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Meet Christy Hankton Price of Envy Designz in Grand Prairie

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Christy Hankton Price.

Christy, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have always believed that I was destined to be an entrepreneur. I know my God-given gift was being creative and I loved to share that gift with others! So, to make a long story a little short, one day I created a design to showcase as a potential merchandise item for a fundraiser. I thought it would be an awesome idea if I could have shown everyone my vision of the design on a t-shirt.

Well, to my surprise, I could not find a company to make me just one sample. They all required a minimum of 10 or more per order which I thought was crazy. So, I decided to make the shirt myself which then got me to thinking… it would be really great if individuals could just purchase what they needed. For example – one t-shirt or hat, etc. So, I started researching what it would take to start such a company and after realizing that I had or could produce all the key components, I established Envy Designz, LLC.

Envy Designz, LLC is currently a home-based business that customizes apparel, merchandise and accessories by decorating items using vinyl, bling (rhinestones), and sublimation material just to name a few materials which allows us to have a no minimum order requirement. Our concept is to cater to individuals and companies (small or large) that needs to get their ideas, purposes, products, missions, goals, etc. across to others through promotional marketing. So, if someone needs one item for a presentation proposal or a couple of hundred items to sell, Envy Designz can accommodate their request.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Starting Envy Designz was definitely not as smooth as a journey as I wished. Being a native of New Orleans, LA I moved to the DFW area one-year before Hurricane Katrina to test the waters so to say, with my husband and 2 young daughters (which eventually became permanent thanks to Katrina). So, I had to do a lot of research on the dos and don’ts of how to operate a home base business in Texas. Now, don’t get me wrong the information was out there and I met a lot of great people who were willing to help me, but it was just so much I had to learn and do to get my company up and running legally.

Then, to just learn about the industry itself was mind-boggling, exciting and eventful to say the least. I was and still am like a child in a candy store. I wanted to learn and do everything, but I quickly learned about the process of elimination (LOL). There are so many different concepts to creating t-shirts and other items in this industry if you want to do it right you have to just stop, take your time and learn what is best for your company.

Being a wife, a mother of two beautiful young girls, and a full-time college student I had to learn how to balance and maintain our home, help by daughters with school/homework, work a full-time job and stay on course to receive my masters in business management with a concentration in leadership all while trying to start a t-shirt company. Therefore, time management was a very difficult task to operate. I found myself many nights working into the wee hours of the night. Then having to get up early in the morning to make sure everyone gets off on time for work and school. So, yes there were definitely struggles along the way, but I would not change it for anything in the world because it has made me the woman/entrepreneur I am today.

Tell us more about your business.
Envy Designz, LLC was developed in 2011 to cater to individuals and companies that needs to get their ideas, purposes, products, missions, goals, etc. across to others through promotional marketing. We create or recreate designs such as logos, slogans, etc. to be heat pressed and/or imprinted onto apparel, merchandise, and accessories. These items are then given out to promote special occasions (baby or bridal showers, family reunion, girls’ trips, etc.) a company, organization, product, service, special achievement or events. Some of our more popular items are t-shirts, mugs, hoodies, tumblers, coffee mugs and bags but we can just about design on anything.

What do you do?
As a graphic designer, I create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, and captivate our clients for both personal and/or commercial purposes. I am also the Operations Managers and my responsibilities include overseeing the day to day operations of Envy Designz and ensuring that the business has the staff, resources and funds needed to run smoothly.

What do you specialize in?
Our specialty is decorating items using vinyl, bling (rhinestones) and sublimation material which allows us to have a no minimum order requirement.

What are you known for?
Envy Designz is known for our no minimum policy (one-offs). Need one order one!

What are you most proud of as a company?
As a company, we are most proud of being able to help others… whether it is an individual, a start-up company, small business or any other business with their needs to brand their ideas. We are also proud of the fact that we strive for nothing but great customer service/experiences… in other words we make sure that each order meets our high standards of quality.

What sets you apart from others?
What sets us apart from others is that we are willing to offer to do one-offs (t-shirts, etc.) and being a full-service branding company for start-up companies.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over, I honestly would have done nothing different. This hold experience of starting a business was a total blessing for me. I had and still do have an amazing support group from my family to my friends. I love and appreciate how they promote the company and encourage others to try us out, to how excited they are to wear our gear and being walking billboards. No one ever complains. I am even grateful when I have large orders how they are all right there willing to pitch in wherever needed. I am even impressed on how I took my time in buying professional-grade equipment and material necessary to run Envy Designz without any financially burden. Therefore, no I certainly would have not done anything differently if I had to start over.

I am totally grateful that God just blessed me with an amazing group of people, who believed in my dream! And I look forward to what the future holds for Envy Designz as we are growing rapidly.

Pricing:

  • Customize T-Shirts start at $10.00 each
  • Customized Tumblers start at $18.00 each

Contact Info:

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