Meet Shannon Roberts | Owner/Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shannon Roberts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shannon, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I have always enjoyed working for myself and the freedom that it has offered in the past. I lost my job like a lot of people during Covid, to avoid just sitting around the house, I began spending more time on my hobbies. It soon became apparent that I really needed a way to get rid of all the stuff I was making. At this time, I was living with my dad who had health problems and that year really took a toll on his health. He needed daily full time care and working from home with my own business would allow me the ability to work from home, set my hours, and care for my dad at the same time. I knew one major worry my dad had was my future if something happened to him, and hoped if he saw progress in this new business it would ease his mind. As the business began to grow and he could see the amount of orders coming in, and the customer response to our products, he became quite proud of what I created. Unfortunately, he passed away in December 2022 not seeing the final outcome of my dream, but I believe it offered him some comfort in his last days knowing I would be ok.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

We offer a variety of glassware that is hand sandblasted and completely customized.  We also offer stained glass projects, tumblers and more. Our main goal for our business is to focus on providing joy to others by helping them create or preserve wonderful moments in their lives and being able to capture it in a way that it can be with them as a reminder through everyday items. Many look back and wish they had something special that reminds them of an important day, special trip, and even everyday moments, and we strive to provide that.  Other than the glassware, the custom tumblers are popular for in memory of, for someone who has passed, as well as special get togethers such as reunions and more.

I think that dedication is the most important factor behind my success. Not just dedication to what I do, but how I do it, and what I offer to my customers. I am constantly researching ways to make my products better or find better products. How can I make my engraving better, how can I get more detail, how far can I take my designs. I will take the time to design or figure out a way to get my customers exactly what they want. Ultimately, their satisfaction with their purchase is what is important to me, knowing I captured exactly what they were looking for.

It has not been an easy process, and there have been good and bad days. Being single and having the responsibility of every aspect of a business keeps me pretty busy. Part of that comes from having all the responsibilities that come from a business you run on your own. Not just the work itself, but social media (which I am horrible about taking time for) and advertising, looking for designs, phone calls, order management, inventory, bookings and more. Having my son step in and take an active role in the business has been wonderful, it helps me to split the responsibilities so that more can get done in a day. So not being in a place to hire more help is definitely a challenge, but knowing that you are investing in your future is worth getting up everyday for and moving past challenges to reach your end goal.

It’s hard to look back in life and realize, I wish I had more pictures of my mom, or of my dad who was always behind the camera, or I should have written down important milestones my children accomplished. Sometimes, it is not until it is to late that you realize that you can not recapture those moments. Being someone who has suffered a traumatic brain injury, my memory is not what it used to be. Of course as we get older, none of ours are. The amount of people who suffer from dementia, or Alzheimer’s is a sad statistic. However for me, losing the memories of my life made me realize that just maybe if I captured these in a way,  I could see them everyday, it might serve as a way to stay connected later in life as more memories fade, and it is something I can offer to others as well, It is also a way to memorialize our biggest days, our losses, our passions and more. It can bring great joy to see a glass that takes you back to something that makes you smile.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

I will be eternally grateful for my mom and dad for giving me the courage to be who I am, and fight for what I enjoy.  Having their support my whole life has been a huge inspiration.  My dad the last few years has also been outstanding, trying to fill the void of my mom’s place after she passed.  He not only believed in me, but helped to get me started with this business. He has always been my hero and taught me to chase my dreams. He has always had my back and will be missed dearly.  I just hope we can keep this business growing to survive the transition financially to full time while being able to maintain other responsibilities.  Maybe one day someone will start a go fund me page. Just kidding.

This would not be complete without a huge shoutout to my son as well, who without his help in this business, I would not be able to accomplish everything I have.  He is my support, and helps me everyday manage life with a diminishing memory.  I will hold in my heart all the time we have been able to spend together as partners in crime during this adventure.  They say what the mind forgets, the heart remembers, and that goes both ways.

Website: www.beautifulmomentsgifts.com

Instagram: beautifulmomentsgifts

Facebook: facebook.com/beautifulmomentsgifts

Image Credits
Shannon Roberts