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

Alright, Rylee thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

When I started custom wRYting, it was in the middle of all the chaos of figuring out who I want to be. I had 1 year of college under my belt, but after my first year I decided that it wasn’t the route I wanted to take. This is when I moved back to my hometown where I lived with one of my best friends, working my first full-time job while continuing to work part-time on the weekends. I was 19 years old navigating adulthood, with no idea what was next for me. By the time I was 20, I had made a few wedding signs for friends & a home décor sign for my mom. I never thought doing those things in my free time would turn into me owning a small business. My schedule was already work 7 days a week, how was I gonna have time to do anything else? The answer was simple: this was my dream. I knew I had to take the risk, make the time for it, and if nothing came of it then at least I could say I tried. Looking back, I would’ve loved to start it sooner. Sharing my art with others is something I have wanted to do since I was a little girl. However, I think I started at the right time for me, for where I was at in life. I wouldn’t change a thing on how it all came to be. Every experience I had leading up to now has shaped me into who I am today, and has allowed custom wRYting to grow into what it is.

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

Whenever we are little kids and the adults in our lives begin to ask the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” my response was always “An artist!” Most of my childhood consisted of me working on some sort of DIY, painting, drawing, journaling: you name it. There has never been a time in my life that I didn’t have a dedicated space for my arts & crafts. I have always found so much comfort in creating. It is a huge part of who I am.
When I started custom wRYting, it started with calligraphy. I taught myself how to do it, and started writing/making signs for friends and family. For about a year they told me I should make a side business of it, but I wasn’t confident that I could do it. After going back and forth for a while, the one thing that pushed me to take the risk was when my mom shared a photo on Facebook of a sign I made for her. Everyone in the comments were being so kind and supportive, and suddenly I just believed in myself that I could do this. Ironically, the sign I made for her said, “I remember the days I prayed for what I have now” which resonates with me now more than ever.
In just under two years I have accomplished more than I could have ever imagined. The first year I did a few weddings, where I handwrote welcome signs, menu boards, table numbers, etc. I also did several home décor signs, and some misc. custom pieces. This year I was booked with weddings from May – October, started selling paintings, painted apparel & multiple types of home décor. I set up as a vendor, starting with a Bridal Expo, then a Pop-Up shop & the local Farmers Market over the summer. I made so many amazing friends within the small business industry, collaborating with a few of them. I even created merchandise for my brand with the help of my Granny. This year I really started pushing myself to see what I could do, wanting custom wRYting to be more versatile. This is when I painted my first mural.
The mural is something I am most proud of. I put so much of my heart into this project, and it is displayed in one of my favorite local coffee shops. One day when I was in there for lunch I noticed they did some rearranging, revealing a blank wall in the dining area. I asked them if they would let me paint it, and they said yes. Little did I know what doors were about to open up for me; this experience gave me an opportunity to step outside of the box I tend to keep myself in, and brought me the most business, love & support I had ever received up to that point. This was definitely the turning point in my creative career. Since this, I have done 3 murals total and have had much higher volume in orders than I did before; I am endlessly grateful.
As I sit here reflecting, I am feeling so thankful for my parents who taught me that you have to work for what you want. It has to be earned, because it won’t just be handed to you. So, I knew that if I wanted custom wRYting to be successful then I would have to put in the work. There have been many late nights, tears, & a lot of stress since I started. I have made some mistakes, making up for them by sending my customers a free item or a discount on their purchase. I have created pieces I didn’t think I was capable of as well as denying some orders because I know I don’t have the skill to do them. All things considered, I wouldn’t even be sharing my story right now if it wasn’t for all the love, support and patience from my customers, family and friends. Some of the best advice I have received from them is, “You are the only one who can create your art.” This is something all creatives should hear, because there are people all around the world who like a certain style and need people like us who can create it for them. When I first started and was figuring out what my vibe was going to be, I was very particular on only hand writing & hand painting my projects. I didn’t want to have to use a Cricut or anything along those lines because I wanted to create modern pieces with a timeless value. For example, when someone writes you a note, you keep it. Whereas if someone sends you a text, it’ll probably be deleted at some point. When something is made from scratch or by hand, you are automatically more drawn to it because you know someone took the time to create that specific piece. Even when 90% of what I do is custom orders, when my customers tell me their stories so I understand why they want me to bring their idea to life, it just makes it so much more personable. That is what I hope to portray in my work, because I truly do it all with love.
Overall, I am so thankful for those who shop custom wRYting, believe in my brand, and believe in me. If there is anything I have learned from this journey thus far; Chase. Your. Dreams.

Have you ever had to pivot?

When I was 18 I went straight to college after high school, pursuing a degree in Graphic Design. I finished my first year and really tried giving it a chance, but once Covid-19 took over I made the decision to move back home and get a job. Diving head first into adulthood, I began working as a full-time Receptionist at a Doctors office, while also working part-time at a local carry-out store. However, after about a year as a Receptionist, I decided to quit. I knew I wasn’t where I was meant to be career wise, and I knew I needed to figure out what was best for me. From April – August of 2021 I worked as many hours as I could at the carry-out while also doing custom wRYting on the side. Although my goal was to only do custom wRYting, realistically I couldn’t afford to. I was living on my own, I had bills to pay & creating is something I do because I love to do it, not just to make money from it. So by September of 2021 I started a new position as a Bank Teller, which ended up being the perfect fit for me. I am fortunate to have managers & co-workers that have been so supportive of my small business, as well as even being some of my customers. Looking back I’d say I have had to pivot a lot to get to where I am today, but ultimately I wouldn’t change that. On one hand, dropping out of college allowed me to experience things I never would’ve experienced if I was still a student. While on the other hand, quitting my first full-time job allowed me to chase my dreams & land in a career that I love. I think it is so important to follow your heart, take risks & do what is in your best interest. Even if there are bumps along the way, you might just end up exactly where you are meant to be.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

In the 4th grade I read “The Dot” by Peter H. Reynolds almost everyday during our designated reading time. The book is about a young girl who hates art class because she is convinced she isn’t artistic, until her teacher shows her that all she needs to do is start with a small dot and grow from there. It is an adorable book about the importance of individual creativity. It taught me at a young age that you can start from nothing & still end up where you are supposed to be one day, similar to my experience with custom wRYting. I had no inventory or materials, no start-up money, and no idea how to be a small business owner. However, I knew that in time I would learn & grow, I just needed to start with my dot. When I came up with custom wRYting I was 20 years old; by the time this article is published I will be 22. In roughly 2 years I have learned so much about being a small business owner from my friends & family in the small business industry. Although, I regularly think about the children’s book that has lived in the back of my mind for so many years. “The Dot” changed my perspective on art, in any form, as well as on myself as a young artist and entrepreneur. I hope the 4th grade version of me is proud of where I am today.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @custom_wryting
• Facebook: Custom Wryting
• Other: email: [email protected] Best way to contact me is via Instagram DM or Facebook Messenger

Image Credits
Johna Kaye Photography | johnakayephotography