Today we’d like to introduce you to Aly Nickerson.
Aly, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
It all began with an antique store find! Sitting on a dusty old shelf was a vintage metal stamping set and a bundle of silver-plated silverware and plates. I had several weddings to go to that summer and not a lot of money to buy gifts as I was newly married myself. I decided to buy the stamping set and bundle of silver plate wares to create custom gifts. The total cost was $19. That is all it took to start a business that grew into something I never imagined it would.
At that time, in 2011, Etsy was at its prime. My first sale was a spoon that read “CHEESE”. That customer left me the kindest, longest and probably not truly deserving review. I still believe to this day that that woman was an Etsy angel in disguise helping businesses get their first sale and take off.
From there things progressed quickly. My shop was opened in August and by Christmas I was making plans to quit my full-time job and take on my Etsy business full time.
Since then, I have been featured in a number of big magazines like Southern Living and Woman’s Day and then celebrity social media accounts like Lauren Conrad and Kat Von D. The most exciting featuring to date was on the Hallmark Channel for a Mother’s Day Gift idea feature.
I often think back to that day in the antique shop and am in awe that a small purchase and an idea to make wedding gifts for friends would turn into a successful business that would have me shipping hand stamped silverware all over the world!
Has it been a smooth road?
No good thing comes without its challenges! Three Christmas’s in I had no help and by December 2nd has 1300 orders to get out by December 19th. Not much sleep was had during those weeks! It was after that I hired help for different things like packaging orders, polishing silverware and organizing things in the studio.
Sore hands and feet of course come with the territory and wearing a million hats can be challenging as well, but the reward of creating custom gifts for people always prevailed!
For Such A Time Designs – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I hand stamp silver plated utensils. Custom items, personalized items and then phrases I’ve come up with over the years. I think what makes me most proud is getting to be a part of big moments in people’s lives. I make wedding forks, baby announcement spoons, and even utensils that aid people with eating disorders overcome their challenges. The possibilities are endless and I love that something as simple as a spoon with a phrase can mean so much to someone.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
The thing I love most about Houston is the people. There’s a community vibe here that I haven’t experienced other places and I’ve moved 19 times since birth! What do I like least?? Definitely the humidity and how hot it gets. I was born in the north, so I just wasn’t built for the heat!
Pricing:
- Prices range from $18-$50
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.forsuchatimedesigns.etsy.com
- Email: forsuchatimedesigns@gmail.com
- Instagram: Forsuchatimedesigns
- Facebook: Facebook.com/forsuchatimedesigns
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