Today we’d like to introduce you to Sr’Lis Powell.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Sr’Lis. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
For as long as I can remember, I have always had an innate passion for both crafting and fashion. When I became a mother, I began sewing my daughter’s clothes, starting with skirts, vests, and jackets. This led to me creating various accessories, such as custom hats to accompany her different outfits. I began trying different designs on hats, adding vinyl, embellishments, patches, pictures, paint and more! I found that I could be as creative as I wanted.
I was motivated to professionally begin creating hats after an unsatisfactory purchase I had with a mainstream printing company in June 2019. I ordered 50 company hats for a nonprofit, which were to include logos on the front. When I received the hats, they were not what I imagined. The printing was mediocre, small, and fading in some spots. The colors were not vibrant and captivating. Needless to say, I was disappointed in the quality of the caps. I went home that day and designed company hats for the nonprofit organization myself. The hats were a complete hit and the Founder was satisfied. I started off designing and making hats for friends and family members first, and then eventually, I began to notice my business orders were increasing. In the beginning of 2020, I decided to invest in Say It Caps by purchasing three additional industrial cap press machines. This has helped me become more efficient and able to process orders more quickly. I began attending pop-up shops in the local Atlanta areas, which greatly helped me sell and market my hats. I would display samples of custom caps and take customer orders on the spot. This led me to where I am today. Creating quality, custom hats for customers at a reasonable price.
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?
In March, at the beginning of the current Covid-19 pandemic, it was a struggle getting new orders. People were losing their jobs or being furloughed for weeks at a time. Any extra household funds were dedicated to childcare, food, and daily expenses, as they should have been. But in the midst of this Covid-19 pandemic, I have been able to find a reason to be grateful. Many people, due to having this extra “free” time began launching small businesses. Many of these new business owners have utilized Say It Caps to help advertise and market their business. My customers range from salons, barbershops, food trucks, apparel lines, educators, clothing boutiques, nonprofit organizations, stores, markets, and the list goes on. I couldn’t be more grateful for my customers for allowing me to play a role in their business branding with my caps.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Say It Caps story. Tell us more about the business.
At Say It Caps, we specialize in creating affordable and stylish custom hats for our customers. Hats are handmade and personalized with business logos, pictures of loved ones, inspirational quotes, names & initials, etc. We are known for our “Brand It” cap collection, a hat made with businesses in mind. This cap allows businesses to put their logos on the front and includes social media and contact information on the back. Including the contact information on the back of the caps is what sets us apart from others. It is such a great way to market your business, whether you are a startup, small business, local mom & pop store, or mainstream company.
I am most proud of the “Loved Ones” cap collection, inspired by my late grandfather Edward Powell. When I lost my grandfather in July of 2019, I created a cap for my mother in honor of him. I wanted to design something that she could simply “grab & wear” everyday prior to completing daily activities. When people lose loved ones, they want a way to remember and honor that person’s memory. I have designed many hats for customers honoring family members by placing a photo on the front and a loving message on the back. These custom caps are hats that people can wear every day, honoring their loved one.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I think that luck has played a huge role in my success with Say It Caps. When I began crafting and designing hats, I was gifted a brand new Cricut Explore Air II machine. This machine was given to me randomly by a coworker who overheard me talking about the machine and how much I needed it. Either this was luck or being in the right place at the right time. Either way, I was blessed with a machine that I couldn’t afford at the time. That random act of kindness led to Say It Caps being the success it is today.
Pricing:
- Custom Caps start at $15 (Includes names, initials, quotes, etc)
- “Business Brand It” Caps start at $17 (Includes company logo & 1 contact of your choice on the back)
- “Loved Ones” Caps start at $17 (Includes picture & 1 message/dates of your choice on the back)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sayitcaps.com
- Email: info@sayitcaps.com
- Instagram: @sayitcaps
- Facebook: @SayItCaps
Image Credit:
Sr’Lis Powell
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
