies ahead.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
For me, learning embroidery and running a business has been anything but a smooth road. When I first started, I knew absolutely nothing about embroidery. My only “teachers” were YouTube tutorials and the occasional TikTok video. There’s an endless amount to learn, and even now, I discover something new every time I turn my machine on. Like any machinery, issues arise—things break, errors happen, and troubleshooting can be a serious challenge. The hardest part for me has been understanding why errors occur and figuring out how to prevent them from happening again. I’d be lying if I said embroidery was easy—it’s not. There’s a steep learning curve, especially since I had no prior experience, not even with a basic sewing machine.
On the business side of things, the challenges have been just as significant. Managing taxes, finances, insurance, and all the other administrative tasks was a whole new mountain to climb. Numbers and math aren’t my strong suits, so I might even say learning the business side of things was harder than mastering the machines.
Each day brings new lessons and challenges, whether as a business owner, an embroidery machine operator, or a creative. It’s a constant journey of growth, and I’m proud of how far I’ve come while staying open to what’s still ahead.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in embroidery, with a particular passion for custom designs. Creating branded apparel for businesses is one of my favorite aspects of what I do. Over this past year, I’ve crafted everything from sweatshirts and shirts to hats, scarves, and polos—you name it. I believe that branding is essential to growing any business, and there’s no better way to make a lasting impression than with custom-branded apparel. If you’re looking to showcase your brand in style, I’d love to help—don’t hesitate to give me a call!
In addition to custom work, I also offer my own unique collections, available for purchase on my website and Etsy store. From seasonal designs to everyday favorites, these collections are a reflection of my creativity and dedication to quality.
This passion for embroidery has led to some truly rewarding experiences, including being interviewed on Fox 19’s Now in The Nati. It was such an incredible opportunity to share my journey, and it made me feel like all my hard work had truly paid off. Moments like that remind me why I love what I do—helping businesses shine through high-quality, custom apparel.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Feel free to reach out to me anytime through my socials—Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok. You can also email me at lexi@lexilouscc.com or give me a call at (513) 335-1929. I’d be thrilled to work with you on creating custom pieces, whether for personal use or to elevate your business!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lexilouscc.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexilouscraftingco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexilouscraftingco