Meet Tiffany DeLoye of Wendell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany DeLoye.

Hi Tiffany, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I started my business during the pandemic in June 2021. As a former Special Education teacher turned to a stay-at-home mom who relocated to a new state and knew no one, I felt lost in not having an identity or something to call my own. One day, I was looking back on previous photos. I saw I took a picture of the first teacher lanyard I ever bought when I started one of my student teaching rounds, which led me to think, “Hey, I can make something cute like this just with my spin on it and still be connected to my roots as a teacher.” From there, I got all the supplies and started making resin teacher disc lanyards with silicone beads which were my first Best Seller on Etsy, and it stayed that way for almost a year! I no longer make those but working with epoxy resin and glitter to make those discs opened up a huge passion I never expected: making custom glitter tumbler cups. Being able to create a piece of functional art with my hands that people want to buy and tote around the town wherever they live (I have customers all over the US!) brings me so much pride and is definitely what I was seeking, a purpose outside of being “just mom.”

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh boy, most definitely not a smooth road. I’ve had to deal with people copying my exact photos and descriptions for Etsy listings of their own. I’ve had foreign companies using my photos posing to sell my products, so being worried that it would tarnish my brand if people recognized my photos on a different website and, of course, got something that wasn’t what I truly make. I’ve struggled with supply chain issues and a big increase in pricing on materials I use, so that’s tough as sometimes margins are already tight. I’ve had a lot of sleepless nights trying out new items that didn’t work and a lot of sleepless nights working through a mass amount of orders because those items did work out.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in functional art, so my primary focus is Custom Glitter Tumblers. Whether I make them and sell them in a collection or someone orders a custom one ultimately to their personality, each one ends up unique! My absolute top seller, and what I’m known for, is my Cowhide tumblers; TikTok loves them! I work with a western flair and am known for that, especially on TikTok, but I love creating anything with glitter. I do also have a laser cutting machine, so I’m slowly adding items this year targeted explicitly to other small business owners, such as physical watermarks to put in product photos so your images can’t be copied and redistributed since your brand will be right in the photo, as well as Acrylic Signs for businesses. If I want it for myself, others might like them too, and so far they are very popular!

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some changes you expect to see over the next five to ten years?
New creators are coming onto the scene daily, so the crafting world is competitive. With the state of the economy and the cost of living being so high right now, extra items like beautiful glittered tumblers take a back burner which is entirely understandable but not good for my business. Glitter cups and laser-made creations will continue to grow in popularity because they are functional art pieces. When you create art designed to have functionality, there will always be a market.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.etsy.com/shop/ambitiousmamadesigns
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/ambitiousmamadesigns
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/696856708533698
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ambitiousmamadesigns
• Other: www.tiktok.com/ambitiousmamadesigns