Conversations with Maci Arms

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maci Arms.

Hi Maci, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
BeLeaf Glassware all started largely because of the pandemic. I am originally from Nashville, but I have been a professional dancer based out of New York City for the past six years. When Covid hit last March, I ended up moving home to Nashville to wait for the theater industry to reopen. This gave me a lot more time on my hands because for the first time I wasn’t focusing fully on my performing career.

Fast forward to Christmas 2020, I wanted to find the perfect Christmas gift for my family and friends but I had no idea what to get for them. I love enjoying a glass of red wine, so when I saw some gold-leafed wine glasses on Instagram, I thought that would be the perfect gift for everyone, especially if I made them myself. Everyone loved their glasses, but it wasn’t until after Christmas that word started to get out about them. After a couple of my mom’s friends saw her glasses, they asked if I could make some for them too. That’s when I realized there might actually be a market for these glasses.

After making a couple of custom orders, people encouraged me to make an Etsy Page, I really wasn’t expecting much from it, but I thought “why not?”. At this point, the theater industry was still closed and I had no idea when I would be able to move back to NYC. Plus, I found I actually really enjoyed making glasses and it still gave me a creative outlet. I had more time than ever to focus on a new “side hustle” that wasn’t waiting tables, so what’s the worst that could happen? This is truly when BeLeaf Glassware came to be. I sat down and figured out a brand, expanded my glassware line, and created my Etsy Page in June.

The business started small, but each month I slowly started getting more orders. Then over Labor Day weekend, my Etsy page started blowing up on Sunday night. Turns out an Instagram account, @womenwholovewine (who has 510K followers!) posted a picture and a link to my Stemless Flat Wine Glasses because she loved them so much. Before you know it I had 18 orders in 24 hours. Since then I have completed over 100 orders on Etsy alone along with orders that I receive directly from family and friends.

Demand has grown so much that I have quit my part-time job serving so I can focus fully on BeLeaf Glassware. What truly started as a way to find the perfect Christmas gift has become a new passion project that I am so proud to continue growing and I really have to thank moving back home to Nashville for that.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I’ve been very lucky and grateful that the journey for BeLeaf Glassware has been smooth overall, however, I feel that the struggle happened before and BeLeaf Glassware was the solution to my problems. When I moved back home to Nashville, my dance career, my home, and life in NYC had been taken from me because of COVID-19. With no end in sight, I had no idea if I would ever get to perform and do what I love again.

It was definitely a hard time, but starting BeLeaf Glassware gave me another creative outlet and a new passion to focus on and I’m so grateful for that. Also, going from being a professional dancer to a small business owner has been a learning experience, but I’m grateful that my family and friends have really supported me and helped me grow my business. In fact, I recently just named all of my glassware after some of the people who helped inspire me and support me from the beginning, because I truly can’t thank my supporters enough for believing in me and my glassware.

On top of all this, I’m also super grateful to finally be dancing again. I will be performing as a dancer in “Christmas In The Air” this Christmas at The Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi. I know it’s going to be a learning experience figuring out how to balance both my performing career and BeLeaf Glassware, but I’m so excited to bring both of my passions together and have the best of both worlds.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
BeLeaf Glassware is a small business and Etsy Page that creates handmade, custom leafed glassware. Our products include Stemless/Stemmed Wine Glasses, Wine Decanters, Stemless/Stemmed Champagne Glasses, Whiskey Glasses, Coffee Cups, Shot Glasses, Martini Glasses, and Margarita Glasses. Our colors include Gold, Silver, Rose Gold, and now even Red (perfect for the holidays). Because we offer so many different glass options and colors, BeLeaf Glassware can help you create your perfect home bar. Each piece is handmade to order, so you will have a beautiful glassware piece that’s truly one of a kind.

I’m proud of BeLeaf Glassware because I personally make every glass and I have only received 5-star reviews so far. I have had customers buy glasses and then after receiving them purchase more glasses to add to their collections because they love them so much. Also, as of right now I have shipped to 82 different cities in the US and 5 different countries, which is crazy to think that people are enjoying BeLeaf Glassware all over the world.

Knowing that I am putting so much work and heart into something that people are so excited to use and give to others truly means so much to me. I take so much time making the glasses, so knowing that people are excited to add my glassware to their home makes all the hard work and long hours worth it.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I think the passion I have for BeLeaf Glassware is a big part of why it’s been so successful thus far. From my performance career to now BeLeaf Glassware, I always try to put my whole self into everything I do and be as professional as possible.

From creating my brand, making each glass by hand, packaging and shipping them, plus creating content to help grow my social media presence, I have put everything into making sure BeLeaf Glassware is as professional as possible. I love making glasses and sharing them with others, so I think because I love it and I’m so passionate about what I do, it’s really helped BeLeaf Glassware grow into the small business it is today.

Pricing:

• Our single glasses range from $15-$22
• Our “Soultana” Wine Decanters are $65
• We also have Gift Sets that include a Wine Decanter and 4 Wine Glasses of your choice for $120
• Our most popular glass is The “Nola”, a Stemless Flat Wine Glass which is $20 for a single glass.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.beleafglassware.etsy.com
• Instagram: @BeLeafGlassware
• Facebook: facebook.com/beleafglassware
• Other: TikTok: @BeLeafGlassware

Image Credits
Leslie L.