We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Hannah Walker a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Hannah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

I wanted the name to be something that was distinct and meaningful. My family is originally from New Zealand, which makes it a very special place to me. The name “ByZealand” felt both unique and personally significant which is exactly what I was looking for.

Hannah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Although I work in the finance industry, I’ve always had a creative side. Growing up, my parents designed and built custom homes all over Southern California. Being surrounded by the beautiful chaos of the home building process taught me the importance of attention to detail and instilled in me an appreciation for the small things.

I began embroidery earlier this year after a break-up to fill my spare time, and I quickly fell in love with it. After teaching myself the basics with a kit I ordered on Amazon, I embroidered napkins as gifts for a friend’s bridal shower. I soon realized how much people appreciated the personalized touch and saw potential in my new hobby.

Embroidery is my creative outlet and a way for me to decompress. I love finding new designs to create and bringing them to life. I started ByZealand as a hub where people can find and order customized linens, adding a personal touch to their homes and events.

At ByZealand, I offer a range of customized linens, including napkins, hand towels, and baby blankets. My products are designed to add a unique and personal touch to any occasion, whether it’s a wedding, a special event, or everyday use. What sets ByZealand apart is the attention to detail and the personal connection I build with each customer. I ensure that every piece is crafted with care and that every customer feels valued through prompt responses and handwritten thank you notes.

I’m most proud of the creative outlet I’ve built with ByZealand, even though my background is in finance. My passion for embroidery and appreciation for small things drives me to create beautiful, personalized items that bring joy to others.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

Staying connected with customers and showing them how much I appreciate their support is really important to me. I make it a priority to ensure that every message is answered promptly and that every customer feels valued. For example, handwriting thank you notes for every order adds a personal touch and shows my genuine appreciation for their support. The personal touch helps me to maintain strong relationships with customers and build lasting brand loyalty.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

I am lucky to have so many friends and family members who support me and were the first to purchase my products when ByZealand launched. I will never forget when my first “real” order came through, I was out of the country due to a family emergency with no supplies. In a complete panic with no way to complete the order, I immediately reached out to the customer who was very sweet and understanding. We were able to make it work and it is safe to say I will always have supplies on hand to grab in the future. It is a lesson learned the hard way but one that makes my family laugh and will not let me forget!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://byzealand.etsy.com
• Instagram: byzealand
• Other: Tiktok @byzealand