Napa Vinyl
For Christmas in 2019 I told my husband and teen daughter I wanted a Cricut because it looked fun. The thought of owning a business never even crossed my mind. It was just for me. As I learned my way around and started showing off what I made, and it wasn’t long before I was being asked, “Hey can you make me ____?” I made free decals for friends and then started making a few simple signs for gifts for friends.
The custom requests and suggestions for projects kept coming. By April 2020 I decided I’d try my hand at making it a side hustle. First things first—I needed a name. I live in a small town in Washington State called Napavine. At the time, my business was primarily vinyl signs and apparel. Naturally, NapaVinyl was born.
Eventually one Cricut turned into two Cricuts. A simple, inexpensive heat press turned into professional grade press…and then several specialty presses including a mug press, tumbler press and hat press. Particularly in the early stages, most of my profits went to upgrading or adding equipment. About a year later I tried my hand at sublimation and added to my business offerings. I quickly learned they each had their place and what projects I enjoyed and tried to focus on expanding those offerings.
One of those projects was custom signs. While I love creating signs, one thing I lack time or space for is making frames. At the suggestion of several people in one of my crafting groups, I found Not Just Frames, and it was a match made in heaven. To this day, they supply me with high quality frames in any shape and size I need. They’re always game to humor my quirky custom requests.
In 2022 I added a laser to my arsenal of equipment and continue to stretch the limits of my own imagination as to what I can offer. One of the absolute best parts of this entire journey has been the people I have met and the relationships I have formed because of my business. I have met some amazing vendors who truly love what they do as much as I do, making me feel like my success is their success.
I have also had the opportunity to meet and help so many amazing customers of my own along this journey. I have brought healing and comfort to many who have lost loved ones, be they family members or pets. The honor of being a part of this healing is never lost on me. I have helped countless people create one of a kind gifts of their own creation that I helped bring to life.
While I still work full time in an administrative position for a busy ophthalmology practice, I am blessed to stay as busy as a girl with a full time job wants to/possibly can! I’ve had the opportunity to pay for family vacations such as a mother/daughter trip to Disneyland as well as an amazing, week-long anniversary trip to Hawaii with my husband of 21 years, Justin, who also happens to be one of my biggest supporters. He’s proud of what I’ve built, but I could not have done it without him and so many others who continue to believe in me!
Another amazing person I couldn’t do this without is my best friend of over 25 years, Sharla. Any time I have a bulk order, I need only say the when, and she is my right hand (wo)man who helps me breeze through big orders in no time. It’s been an amazing 3 1/2 years. I look forward to many more. I look forward to the future and have goals I know I’ll achieve (my current goal is to purchase an enclosed trailer for vendor events) because I have so many amazing people in my corner cheering me on and helping me get there.
Here’s to the future of NapaVinyl. Please feel free to visit my website www.napavinyl.com or find me on Facebook NapaVinyl. I would love to connect with you!