We were lucky to catch up with Erika & Zach Moreland recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Erika & Zach, thanks for joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you as a business owner?

Made By Moreland KC has grown into a thriving side gig, blending our unique day jobs with a shared passion for creativity. Despite coming from different professional backgrounds, we love finding ways to bring the best of both worlds into Made By Moreland KC.

Zach leads IT for a company in North Kansas City, where he’s worked for over 12 years. His passion for cutting-edge technology drives him to integrate innovative solutions into both his work and everyday life.

Erika, an elementary school teacher in Olathe, Kansas, has been teaching for more than 13 years. Her curiosity about technology and its practical use in the classroom led her to earn a Master’s in Educational Technology, further fueling her passion for finding meaningful ways to use tech in her teaching and daily life.

Despite our vastly different careers, we both understand the value of exceptional customer service. In Zach’s role, he focuses on implementing new technology and troubleshooting issues, always ensuring that respect and understanding guide his interactions. For Erika, building strong relationships with mutual respect and care is essential in creating a positive, connected community.

At Made By Moreland KC, customer service is key to our continued growth. In today’s digital world, where face-to-face interactions are rare, connecting with people beyond the screen is more important than ever—especially since most of our sales happen through a digital platform.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Made By Moreland KC was born out of a simple need to solve a long-standing garden problem. For years, we struggled to find durable and efficient ways to label our hosta plants. As our passion for these plants grew, so did our frustration with the lack of easy solutions to track and identify our inventory. After trying various methods that were either short-lived or costly, we decided to design our own custom acrylic plant stakes. That’s when our business took off!

As we looked for ways to maintain the momentum of Made By Moreland KC year-round, even when outdoor gardening slowed in the winter, we began exploring the endless possibilities of 3D-printed planters. This allowed us to bring our love for plants indoors, keeping our creativity and business thriving through every season. We carefully curated planters that we would be proud to own—statement pieces, conversation starters, and ultimately, truly personalized creations.

Each month, Made By Moreland KC continues to grow! We’re always exploring new products to add and collaborating with others to customize planters that fit their unique needs. Over the past year, we’ve expanded our offerings to include planters, plant stands, garden accessories, and small items that either complement our day jobs or solve specific needs. We believe that our dedication to customer service, combined with being avid plant owners ourselves, sets us apart from the ever-growing 3D printing community. Our business was born from solving a problem, with a focus on quality and affordability, and that’s what drives our shop. We’re committed to ensuring our customers have an exceptional experience—from the very first interaction to when their item finds a home. We are honored to be a part of this experience!

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

Made By Moreland KC proudly self-manufactures all our products from our home in the suburbs of Kansas City. With a strong drive to learn about new technology, the learning curve has always been an exciting journey for us. Our initial purchase was a laser engraver, which we acquired to create plant stakes. Starting from scratch, our first stakes—commonly seen throughout our garden—were made of black acrylic.

We quickly discovered that not all acrylic is created equal; we tested various brands, styles, and sizes, learning that each type engraves differently. Countless hours were spent fine-tuning our products to get everything just right. Once we dialed in on the settings and programmed the engraver to cut the acrylic, we were ready to bring our vision to life!

A few months later, when we expanded our offerings to include 3D printed planters and home goods, we thoroughly researched and tested various 3D printers. Throughout this process, we explored larger models, but we were never fully satisfied with the quality of the final products. Much like our experience with acrylic, we quickly learned that not all printers deliver the same level of quality.

Our shop operates from our home, where we have a dedicated space for 3D printing and engraving. Keeping it at home allows us to maintain the essence of a family business. Our kids love being involved, whether it’s helping with post office runs, adding stickers, or asking about what we’re printing for our customers and which states we’re shipping to that day.

How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.

Made By Moreland KC started as an Etsy store in July 2023. Since then, we’ve expanded to offer some of our products in stores and collaborate with retailers on wholesale orders. However, Etsy remains our largest source of revenue, allowing us to reach buyers worldwide—from our local neighborhood all the way to Guam! Without Etsy, we wouldn’t have the same reach or connection with potential buyers.

The platform’s name recognition, history, and community of established artists made it a natural first step for us. Etsy handles many behind-the-scenes tasks, such as ads, transactions, taxes, and shipping labels, which lets us focus on creating and selling our products.

That said, one common frustration, shared among many Etsy sellers, is the fees associated with listing, selling, marketing, and shipping (especially when offering free shipping). These costs can add up! Fortunately, for a business of our size, the fees don’t impact us as much as they might for larger operations.

As we’ve spent more time on Etsy, we’ve discovered creative ways to reduce our fees. We strategically target our marketing to certain days of the week, allocating a larger budget during peak times. Since our shop offers free shipping, we save by purchasing shipping supplies in bulk. We also actively manage our listings to maintain stock and avoid unnecessary relisting fees.

To meet Etsy’s tracking requirements while offering free shipping, we choose the “Ground Advantage” option. Although it’s a slower shipping method, we consistently exceed our shipping deadlines, ensuring that our customers still receive their items promptly. It’s a win-win for all parties!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://madebymorelandkc.etsy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madebymorelandkc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Made-By-Moreland-KC/100095409098901/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@madebymorelandkc
• Other: https://linktr.ee/madebymorelandkc

Image Credits

Erika & Zach Moreland
West Bottoms Plant Company