We were lucky to catch up with Jennifer Sabatini recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jennifer, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I am so grateful that I have had many meaningful projects in the 3.5 years since opening CASual Art Works. With our business, we get to celebrate all kinds of meaningful moments in our clients’ lives. From buying a house, to having a baby, graduations, getting married, or even the loss of a loved one – including their 4-legged family members. This warms our hearts that our clients choose us to create special pieces that will be cherished for the foreseeable future and makes it difficult to choose just one meaningful project. Some of these moments have to do with capturing and memorializing something for a family.

A few projects though have truly pulled at our heart strings and have stuck with us. One project was a memorial cross to be placed on the roadside where a 16 year old boy was hit by a car and died. Another was a memorial glass block for a baby that was about to be born whose father has passed away suddenly. The glass block was to remind her she would always have an angel watching over her – her daddy. Another was for a cancer patient. They were doing a gathering to support this person, and they wanted a sign to represent him beating cancer.

Finally, I am so blessed that CASual Art Works gets to help other small business owners on a regular basis with their branding. Whether it is a permanent business card with their logo, window vinyl with their logo and information on it, or even client appreciation gifts or closing gifts for realtors.

Jennifer, 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?

CASual Art Works had very humble beginnings in 2019. We originally created CASual Art Works to support the artistic abilities of our daughter, Courtney, who is the CAS in CASual Art Works. We wanted her to realize she could make a living through her talent & passion. She is now an Architecture Major at University of North Carolina Charlotte, where she shines brightly and even has a project published in an architectural magazine and is 1 of 5 finalists for her design to be selected for an actual facility to be built.

Then in 2020 I joined when I lost my job due to COVID. I wanted to make a difference in my household and do something I loved, all while keeping items affordable. At the end of 2020 into 2021, we have added a workshop and volunteer staff to help create items and work local events throughout the year. Then in 2022, we expanded the business again to include laser engraved and laser cut items. This includes coasters, tumblers, journals, cutting/charcuterie boards, and so much more. Now in 2023, we are working with “Launch Rolesville” and Wake Tech Community College to take the business to the next level. One thing that will get us there is a larger CO2 laser that we hope to be able to acquire by the end of 2024. This will allow us to provide even more laser items for our clients.

Our unwavering passion drives us to craft art, gifts, and branding solutions that cater to individuals and businesses of all budget ranges. We specialize in crafting bespoke gifts and decorative pieces for homes, offices, and businesses alike. Our journey began during a challenging pandemic, and we’ve since dedicated ourselves to continuous growth and enhancement. Our core mission remains steadfast: to deliver exceptional quality items at prices accessible to our valued clients and fellow small business owners.

Our unique approach distinguishes us from the majority of businesses in our industry. We commence with an initial consultation to comprehensively grasp our clients’ requirements. From there, our creative journey begins within our workshop. We maintain constant communication by sharing photos and seeking approval at every key juncture of the creation process. Whether it’s painting, staining, designing computer layouts for cutting (be it through vinyl or laser), or the final stage of affixing and sealing, we ensure our clients’ satisfaction with the end result.

Additionally, we are dedicated to eco-friendly practices. Our materials are sourced responsibly, and our production processes minimize waste, making us a sustainable choice for your custom needs. We partner with local woodworking businesses and other small businesses to upcycle and recycle items that would have gone to the landfill. There is nothing wrong or damaged with these items – just their customers’ changed their minds. I also research materials and costs so that we use quality items but at a discounted price so that we can pass these savings on to our customers.

Finally, with us our customers’ imaginations knows no bounds, and neither do we. With a wide range of materials to choose from, including wood, metal, glass, acrylic, and more, we can engrave, laser, or vinyl virtually anything. From intricate designs to simple elegance, we turn ideas into tangible works of art. If you can dream it, we can scheme it!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The biggest lesson I have learned is that you cannot be successful on your own – it really does take a village.

The backstory for this lesson is that throughout my life, I have ALWAYS had to do things for myself with little to no help – even at a young age. This carried through to adulthood – where I was the one taking caring of ailing family members and working 1-2 jobs to pay bills. I’ve had some serious knocks that life has thrown at me, and I’ve always picked myself up, brushed myself off, and overcame them – no matter what it has been.

Then, I discovered a networking group, Women in Networking. It was here that I realized that even though I am a major control freak, these women were very similar to me; they are driven. I quickly learned that running and growing a business is much more successful when you have other people in your corner, ready to step up, pick up, and support you. When the busiest times hit our business (usually the holiday season), I have had friends, neighbors, and fellow business owners step in and step up to help me by volunteering their time. This means the world to me – I never thought I would depend on other much less ask for help. But just over 3 years in business, and I know I could not do this business without it.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

One thing is always constant – CHANGE! I have had to pivot many times in my life and has made me a better planner when it comes to business, being a wife, and being a mom.

The first pivot was leaving the financial world after 10 year and becoming a corporate trainer that traveled to different call centers and businesses around the US. This was rewarding in many ways, but mostly, I learned to adapt to people and became a better at adapting myself to meet their needs.

The second pivot was leaving the world of corporate training and becoming an entrepreneur. My husband and I ran 2 LLCs that operated in 3 states. I also juggled working as a Mary Kay consultant and as Aflac agent. I realized through these two positions that I am truly NOT a salesperson but rather an educator.

The next big pivot was losing my job when COVID hit. I knew I didn’t want to go back to working for someone else. I have always loved being creative; however, due to workloads, kids, etc., I never had the time to enjoy doing that. So, I had a conversation with my daughter, Courtney (co-owner) and my husband to discuss us expanding CASual Art Works to include me and my pieces.

Now with Courtney in college, she doesn’t have the time to create for the business like she used to. So to expand the business, I had to research and learn how to use a laser and what it could mean for the business. There was a definitely a learning curve. There is always something to learn and research in this business in order to stay on top of what people need and want both for their business and for their homes or customized gifts. The good news is, as a corporate trainer for so long – I am good at researching and learn quickly. This allows me to then help people see value in what CASual Art Works can do for them without always being a sales person. Again – change is constant. As a business owner, it is imperative that we are prepared and able to pivot with the changing needs and resources needed to keep delivering to our clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.CASualArtWorks.myshopify.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CASualArtWorks
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CASualArtWorks
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-sabatini-36236b133/

Image Credits
My headshot was taken by Jennifer Longanecker of Purdy Portraits, LLC. All product photos were taken by me.