Today we’d like to introduce you to Dorche Harris.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Believe it or not, I actually found my love for crafting through a Network Marketing company in 2018. I was scrolling through Facebook aimlessly and saw a women with stencils, chalk paste and a pillowcase on video. It looked so easy and everyone seemed to love it, so I paid $99 for my kit and wondered what this journey was going to bring. The experience of my first project was breathtaking. Peeling back that stencil and seeing what I had made felt SO GOOD. I had never crafted anything in my life and I was officially hooked.
As time went on, I escalated from canvases to shirts. My kids joined in on the fun, creating whatever their hearts desired. Canvases went to shirts, shirts went to hats, hats went to mugs and tumblers. Crafting became my go-to when I was upset, stressed, depressed, overwhelmed. It was the best thing that I found for myself and my kids.
After being with the chalking company for a few months, I started getting requests that I needed better equipment for and decided to purchase my first Cricut machine.
I was totally mesmerized with what this machine could do that it added an even longer list of projects that I wanted to try. This was the beginning of my company, Lorique Creations, and I was ecstatic. Being a single mother, it hurt to have to leave my kids is someone else’s care. And now, I had something that I could do from home and still be with them. I knew I had found my calling when I decided to make Mother’s Day shadow boxes. Even though it would take me up to four hours to make a box, the hard work was worth it when I would see and hear how much everyone loved their gift.
I found happiness in making others happy. I found happiness in creating. Even if a project doesn’t turn out exactly as planned, the process is what mattered. It was just about having fun and being proud of what I had done.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Nothing is ever easy, especially when it comes to building a business. My main struggle was overcoming my own demons. I constantly worried about whether people would want what I was making. I wasn’t sure if what I was charging was too much or too little. I wasn’t sure if people were going to be satisfied with the personalized items they asked for. It took a long time for me to gain confidence in my work but once I did, nothing stopped me.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Lorique Creations – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Lorique Creations is handmade crafts and custom-designed shirts, mugs, tumblers, etc. Literally, anything that I want to make. I wouldn’t necessarily say that I have a specialty in what I make but more so the style. There are many vibes that I like to go for depending on my mood. For example: sayings about what being a mom is really like, galaxy style, quotes about being an adult. The majority of my designs are either uplifting or sarcastic. It just depends on the day.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I would love to expand into a physical location so that my designs can be seen in person instead of online. But I would want to do something different. Like I said, I am more so into customizing each design like how my clients want them. So, I would want my clients to be actually to come into my shop and see their designs coming to life right in front of them. I would have a set up in the back where I could make what they want and bring it right out to them.
Pricing:
- Shirts $25
- Mugs $12
- Tumblers $20
Contact Info:
- Website: www.loriquecreations.com
- Phone: 301-836-8527
- Email: info@heyitslori.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorique_creations/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/416273709188874
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