We recently connected with Tristen Bailey and have shared our conversation below.

Tristen, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of the most important things we can do as business owners is ensure that our customers feel appreciated. What’s something you’ve done or seen a business owner do to help a customer feel valued?

One of the most meaningful ways I have shown appreciation to a customer was during a memorial preservation project through my business, Tristen’s Trademark. A client entrusted me with flowers from a loved one’s funeral, and I understood that the piece represented much more than a product, it represented memories, love, and healing.

Throughout the process, I provided regular updates, progress photos, and open communication to ensure the client felt involved and reassured. When I encountered an unexpected issue during production, I immediately informed the client, explained the situation honestly, and offered a discount on a future project because I wanted them to know their trust was more important to me than the sale itself.

When the final piece was completed, the client expressed how much it meant to have a tangible way to remember their loved one. What made this experience so meaningful was knowing that the customer felt heard, respected, and cared for during an emotional time in their life. It reinforced my belief that exceptional customer service is about building trust, communicating transparently, and treating every customer as a person rather than a transaction.

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.

My name is Tristen Bailey, and I am the owner and artist behind Tristen’s Trademark, a custom resin art and floral preservation business based in Michigan. What began as a creative hobby has grown into a business that allows me to combine art, storytelling, and preservation to create meaningful keepsakes for my clients.

My journey into resin art started with the encouragement of two of the most important people in my life: my sister and my father. They saw my creativity long before I considered turning it into a business and consistently encouraged me to share my work with others. Their belief in me gave me the confidence to take a chance on myself and begin creating custom pieces for clients. What started as a small passion project quickly evolved into something much bigger than I ever imagined.
I was immediately drawn to resin because of its ability to preserve memories in a permanent and beautiful way. Over time, my passion expanded beyond creating artwork and became focused on helping people celebrate and preserve life’s most meaningful moments. Today, I specialize in custom resin artwork, floral preservation, memorial pieces, epoxy surfaces, jewelry, and personalized keepsakes designed to capture memories that clients never want to forget.

One of the things that sets my work apart is the emotional connection behind each piece. Many of the flowers and items I preserve come from weddings, funerals, anniversaries, graduations, military services, and other significant life events. Clients are not simply purchasing a piece of artwork, they are entrusting me with memories that hold deep personal meaning. I take that responsibility seriously and approach every project with care, attention to detail, and open communication throughout the entire process.

As both an artist and small business owner, I manage every aspect of the experience, from initial consultations and design planning to creation, finishing, and delivery. I strive to make every client feel heard and involved while ensuring their vision is brought to life. My goal is not only to create something beautiful, but to create something meaningful that will be cherished for years to come.

What I am most proud of is the trust my clients place in me. Whether I am preserving a wedding bouquet, creating a memorial piece for a loved one, or designing a custom project from scratch, I know that each piece carries a story. Being able to help people preserve those stories is the most rewarding part of what I do. I am also incredibly proud that a dream my family encouraged me to pursue has grown into a business that allows me to connect with people during some of the most important moments of their lives.

Beyond the artwork itself, I want people to know that Tristen’s Trademark is built on authenticity, creativity, compassion, and craftsmanship. Every project is unique, and every client receives the same level of care and dedication. My work is not about mass production, it’s about creating one-of-a-kind pieces that celebrate life’s most meaningful moments and transform memories into lasting works of art.

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

One of the greatest lessons in resilience came through building Tristen’s Trademark. Like many small business owners, I started with a passion, a vision, and a lot of determination, but not every project went perfectly.
One project that stands out involved preserving sentimental flowers for a client. After many hours of drying, designing, and carefully pouring the resin, an unexpected issue occurred during the curing process that affected the final piece. I was devastated because I knew how meaningful those flowers were to my client. I had two choices: hide the issue and hope it wasn’t noticed, or be transparent and work toward a solution.

I chose transparency. I immediately contacted my client, explained exactly what had happened, shared photos, and discussed available options. While it was difficult to have that conversation, I believed honesty and integrity were more important than avoiding an uncomfortable situation. Together, we worked through a solution that respected both the client’s vision and the circumstances.

That experience taught me that resilience is not about avoiding setbacks, it’s about how you respond when they happen. It reinforced the importance of communication, accountability, and perseverance. Since then, I have continued to grow both personally and professionally, learning from challenges rather than allowing them to discourage me.

More broadly, resilience has defined much of my journey. While working full-time in HR and compliance, I simultaneously pursued my MBA, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 GPA and earning Graduate of the Year recognition. Balancing a demanding career, graduate studies, and running my own business required discipline, adaptability, and persistence. There were many long nights and difficult moments, but those experiences strengthened my confidence and reinforced my belief that growth often comes from overcoming challenges.

Today, resilience means showing up consistently, learning from mistakes, and continuing to move forward with integrity and determination. Those values guide both my professional career and my business every day.

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

As a small business owner, I believe that building relationships is just as important as creating beautiful products. I stay connected with clients primarily through Instagram and Facebook, where I regularly share project updates, behind-the-scenes content, completed pieces, and educational information about the floral preservation and resin creation process. These platforms allow me to showcase my work while also giving clients an opportunity to engage with my business long after their project is complete.

Word-of-mouth referrals have also been one of the most valuable ways I have built and maintained my client base. I focus on creating a positive experience through communication, transparency, and quality craftsmanship, which encourages clients to recommend my services to friends, family, and others looking for meaningful keepsakes.

I foster brand loyalty by treating every project as if it were my own. Many of the pieces I create hold deep sentimental value, and I take the time to understand each client’s story and vision. By providing regular updates, maintaining open communication, and delivering personalized, high-quality work, I aim to create an experience that clients remember and feel confident recommending to others. My goal is for every customer to feel valued, supported, and excited to share both their finished piece and their experience with Tristen’s Trademark.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://TristensTrademark.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tristenstrademark/