We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mary Zeigler. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mary below.

Mary, appreciate you joining us today. How did you scale up? What were the strategies, tactics, meaningful moments, twists/turns, obstacles, mistakes along the way? We’d love to hear the backstory the illustrates how you grew your brand.

I started my business in March of 2023. At that time, I was focused on attending craft shows and maker markets, selling ready-to-ship products like tumblers, cups, car coasters, and pens, alongside producing custom orders. The work was steady, and I generated revenue. However, by December 2024, facing a required double spinal fusion surgery, and growing weary of the physical demands of lugging inventory, tables, tents, and weights for outdoor markets, a pivotal idea was placed on my heart: to work directly with businesses to help them promote themselves using branded promotional items. So, in 2025, I made a significant shift. My business is now focused on being a strategic marketing expert dedicated to empowering small-to-midsize business owners to achieve significant brand visibility and client growth through cost-effective, relationship-focused branded merchandise campaigns. I also make it my mission to help business owners understand why having their name or brand on physical products is important. We talk about marketing so much, but often overlook the fundamental power of physical brand promotion. I still participate in a few select shows throughout the year that I genuinely enjoy, and I continue to create custom gifts for non-business customers. This strategic shift has been amazing. I now collaborate with four businesses that sell the merchandise I create directly on my website, and I work with many others, developing their promotional strategies and producing their branded products as needed.

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 journey into entrepreneurship began during one of the most stressful periods of my career. I had started my Masters in Healthcare Administration in 2020, right when this small thing called COVID-19 began. At the time, I was working in Corporate Patient Safety for a large health system and was sitting at a 15 on a burnout scale of 1 to 10. I seriously questioned whether I wanted to remain in healthcare and would cry myself to sleep nightly. One of my nieces insisted I watch her TikTok videos, and though I was hesitant, I eventually gave in. As I was scrolling one night, I stumbled upon a live video of someone making epoxy cups. I became completely obsessed and watched every night. I decided then that once I graduated from my Masters program, I would start making them myself. In March 2023, Aunt Myrtle’s Designs was officially born, initially focusing only on creating epoxy and sublimation tumblers.

This passion project has evolved into a strategic dual career. By day, I serve as a healthcare leader specializing in the digital health space for a large health system. By night and on weekends, I transition into a strategic marketing expert dedicated to empowering small-to-midsize business owners to achieve significant brand visibility and client growth through cost-effective, relationship-focused branded merchandise campaigns. I specialize in developing a tailored strategy on how best to use promotional products to effectively reach current and potential customers. It is so much more than simply putting your company name on a pen; it is about the ability to anchor your brand firmly in the recipient’s mind. I take that strategy and bring it into 3D reality by producing the chosen branded promotional product, utilizing techniques such as laser engraving, sublimation, or print. To ensure a cohesive brand presentation, I also offer design packages for merchandise.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been through networking. This approach has not only helped me find a tribe of other business owners who have become dear friends, but it has also led to impactful collaborations. One such collaboration allows me to outsource logo design to one of my best friends who is a marketing genius. While I am certainly capable of designing logos, it simply doesn’t bring me joy. In return, she refers her marketing clients to me for brand strategy development and the production of their branded promotional products. Collaborations like this allow you to focus on your strengths and what you enjoy, while working with other amazing businesses on the tasks that don’t bring you fulfillment. I have also become a member this year of the Polka Dot Powerhouse. This group of amazing women has been invaluable with referrals when they or someone they know needs the products I create. There is a common and very accurate saying among members: “there is a Dot for that.” While this group is not strictly referral-based, it is a powerful community of women who come together, connect, and deeply value those connections. Ultimately, networking, in whatever way you choose to do it, is 1000% essential to growing your clientele.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Last fall, I received the news that I needed a double spine fusion on my lower back. The diagnosis instantly raised a huge question mark over the future of my business: how could I continue attending shows as I had in the past? What I soon realized was that I was participating in many events that I didn’t truly enjoy or where the product sales simply didn’t make the effort worthwhile. I definitely didn’t want my business to stop, so I began looking for a pivot. Following a meeting with my marketing consultant, I had a sudden realization and declared, “I really want to work with businesses to make their branded promotional products so that they can be successful and memorable to their current and potential clients.” We talk about marketing so much, but we often don’t talk enough about why putting your brand on physical products is so incredibly beneficial for tangible, lasting impressions. Today, I can proudly say that my business is now focused on being a strategic marketing expert dedicated to empowering small-to-midsize business owners to achieve significant brand visibility and client growth through cost-effective, relationship-focused branded merchandise campaigns. I still participate in a few select shows throughout the year that I genuinely enjoy, and I continue to create custom gifts for non-business customers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.auntmyrtlesdesigns.com
• Instagram: aunt_myrtles_designs_llc
• Facebook: Aunt Myrtle’s Designs LLC

Image Credits

Brianna Lyn Photograhy