Today we’d like to introduce you to Tobi Copley
Tobi, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always wanted to sell my art on products, from a young age I would tell my family “One day I’m going to have a t-shirt design here” as we shopped at retail stores. In 2019 I brought that dream into reality and opened up BreeBee Designs. I began as a hobbyist in 2019 but as of last year I am now running my small business full time. I sell my original art that I drew using an application called Procreate on my iPad Pro on my website breebeedesigns.com. I also create digital art for clients in the Houston area and custom graphic tees and apparel.
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?
A little personal testimony:
At the beginning of the year I had reached a crossroads in my business. Things were slow and had been for awhile. I wasn’t making my quota and it was a make or break point. My Mitsubishi was fully paid off and a asset that could be used to get us to catchup. I had to decide: keep my car and look for a part-time job or sell it and work as hard as possible to make my monthly quota.
Within the same week of me selling my car a local business put an order in for shirts that said “Burn the Ships”. A phrase that resignated with my soul. I had burned MY ship, there was no turning around, and had decided to go all in to my business.
I wrote on my sold car’s license plate that phrase and put it front and center in my workroom. A daily reminder.
Over the past few months I have not only met my quotas but started to exceed them.
I learned the meaning of true hard work, of absolute faith in God, and how to think like a business woman and not a hobbyist.
I am so proud of how far I’ve come. It’s humbling to sell your perfectly good car, but I believed in my dream and refused to give it up for anything.
My year’s mantras are “Won’t HE dot it!” and “Boss moves only.”
This is just the beginning.”
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in digital art. I design graphics with physical merchandise in mind: retro vibes graphic tees, sassy quotes on coffee mugs, stickers for dog lovers etc. I try to bring awareness to communities I belong to. For example, I am gluten intolerant so I create art based on those struggles. I have ADHD so I designed a daily planner that can be purchased on Amazon for my “Squirrel Gang” community. I’m a biracial woman so I love to create products that empower curly-haired women to show off their “curl power”. I am a Jesus Follower so I have many faith-based designs from journals to apparel. My art shows my identity, which has created a unique platform for connecting with others like me.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I experienced most of my childhood as a Floridian, but I have lived in Texas since I was 12 so I consider myself an adopted Texan. I’m married and have two boys who keep me on my toes. My business name combines my middle and first name, a nickname bestowed on me by my family. I’m an author, movie enthusiast, bookworm, animal lover, and foodie.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://breebeedesigns.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breebeedesigns/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/breebeedesigns
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tobi-Copley/author/B0CR5RRXCN?ref_=pe_1724030_132998070&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
