Today we’d like to introduce you to Qzonna and Boris Hamilton.
Qzonna and Boris, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
We started our business in 2005. Boris asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I told him a heat press. Odd gift, I know. But I had just finished sewing a T-blanket for our daughter and I wanted to make another but with designs of my own.
So he went online and bought me a 5 in 1 heat press from the first search that Google told him. It sat for a while until he finally asked me when I was going to use it. He also said to me that he wanted to start a business. While he was looking for operations directions for my press (did I mention the instructions were in Chinese?) he ran across something called sublimation and wanted to try it. Also, I posted a blanket I made from some of my old Sorority shirts and some of the ones I designed and my Sorority sisters went crazy over it. We both knew at that point that we could make things that people liked! I was contacted by one of my sorority’s past National President to see if I’d be interested in doing a partnership to raise money for our Centennial Celebration. I was honored and humbled. Our business has been a blessing and we love everything about it.
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?
Oh goodness. It has been a learning experience. We have paid cash for all of our equipment. And have had to upgrade multiple times because we discovered our demand was grated than the ability or equipment we purchased. We would suggest investing in the best or biggest you can afford if you’re serious. And make sure you are serious BEFORE you do because it is not cheap! We also had to be disciplined to reinvest our monies so we could continue to make items. It took a while to turn a profit. But if you have cash to invest then do. But for us, we were not willing to sink our 401k’s just yet. It was just better for us to invest in our selves without touching our retirement. That worked out well for us.
We both still work full time and when we come home we work our business. After 30 years of marriage, we know when we are getting on each other’s nerve. However, we do feel working this business give us time to spend together. And when it’s time to unplug and just be a couple, we have to remind each other that it “us” time and not “HCDesigns” time. Lol, it works 50% of the time.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We have a soft and hard substrate enhancement business. We do a T-shirt (family reunion, class reunion, etc.) blink, glitter and rhinestone images. We embroider shirts and jacket with Greek lettering well as screenprint, vinyl and Sublimation. We also do glass and acrylic awards, glass displays, cups and mugs with personalized images. Our specialty is sublimation on glass and stone items.
We are licensed vendors for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated which we are both members.
One this we specialize in is taking people’s old t-shirts and turning them into blankets. We’ve done Sorority and Fraternity and family reunion. But my favorite is taking clothing of loved ones and making them into blankets and pillows. That gives us joy to know people and cuddle up with a blanket the reminds them of their family member who is still keeping them close and warm.
What sets us apart from other companies is that we create all of our designs. We also produce 90% of our items ourselves. From our shirt to our blankets to our glass and stone items, we design it, sew it, press it and deliver it. You can also come to us with an idea and we will help you create it. We’ve help people create logos for their
companies, help create custom t-shirts, awards and gifts. We do all of this in house. Our house!
What were you like growing up?
Qzonna – I grew up the youngest of nine siblings. I have one sister and there are five boys between us. Because the one next to me is six years older my junior high and high school years, I was the only one home so I kind of grew up with that only child oldest child flavor too. I moved from MI to TX as a freshman in high school. And have been in TX every since but MI will always be home.
Boris – I am from East Texas. Kilgore, TX to be exact. I am my father’s oldest son of five and my mother’s only child. I grew up with lots of uncles and aunts on both sides as well as a core group of friends who I am still extremely close with, today. We all played ball together and share an unbreakable bond. They are my brothers.
Pricing:
- T shirt blankets start at $120
- Customize t-shirt (Bulk orders) $10-20 and up
- Glass awards $20 and up
Contact Info:
- Website: HCDStore.net
- Phone: 817-455-8830
- Email: sales@hamcreativedesigns.com
- Instagram: hcdstore
- Facebook: Hamilton Creative Designs
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