We were lucky to catch up with Stacy Slanker recently and have shared our conversation below.

Stacy, appreciate you joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

When I decided to launch my business 6 years ago there was only one idea that kept coming to mind came. Since my three daughters were not only the inspiration for starting my business but a huge part in running it, I knew I wanted to honor them with our company name. For their middle names, my three girls have a great grandmother’s name combined with the name Marie, so that is how we decided on Three Maries.. Our company originally started as Three Maries Girly Goods because some of our items included accessories for young girls. As our business evolved (and my girls grew up) our focus changed and our company name shortened to just Three Maries.

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

Crafting and pretty lettering have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a child, craft kits and calligraphy pens were always my gift of choice. Growing up, I was the kid who would write other classmates names on Trapper Keepers and then later the teen who would letter names on certificates, Bibles, etc. In college I continued to find ways to continue my love of lettering and crating, whether it was creating hand-lettered calligraphy posters for a production I was in or designing handmade cards for loved ones. As time passed, I became busy with the joyful demands of being a mother of four, and while in that a season, my creativity was focused on making items for my children. I also began to fall in love with felt floral work. With the urging of friends and family, I began Three Maries in 2016 selling hand lettered goods and beautifully crafted flowers. My small business journey has evolved over the years with a current focus on custom calligraphy, including wedding items, acrylic and wood signage, calligraphy mirror rentals as well as personalized gifts and custom felt floral work. Recently I was working on two custom projects at the same time, doing calligraphy for a wedding as well as creating handmade felt florals bouquets for another wedding. I love Maya Angelou’s quote, “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” I am blessed to be able to create in so many ways that I love! I’ve just added a new element to my calligraphy, offering on-site engraving which is a gorgeous way to add personalization to perfume bottles, wine bottles, and more at live events. Because I believe everyone can enjoy the art of calligraphy, I also am also honored to be a calligraphy instructor through Sip & Script, a national company that spreads the art of calligraphy through fun classes at local venues, corporate events and private parties.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I believe seeing our family of six come together to work hard for a common goal has had a huge impact on building our reputation within our market. A business that not only offers a quality handmade product but also gives the customer a glimpse into the people behind it is a big part of who we are. When supporting a business like ours, you get the chance to know the people behind the product, know how it’s made, and even join in on the highs and lows of the business. Getting to know personally our customers has been a wonderful connection that we treasure and has contributed to our success. Our customers have watched our children grow up as they have been involved in every part of our business since the start, from helping cut felt for flowers, prepping supplies for classes and running our booth at market events. That is the joy of supporting small local businesses- truly getting to know the families who are not just trying to make a living from what they love but who are also striving to leave a legacy focused on hard work, creativity and perseverance to the next generation of entrepreneurs. That is what I am the most proud of.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Our best source of new clients has been word of mouth from happy customers! I love that we also have repeat customers who have been with us through the years. A main way for us to find new clients is by doing markets and other events. People love to see behind the scenes and have a sneak peek of how an item is made, so anytime I can do live lettering or work on a project at an event, it always grows the business. Meeting potential clients face to face and getting to know them is so important. Another way that we have made new connections is through partnerships with other business owners. For example, I have a continuing relationship with a realtor who I create a personalized wood sign for every house sold that they gift to the new homeowners at closing. It is a wonderful partnership where they are sharing my business while I am able to create a one of a kind thoughtful gift for them to present to their clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.threemarieslettering.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/threemarieslettering/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/threemarieslettering
• Other: For upcoming calligraphy classes through Sip & Script: https://sipandscript.com/organizer/stacy-slanker/