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

Hi Chaille, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
Some people view vinyl customization as just making stickers. There is a lot more work and time that goes into designing a personalized graphic; choosing fonts, finding just the right images, and finding something that matches the mental picture of the customer. After hours of designing the vinyl has to be weeded. Weeding is pulling off all the excess material. This can take time especially with small detailed designs. I love the process of making customers’ design ideas come to life, but it can be a lot more complicated and time consuming than most realize.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
To get my customization business where it is today took a lot of practice and patience. I used to create subpar designs for my mother and myself only. There is no way I could sell what I made. When I decided to sell products, I gave away a lot of free merchandise to get my name out there on social media. I put my heart and full focus into each one of a kind design I make. It makes me so proud and happy when I make a customer’s idea come to life. After many mishaps, I have gotten so much better with the designing process. Sometimes I cannot believe people actually want things that I have made. I have learned to trust my self and to be patient with the learning process. It all works out in the end.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love trying new restaurants. For casual dining I would suggest Fat Bao on Kirby. Fat Bao is a trendy Asian Fusion spot in town. Try the Bulgogi Fat Fries and Spicy Thai Bao. Looking for an more upscale option? My favorite restaurant is the city is Oporto Midtown. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. I suggest the Piri Piri Shrimp, Empanadas, and Crab & Avocado Crostini.

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?
First off, I have to shout out my fabulous mother that made the the entrepreneur that I am today. She woke me up at 4:00 AM on Black Friday to get my Cricut machine on sale! She went half with me because she believed I could do it even when I had no idea where to start. My husband always helps me along the way. He checks my design placements on shirts to make sure they are not crooked. He has a great eye for design so when I get stuck between font options he always helps me pick the one with the best aesthetic. His loving encouragement and practical advice keeps me going even when being an entrepreneur gets tough. I also would like to thank my friends that always support me by ordering, sharing on social media, and spreading the word to their friends. You all are the best team anyone could have!

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Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/chaille-thomas
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