From Experience to A & M Customs
How years of experience became the beginning of something new
In our previous blog, we shared the story of the 15 years of experience that came before A & M Customs.
From product listings and sourcing through to personalisation, design and production, those years taught us a lot about the industry.
But when the company eventually closed, we had a decision to make.
What came next?
Taking the Leap
With around 15 years of experience behind me, starting our own business felt like a natural next step.
I'd already spent years creating designs, working with personalisation equipment and producing products for customers.
I knew the practical side of the work.
I knew the creative side.
And, with the support of my family, we decided it was time to put that experience into something of our own.
That was the beginning of A & M Customs.
Building Something Ourselves
Starting a business is very different from working for somebody else.
Suddenly, every part of the process becomes your responsibility.
The products you offer.
The designs you create.
The way they're presented.
The orders that come in.
The artwork.
The production.
The packaging.
And, of course, making sure the customer is happy with what they've ordered.
It's a lot of work, but it's also incredibly rewarding.
Combining Our Own Designs With Your Ideas
One of the things we wanted A & M Customs to offer was a mixture of our own creativity and customer personalisation.
We create our own designs for people who want something ready-made, but we also want customers to have the opportunity to make something their own.
That could be as simple as adding a name or message.
It could be using a favourite photograph.
It could be adding a date to remember a special occasion.
Or it could be taking a completely original idea and working with it to create a finished product.
That's one of the things we enjoy most about what we do.
Growing the Range
When A & M Customs started, the aim wasn't to create a huge range overnight.
Instead, we've been building it gradually.
As we find products we think our customers will love, we look at how we can offer them with our own designs or personalisation options.
Our range now includes products such as mugs, coasters, keyrings, tote bags, mouse mats, barware, travel accessories and seasonal products.
And we're continuing to add more.
Moving Into Clothing & Workwear
We're also developing our clothing and workwear offering.
T-shirts, hoodies and workwear give us another way to help people create something that's personal to them or represents their business, group or organisation.
Whether it's clothing for an event, a group, a club, a small business or a trade, we're excited about the opportunities this area of A & M Customs can bring.
It's another part of the business where our design and production experience can really come into its own.
Keeping the Personal Touch
As A & M Customs grows, one thing we don't want to lose is the personal side of the business.
We're proud to be a small family-run business.
When you order from us, you're not dealing with a huge faceless company where your order simply disappears into a system.
We care about the products we're creating and the experience our customers have.
That's why we take the time to check personalised designs, artwork, spelling, images, colours and layouts.
Where appropriate, we'll also send a digital proof before production so that you can check your design before we make it.
Looking to the Future
There's still a lot we want to do with A & M Customs.
We're constantly looking for new products, creating new designs and exploring new ideas.
We want to continue expanding our personalised gift range while developing our clothing and workwear offering.
We'll also continue creating seasonal products and designs throughout the year.
And, most importantly, we'll keep listening to what our customers want.
This Is Only the Beginning
Looking back, it's interesting to think that the experience gained over those 15 years would eventually lead to starting A & M Customs.
What started with product listings developed into personalisation.
Personalisation led to design.
Design led to creating products for customers.
And all those years of experience eventually gave us the confidence to start something of our own.
A & M Customs is now our next chapter.
And we think it's only the beginning.
Thank You for Being Part of It
Whether you've already ordered from us, you've just discovered A & M Customs or you're simply here to see what we're about, thank you for taking the time to learn a little more about our story.
We're excited about what comes next and look forward to continuing to create new products, designs and ideas.
If there's something you're looking for that you can't find on our website, get in touch. Your idea could be the next one we bring to life.