Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Grewing.
Kimberly, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Designed To Flaunt began in 2020 with a simple love for creating. We started by assembling macramé earrings using blanks purchased from other laser makers. When wait times for those blanks started to increase, we decided it was time to take control of the process. We invested in our first machine, a small 40 watt laser, and began designing and cutting our own earring blanks.
In May of 2022, we came across an inexpensive hat press online and decided to give it a try. That small purchase turned out to be a major turning point. We launched a line of men’s and women’s hats with engraved leather patches and took 60 hats to Santacaligon Days in Independence, Missouri in September 2022. We sold almost all of them.
The following year, our business grew faster than we could have imagined. By the time Santacaligon Days 2023 arrived, we sold more than 500 hats, expanded our acrylic earring line, and introduced engraved leather gift items. In December of 2023, we upgraded our equipment to a 100 watt laser to keep up with demand and improve production quality.
For two years, we dreamed of adding a UV printer to our lineup. In March of 2025, that dream became a reality when we purchased a top-of-the-line UV printer. This opened the door for us to print our own acrylic for earrings, full color hat patches, and vibrant custom gift items.
What started with a random Covid idea has grown into a full laser and UV printing business. Every step has been driven by creativity, learning, and the support of customers who believe in what we create.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The struggles have always been there, and they will always be part of our journey. When we started, we knew nothing about running a laser. We purchased our first machine and quickly discovered just how steep the learning curve really was. Every cut, adjustment, and setting came through trial, error, and a lot of late nights.
In 2021, when ports closed and supplies became harder to find, we faced long delays and shortages in the materials we depended on. Even simple things like finding the right acrylic or securing Richardson hats in the colors we needed became a challenge.
As time went on, more people entered the market with hobby machines, and competition at craft shows grew. Instead of letting that slow us down, we used it as motivation to keep improving. We pushed ourselves to learn new programs for our equipment, to explore new design techniques, and to constantly refine our photography so our products could shine.
Every struggle has taught us something valuable. Each obstacle has shaped us into stronger makers and business owners. And while challenges will always come, we’ll keep moving forward, learning, and finding new ways to grow.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We create custom laser engraved and UV printed products with a strong focus on style, quality, and personalization. Our work includes acrylic earrings, engraved leather gifts, full color patches, and custom-designed hats that we produce in-house from start to finish. We’re best known for our Kansas City themed earrings and hats, along with a splash of playful adult humor that our customers have come to love.
As our business continues to grow, we’re expanding our product line to feature other sports teams as well. We can customize team names, colors, player names, and numbers, which allows customers to get pieces that truly represent their favorite teams and athletes. Whether it be your t-ball player, high school basketball star, or collegiate football player we have you covered for game day gear.
What sets us apart is our commitment to producing high quality goods at affordable prices. We source materials from trusted suppliers and invest in top-of-the-line equipment so that our customers receive items that look great, last long, and feel worth every penny. Because we design, cut, engrave, and print everything ourselves, we’re able to maintain full control over quality and creativity.
We’re most proud of the brand we’ve built and the community that has grown with it. Having repeat customers who shop with us both in person and online means the world to us. It tells us that people connect with what we create and trust us to keep delivering products they love. That support motivates us every day and reminds us why we started this journey in the first place.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I started this business with my sister, Chelsea Pike. We’ve been teammates our whole lives. First on the softball field, then at our very first job at McDonald’s, and later even in the corporate world. No matter where we were, we worked well together. It felt natural when we finally decided to start a business of our own, because teamwork has always been the center of everything we do.
Even as kids, Chelsea and I balanced each other’s strengths. She has always been the creative one, full of ideas, color, and vision. My strongest skill has always been production, problem-solving, and getting things done. Together, we became a perfect team long before we ever owned a business. We often joke that we’re like the Bash Brothers from The Mighty Ducks.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.designedtoflaunt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designed.to.flaunt/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dtfdesigns/
