From Idea To Custom Gift With Lee Lee Creations

A lot of people think custom gifts are just “send a photo and it’s done.” The truth is more human and way more interesting. We sit down with Shawna Lee from Lee Lee's Creations to talk about what happens between a spark of an idea and a finished custom shirt, sticker, cup, or one-of-one gift someone actually treasures. If you’ve ever searched for personalized gifts, custom items, or a local maker who can bring your vision to life, this conversation shows what quality customization really takes.

Shawna shares her path from growing up in a crafty home to launching her small business during COVID after finally buying a vinyl cutting machine. One family gift project turned into a request, then a stream of orders, and eventually a clear brand built on listening closely and iterating with customers. We also dig into the biggest misconception in the custom crafting world: that it’s so oversaturated there’s no room left. Shauna explains why service, patience, and communication still separate great makers from the rest and why “quick” often still means thoughtful.

We also talk niche marketing and community, including how fan-inspired Taylor Swift items helped define her target audience, plus what she’s learning next with 3D printing and CAD modeling as she moves toward original products. You’ll hear where to find her work online and in a Colorado Springs storefront at Hidden Gems alongside other local artists. If you enjoy stories about small business, handmade entrepreneurship, and creative problem-solving, subscribe to the podcast, share this with a friend who loves custom gifts, and leave a review with your favorite moment.

Transcript

Welcome To Good Neighbor Podcast

SPEAKER_00 0:00

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Virginia McConnell.

Meet Lee Lee Creations

SPEAKER_02 0:13

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast Live. Are you in need of a custom items and gift shop? Uh, one might be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Shauna Lee with Lee Lee Creations. How's it going?

SPEAKER_01 0:29

Great. How are you?

SPEAKER_02 0:31

I'm good. Thank you. Thank you. We're super excited to learn about you and your business. Can you tell us a little bit about your company?

SPEAKER_01 0:40

Well, I do custom shirts, stickers, gifts, um, cups. Pretty much you name it custom-wise, I can probably make it. Um I I just like to have customers come to me with a thought in their brain, and I like to brainstorm with them and be able to create something that they are not able to make, but I'm able to help them gift that to someone.

SPEAKER_02 1:03

Awesome. So creativity, lots of creativity. Yes. Uh, and then how did you get into your business?

Misconceptions About Custom Work

SPEAKER_01 1:11

Well, um, my mom is a crafter, always has been since I was a little kid. All of our clothes were um handmade. My mom sewed a lot of our clothes. Um, just grew up very crafty that way, doing lots of little art things. Um, and so uh it kind of started in uh during COVID, like a lot of different little small businesses. Um, I had always wanted a vinyl cutting machine and I decided I was just gonna make the jump. I initially purchased that to make a gift for um all of my female family members for Christmas, and I wanted to make me one as well. It was a little book with names on it, and I still have not made it for myself, but I did um, I was able to go ahead and get all those done for all the the ladies in my life. And um I made a shirt and somebody wanted one like it, and so I've just kind of gone from that, just kind of launched from just something that somebody requested, and I thought, well, let me see if I can try it. And now I've just really have found that I really enjoy making things for people and watching them enjoy it. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_02 2:13

Uh so what are some of the myths or misconceptions in your industry?

SPEAKER_01 2:19

Well, um, people say that it's oversaturated, and and the truth is is it probably is in some instances. Um, but I have found um just groups of people that that want somebody that will listen to them and do exactly what they're asking. And and um sometimes we go back and forth for days on items and maybe can't find maybe I really like it, but the the customer doesn't. And so um I think that they think that it's just a quick, like, oh, you send me an idea and I just create it. It's not always like that.

Target Customers And Swiftie Demand

SPEAKER_02 2:50

Okay. All right. Uh, and we know marketing is the heart of every business. Who are your target customers and um how do you attract them? Sure.

SPEAKER_01 3:01

Um, so a lot of my stuff that I do make is um fan-inspired for Taylor Swift. So Swifties are one of my biggest um targets. Um, anything Swifty related, now it's kind of turned into the Travis Kelsey thing too, but anything that way. Um, but pretty much just anybody that's wanting a quick turnaround time on uh an item that they couldn't go buy at the store for somebody in their family.

Life Outside The Shop

SPEAKER_02 3:26

Okay. All right. And then have you ever thought about doing your own podcast?

SPEAKER_01 3:31

No, not at all, actually. I listen to several. I've got um Wednesday mornings are my favorite um because two of my favorite podcasts are on, but I'm really getting into the podcast thing, just listening. I don't know that I'd ever want to do one uh to actually run one. Yeah. Okay, okay. And then um outside of work, what do you do for fun? Um, my husband and I just joined a country club, so we're golfers. So that's that's a fun thing that him and I can do together. Um crafting is still my fun. Um, I still love all of that more than anything, whether it's just making something to make it or make it for a customer. Um that's pretty much it. I mean, we're pretty low-key people here. Um, but yeah, golfing is probably one of the biggest things that we've taken up in the last few years. He's always golfed, but definitely looking forward to the summer to being able to get out on the course a lot more.

Learning New Tech Like 3D Printing

SPEAKER_02 4:24

Nice. Uh okay. Uh Shauna, tell our listeners one thing they should remember about Lili creations.

SPEAKER_01 4:34

Oh, that I'm custom, um, that I will try my best to actually create what you want and you know, what your vision is. I can't always make it come exactly true. Um, but with all of the technology and things, and I'm I'm learning a lot of new programs. I actually just got a 3D printer as well, so I'm trying to learn how to build CAD models. And um, I just think if you can give me some time, I will learn it. I've been having people ask me for 3D models since I bought it in November. I'm finally getting to just the very base of learning how to do those. Um, obviously, I I want to create my own items and sell them as mine. Um, and so I think if you can just give me patience and work with me, I will try to find a way to make it work for you.

Where To Buy And Follow

SPEAKER_02 5:17

Awesome. And then how can our listeners learn more about Lily creations?

SPEAKER_01 5:22

Yeah, I have um I have Facebook and Instagram. I actually also um just got all of my, well, not all of my stuff, but uh a big amount of my um fan-inspired Taylor stuff in a local store here in Colorado Springs. Um and it's called Hidden Gems. It's at 5020 North Nevada, suite 120. They have about 80 local artists in there. Um, so that's a really cool little spot. Um, I I I'm excited to have my stuff in a storefront.

SPEAKER_02 5:53

That's awesome. That's really exciting. Congratulations. Thank you. Yeah. Um, okay, Shauna, I really appreciate you being on the show, and we wish you and your business the best moving forward. Thank you so much, Virginia. I appreciate your time.

SPEAKER_00 6:09

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show. Go to gnpsarasota.com. That's gmpsarasota.com or call 941 949 1865.