Meet Geraldine Gonzalez of Lawrenceville, Ga

Today we’d like to introduce you to Geraldine Gonzalez.

Hi Geraldine, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Geraldine Gonzalez, but everyone knows me as Geral.

I started my business as a small passion project, creating custom pieces and exploring my creativity. At the beginning, it was more of a hobby, but as I began making things for my children teachers and friends I quickly realized there was a real demand for personalized items such as birthday theme shirts, personalized mugs, and more custom items. At the time I wasn’t working and the opportunity of working from home and stay with my kids it immediately clicked. Then Pandemic came around and that’s when I really got busy since people couldn’t visit the stores. First mother’s day and father’s day was a total success.

Over time, I invested in better equipment, learned design and production techniques, and slowly built my skills and confidence. Like any journey, it came with challenges—figuring out pricing, managing orders, and balancing a busy schedule—but each step helped me grow both personally and professionally.

Today, I specialize in custom acrylic signage and engraved products, working with businesses like realtors, salons, and other brands to bring their vision to life. What started as something small has grown into a business I’m truly proud of, and my goal is to continue expanding into a full-time storefront with a modern, elevated experience for my clients.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like many small business owners, I’ve faced a lot of trial and error along the way. In the beginning, I had to learn everything on my own—design, production, pricing, and how to communicate professionally with clients. That came with mistakes, underpricing my work, and sometimes taking on more than I could handle.

Another challenge has been balancing a busy personal life while trying to grow a business. There are long days, tight deadlines, and moments where things don’t go as planned—whether it’s equipment issues, material delays, or last-minute client changes. 🙂

I’ve also had to learn how to set boundaries, like requiring deposits and managing turnaround times, which wasn’t always easy at first but was necessary for growth.

But every challenge has taught me something valuable. It’s helped me become more confident, more organized, and more intentional about how I run my business today.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in custom acrylic signage and engraving, creating pieces like business logo signs, social media signs, realtor closing gifts, and personalized items for special occasions. A big part of my work is helping businesses bring their brand to life through clean, modern, and eye-catching designs—especially with 3D acrylic and elevated finishes like mirror or brushed styles.

Over time, I’ve become known for my attention to detail, clean aesthetic, and the ability to take a client’s idea and turn it into something that feels high-end and unique. I really focus on creating pieces that don’t just look good, but actually represent the brand in a professional and memorable way.

What I’m most proud of is how far I’ve come from starting small to building something that people trust and recommend. Seeing my work displayed in businesses and being part of someone’s brand or special moment is something I don’t take lightly.

What sets me apart is the level of care I put into each project. I don’t treat orders as just another job—I take the time to understand what the client wants, guide them when needed, and make sure the final result reflects quality and intention. I also focus on keeping my style modern and sleek, so my clients get something that feels current and elevated.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I would just say that if you have something on your heart to start—go for it. You don’t have to have everything figured out in the beginning. I definitely didn’t. What matters is being consistent, this is so important and don’t give up on the first try. learning as you go, and not being afraid to grow through the challenges.

For me, faith has played a big role in my journey, along with trusting the process even when things feel uncertain. Building something from the ground up isn’t easy, but it’s incredibly rewarding.

I’m truly grateful for every client who has trusted me with their vision. Being able to create pieces that become part of someone’s business or special moment means everything to me.

This is just the beginning, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.

Pricing:

• Custom acrylic signage pricing varies based on size, design complexity, and materials used Most logo signs typically range from $150 – $800+ depending on dimensions and finishes
• Social media signs with QR codes and holders usually start around $60+
• Engraved items (cutting boards, tumblers, gifts) generally range from $25 – $80+
• A 50% deposit is required to begin all custom orders, with the remaining balance due before delivery or pickup

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Heartandlovegifts.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartandlovegifts?igsh=czlqc3R5eTBldGU4&utm_source=qr
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@heartandlovegifts1?_r=1&_t=ZP-964QpACXJuB