Daily Inspiration: Meet Caroline Tucker

Today we’d like to introduce you to Caroline Tucker

Hi Caroline, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
When Chris and I were planning our wedding, we were shopping for gifts for our wedding party and I mentioned, “I feel like we could do some of this ourselves”. Little did I know, that sparked an idea in Chris’s mind. After a lot of research, he purchased a small impact engraver, started an Etsy shop, and made one listing; then we sold one! Then we actually had to figure out how to process the order and get it to the customer! From there, it became a small side hustle to make some extra cash to pay for our wedding, travel, etc. We hadn’t planned for it to become a full-time gig. For two years, I came home from my 9-5 job and worked on our Etsy orders. As the business continued to grow, I simply didn’t have time to do both jobs anymore. When the business grew enough to replace the salary of my office job, I made the decision to quit my job and fully dedicate my energy to the business. We thought Chris would follow after a few years, but with full time effort, the business grew quickly, and he quit 6 months later. It’s been almost 10 years now, and we’re still doing it and continuing to grow.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’m not sure that any path in life is without its struggles! Like any job, there are days when you feel completely burnt out. There are days when you just don’t feel like doing it anymore. There are days when new product development fails, business is slow, or business is so busy that we just feel like we can’t keep up. Those are the times we really have to talk ourselves into persevering. Our success rides fully on how much effort we put in. We depend solely on ourselves, so we have to put in the work even on the days when we don’t want to. There’s a quote I really like that says, “If you only grind on the days you feel good, you won’t get much done”. That pretty much sums it up! There are days that are easy, there are days that are really tough, but we just keep at it. Overall, the pros outweigh the cons, which I think is a good indicator that we’re still headed along the right road!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We sell custom engraved gift items in our two Etsy shops – CMT Impressions and One Dapper Gent. CMT Impressions focuses on personalized gifts for special occasions like weddings, anniversaries, graduations, Valentine’s Day, etc. One Dapper Gent is more specific to gifts for men like wrist watches, pocket watches, cigar accessories, shaving accessories, etc.
I’m most proud that we built these businesses together from the ground up. Our own hard work, ambition, and perseverance got us to where we are today. When we started, we didn’t expect this to ever be anything more than a side hustle and now it’s allowed us to build the life we’ve always dreamed of.
Because it’s just the two of us (and occasionally 1-2 employees), our customers get a personal experience and a direct line of communication. Every order goes through our hands. We care about each item as if it was a gift for our own loved one. We communicate with customers directly and we do our best to make things right if there’s ever a problem.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
If I’m being completely honest – I’d say 1) it’s not for everyone and 2) Don’t expect overnight success. You have to put in the work – a ton of work! People tend to underestimate how much time and energy goes into owning and operating your own business. It’s more than a full time job in itself and, in the beginning, you’ll usually have to do it in addition to the full time job you already have. But, if you’re really driven to succeed, whatever your goals may be, it’s worth it. Keep at it. Be realistic about your goals and your vision for the future; create a plan on how to get there. Take calculated risks, and allow failure to teach you how to adapt and succeed. Lastly, Don’t let anyone discourage you. Surround yourself with people who support you, hold you accountable, and remind you on those hard days what it is you’re working toward, and encourage you to continue the pursuit.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://etsy.com/shop/cmtimpressions
• Other: https://etsy.com/shop/onedappergent