Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Bateman.
Crystal, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In my experience with being employed at larger companies during the span of my career. There was always a specific person you could contact to assist you with each of your departmental needs. A representative to create marketing content, an Accounting department, a Credit division, an IT help desk, the Human Resources sector, and fingertip access to a massive amount of employees to help you with tasks based on determined daily demands that are outside of your focused wing.
When you start a business, this is just not a realistic expectation because you are super new. I dived in headfirst with Crystal Layne Fashion and taught myself as we got bigger because there were divisions I had never worked in before. I quickly figured them out, solved problems, learned new skill sets and a lot of late nights helped me speed the growth process up. Truth is, I enjoyed acquiring new knowledge and jumping out of my comfort zone to tackle the areas that were out of my expertise. You would be surprised what we all can do, when we set our mind to something. You have to have the confidence to believe in yourself, stay positive, and keep the course on a winning yellow brick road.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s difficult starting a business and an honest pet peeve of mine is when people say they are going to do something, and they don’t. Individuals promising you the world, and they fall short. I never understood the concept of not being a person of your word or just simply saying exactly what you mean when you mean it. When it comes to the sales cycle, you are going to encounter work prospects going back on their word. Clients telling you they are going to place a substantial order, and there is not one order processed. The customer says, “I’m gonna need 5,000 shirts,” and it’s only 500.
When I was in the beginning stages of my company, it was a challenge to hear people say they had connections or to act like they were the decision-makers when they were not. I always considered myself a straight shooter, so I didn’t understand this concept. Of course, I had encountered this behavior in the sales industry for years, but the bee sting actually stung much harder when I was the business owner this time around. Your peers giving you the guaranteed business proposal chant, but no real action behind it. Promises being hard to keep doesn’t mean we should stop making them altogether. It just means maybe we should be a little more careful about the promises we make and how they can affect people differently.
You can never put all your eggs into one basket because you can’t grow a successful company that way. In sales, nothing is ever a guarantee and hard work is truly key. Carry a large safety net so you can control a brighter outcome, and try betting on yourself. No one will work harder for your company than the first employee you choose to hire, and that person is you.
We are currently in the process of getting our Women Owned Business Certification, which will open up bigger doors for us. Crystal Layne Fashion creates apparel for many walks of life that we all come in contact with on a daily basis. The empowering embroidered polo that you see your fitness instructor sweating in. The colorful screen-printed t-shirt that you just had to buy at your favorite concert. The unique uniform your local businessman was sporting on the street. I love all the lives we get to touch, and I wouldn’t change one thing about what we do. We get to change the world, one stitch or print at a time.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Crystal Layne Fashion has truly been a dream come true with the fruitful growth that quickly blossomed for us. We specialize in embroidery and screen print for businesses needing logo apparel. The number of industries that we can assist is actually endless because most to all companies and organizations use logo apparel. Our goal is to represent our client’s brand to its fullest potential while listening to their specific needs. Our snazzy suggestions help bring the full look to life while honoring the customers’ wishes. We tend to utilize color combinations to create marketable merch or to just enhance trendy vibes in all the logo apparel we do. We want to always leave our customers feeling extra chic, not goofy geek. Whether we are helping with company uniforms, school spirit swag, music tour merch, focused retail, or just everyday attire for the office staff. Every project is just as important as the next.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
I was a fortunate child that was very blessed to have “The Brady Bunch” family lifestyle growing up. When I say Brady Bunch, I don’t mean by the size of the household or two spouses bringing their kids together. I am referring to the lessons we learned when it came to right and wrong and the honest conversations we had at the dinner table because there were no secrets. I never heard my parents fight and I was extremely close to my brother growing up because he was my best friend. When he got his license, I felt like I hit the jackpot because he drove me everywhere in his fire engine red whip that had a white vinyl top. Our family wasn’t perfect, and I am sure our parents had the heated conversations. It just wasn’t when we were around, and I guess that is how it should be. Looking back, I realize they did prepare us for the real world without them overstepping into it. We had the freedom to live our childhood to its fullest, but enough boundaries to be respectful and safe. Christmas was my favorite time of the year with my family. My Mom decorated every inch of our house in Holiday spirit until it was charmingly cozy. She always had the magic touch to make the house feel so welcoming and warm. No one gives you a manual when you have children, but I smile when I remises about my coming-of-age story because I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. When you mature, you realize what a tall order it is to have children and the sacrifices that come along with the decision. I don’t know if I will ever have kiddos in the duration of my life. But if I do, I will stress to them the importance of showing kindness, just like my parents bestowed upon us. Never regret anything that made you smile, and as the funny Lucille Ball would say, “The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.crystallayne.com
- Instagram: Crystal_Layne_Fashion
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystal-layne-sanders/
