Daily Inspiration: Meet David Busby and Lori Stitch

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Busby and Lori Stitch.

Hi David and Lori, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
We started Bad Honey Brand in 2020 with the idea to supplement our income during lockdowns and layoffs by utilizing some different skills we had acquired throughout the years. We began by creating custom masks for friends and businesses, but that quickly expanded into much more. We soon received requests for a wide range of needs, from vinyl printed shirts and simple garment alterations to modifying clothing for people with special needs. Dave developed his line of small batch and custom tactical gear, which was hugely popular on our Etsy store and locally. As time went on, Lori could purchase a CNC and laser engraver to make woodcrafts like charcuterie/cutting boards, tap handles, and more. We continue to create a variety of goods and are constantly adding to our skill sets to provide high-quality, handmade items for our customers in the future.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It wasn’t as bad as some people’s struggles during the pandemic but problematic nonetheless. We both got laid off from our construction jobs 2-3 months after closing on our first home. We needed to make money fast. Learning curves of new equipment, supply chain issues during shutdowns, and utilizing social media for a small business were our biggest hurdles, but we got through them. We enjoyed our time at home working together even though we were buried in our machines most of the time in the beginning.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
We specialize in handmade and custom goods in a wide range of categories. In the beginning, we were known for vinyl-printed masks and clothing. Now we are moving towards small batch tactical gear and woodcrafts. Lori designed Arizona-shaped charcuterie boards for Old Ellsworth Brewing Company in Queen Creek, AZ and Dave has a multi-purpose tactical pouch made to order per special requests. We pride ourselves on working with our customers for specific-to-you items and making everything by hand in Mesa, AZ, using the highest quality materials possible.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
We love Mesa. It’s a close knit community and the residents here are very supportive of small businesses. We were amazed at how quick neighbors were to utilize our services and support us when we were just getting started, mostly through neighborhood apps. It’s a huge city and we haven’t even begun to tap into our potential here.

Contact Info:

• Website: Badhoneybrand.com (coming soon!)
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/badhoneybrand?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/badhoneybrand
• Youtube: Stitch & Squatch