We recently connected with Megan Cotton and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Megan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

I’ve always believed the formula to a successful life went something like this: Make straight A’s + Graduate from College = Your Choice of Career. Unfortunately, me applying a math equation to life just does not work. And it has not worked.

I did my best to stick to this “formula” growing up, and graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a Statistics degree in 2008. I went to work as an engineering technician at Chesapeake Energy, and then later Devon Energy. I thought my degree and my job description made me sound “smart”. Well, while that may have been true, seeming smart or even being intelligent was a very surface-level achievement.

In 2014, I was diagnosed with lupus and forced to stay home due to kidney failure and seizures. I started crafting and eventually started a business, Bundles of Joy Designs, later to be known as Dapper Xpressions. Our business started off as a really intense hobby. I have always dreamed big with little to no limits so of course, it couldn’t simply remain a hobby. As the years went by, I started to think about work outside of the home. I knew that due to my chronic fatigue (a symptom of lupus), it would be nearly impossible for me to work a schedule. But I still wondered if I’d ever return to the analytics side of things. Math was my first love. And again, it made me look “smart” to utilize it. The common misconception of owning a handmade business is typically that it may look like a fun hobby, or that it isn’t a serious business, like other businesses may seem to be. My worry was that I had gone to college for nothing, I had built an image of intelligence to others around me and could not live up to it, and I would never have an opportunity to display this side of me, ever again. With brain fog (also a lupus symptom) now an every day occurrence, there would be no way I could be that education-driven, “I know the answer” type of person again.

Then the pandemic happened. Everything stopped. Supplies and factories went to a halt. Luckily, we had tons of fabric and were able to make masks for sale. It was the first time that the whole world stopped. And I no longer felt unintelligent, or lacking. I felt useful and like my business mattered. Customers were a lot more patient. While all of this is great, I still had some learning to do. In 2021, I had a hip replacement. All the meds I had taken for lupus in 2014/2015 began to deteriorate my bones. I finally got to sit down and focus. No work outside of the home and no home business. During the healing process of my surgery, I started truly hearing from God, through my husband. My purpose in this life didn’t have to be restricted to being the smartest in the room. It was also not a horrible thing to own a business. Many businesses fail within the first year and ours was very successful. I finally started to let go of that formula I had always known. Our business is a blessing. I didn’t have a job to lose during the pandemic. We actually made more in sales. I don’t have to worry about a boss who may or may not understand autoimmune diseases. I am the boss. While I love math and like to be seen as intelligent, the truth is that there’s more than one way to be intelligent. I’ve found within the past year that, as I allow God to lead my life instead of me, I’m coming into more knowledge than ever before… and about more topics than I ever thought I’d care about. My husband and I know how to manage our business to produce sales, or pull back when needing a rest. We are very proficient concerning the ins and outs of our business in nearly all areas. I also enjoy the times I get to mentor other small business owners. I no longer think about working outside the home. I know what works for me and my family and I’m content with that. I am always striving to be better in business, but Megan the Mathemagician still finds ways to poke her head out through the analysis of social media, people’s behaviors, sales on different platforms, etc. I’m new and improved and I have decided to always be eager to listen and learn.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hello, I’m Megan Cotton, the co-founder and designer at Dapper Xpressions. Growing up, I always aspired to be successful and dedicated myself to hard work and excellence. My journey has been diverse, from aiming to be a pharmacist to working as an engineering technician, but it was my passion for creativity and family that led me to co-found Dapper Xpressions with my husband, Adrean.

At Dapper Xpressions, we specialize in high-quality, customizable accessories, including suspenders, bow ties, neckties, and sublimation socks. We also make pet accessories and upcycled blazers for those special occasions. What truly sets us apart is our commitment to quality and customization, ensuring that our products not only look great but also provide comfort and a perfect fit.

Our mission is to solve the problem of finding stylish, personalized accessories that cater to both individual preferences and special occasions. Whether it’s for weddings, proms, corporate events, or casual wear, our products are designed to help you stand out with confidence.

One of the things I’m most proud of is our dedication to creating items that tailor to every individual. Our accessories range in size from Infant to Adult, with every theme from pop culture to your culture.

I want potential clients and followers to know that Dapper Xpressions is more than just a brand; it’s a passion-driven business committed to quality, style, and community. Our goal is to provide you with exceptional products that make you feel confident and unique.

We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.

You can find Dapper Xpressions on Etsy and Shopify.

Over the years, we have found Etsy to be the most beneficial for handmade businesses. People complain about the fees on that platform, but I always say that it is important to price your items accordingly. When we first began selling on Etsy in 2016, I quickly realized I may need a class in SEO. I took one, just one. And now I am able to understand how key words work on Etsy. This is what has helped us be successful on their platform.

We built our own website on Shopify in 2018. I hired someone to set up our first listings and basically took it from there. We now have several hundred listings, as well as a second Shopify website that features more of our sock designs.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

As previously mentioned, I considered myself a pretty good student. During my last year in college, my boyfriend made me aware of a situation that his sister was going through. She was a mom at 14, but now was age 27 and had relinquished her parental rights to her 3 children, ages 13, 6, and 3. While I finished my last year in college in 2008, I married my boyfriend at the beginning of that year and by the end of the year, we’d gotten custody of those 3 children. I had previously planned to get my masters degree, but decided family was more important. We adopted them and raised them as our own. I eventually had a child biologically about 4 years (2011) later as well. That same year our son was born, my father passed away about a month prior. We believe that both of those events led to a physical manifestation of sickness called lupus, which began in 2013 and was diagnosed officially in 2014. Since then, I’ve been trying to get strength and health back, both physically and mentally.

Today, I am more happy than I’ve ever been. I have a growing and healthy relationship with Christ. I am able to see more clearly what my purpose is. And I’m also becoming a better wife and mother daily. I choose to be resilient and never give up because I want to show others that it isn’t what life throws at you that determines who you are or what you’re able to do. It’s how you handle those things and how you choose to look at challenging events. Hardships come, and I choose to see them as lessons, rather than losses.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.dapperxpressions.com; www.footprintxpressions.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dapperxpressions
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/xpressions.co
• Other: TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@xpressions.co