We recently had the chance to connect with Crystal Tucker and have shared our conversation below.
Crystal, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: When was the last time you felt true joy?
I have to say that the last time I felt true joy was just this past weekend when we were away camping as a family. Getting away from work and house chores is truly the best thing for my mental health and giving me the ability to slow down. Our weeks are so busy and sometimes feel too planned out by the calendar so camping is our escape and our chance to get out and feel JOY!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Crystal Tucker and I’m a small town girl who truly tries to live life for today and be happy and appreciative in every single moment. I just turned 40 so I feel like that has really put things into perspective: time only passes more quickly as you age and I just look forward to making the most out of the years ahead. My husband and I have three children ranging from age 2 to 11 so to say we are busy is an understatement. My husband works for his family business and I am a Registered Nurse working on a part-time basis for a hospice agency. I also run my business , Tucked & Threaded, full-time from the she-shed on our property. I started our brand whenever I was 30 and now I’m 40 so that’s just wild to me! We taught ourselves to screen print in our kitchen and started selling tees for ladies and children in 2016. Since those days, we have moved our business to our she-shed behind our house, grown into boutiques across the country, outsource our apparel and gift items, work with so many great service providers, and are about to begin a tee subscription service. Every part of our brand is created and managed by our small team from the initial design ideas to photography, website updates, social media, and packing and shipping each order. In business, things are always changing and it’s important to roll with the punches in order to survive, but having the control that we have in our business ensure our customers can feel and see our authenticity and commitment to serving our supporters. I truly love our business and it provides the opportunity for me to be home with our children and to give back to our community in so many ways. Just having the community, love, and support over the years has truly blessed my life. I hope that our brand has blessed others in the same way and that we can continue to do this for a few more decades!
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
When I was 20, my dad passed away from cancer. My brother and I had spent years helping care for him through his illness and treatments and that experience shaped both of us at a very young age. Our parents were divorced at the time, so many of the responsibilities fell on us. Thankfully, our mom, who owned her own business, was able to step in and support all of us in ways that wouldn’t have been possible without the flexibility her business gave her. Losing my dad was incredibly hard, but it taught me some of life’s most important lessons and to never take time or people for granted. Ever. A few years later, I became a nurse, eventually working in hospice care, which constantly reminded me how fragile life and health truly are. It brought me right back to those moments caring for my dad. By the time I became a mom and approached 30, I started feeling the pull for something more. I had a steady job, but I craved the ability to create, to build something of my own, and to have the kind of time freedom my mom had. I wanted to be available when my family needed me. That’s when I started my own business. It’s taken an incredible amount of hard work and sacrifice, but I’ve built something that’s mine and something that lets me show my children what’s possible when you truly believe in what you’re doing. I don’t necessarily work LESS as small business owner, but I can work when I want to and need to and that is what works for my life in this season.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
As a business owner, I actually don’t give up easily. I’m very determined to make this work and grow our brand. I’m still here not because it has been easy and every social media post goes viral or brings in sales, but because I’m so deeply committed to our business and the vision behind it. I do not feel as though God would plant this desire in my heart for it to be for nothing. It can’t be for nothing. There have been incredibly challenging times, slow months, financial pressure, and moments when balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship felt like too much. But even then, quitting never felt like a real option. I’ve poured my heart into this brand, and I believe in it with everything I have. And after almost ten years, I’ve also learned that success doesn’t mean staying in one lane forever. If the day ever comes when I feel called to shift gears or explore something new, I’ve made peace with knowing that’s okay, too. Life is full of chapters, and building this business has given me confidence and skills that I can carry into whatever comes next. For now, though, I’m sticking with Tucked & Threaded, my faith my team, and all of the amazing supporters surrounding us.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
This is a great question as my business is primarily online and event-based. So, yes, the public version of me is 100% the real me. What you see is what you get. Whether it’s a social media post, seeing me in the she-shed working, or chatting with me at an event, I’m the same person in all those spaces. I don’t try to present a polished version of myself for the sake of business. I show up as the 100% version of myself and I think that has to do with being a female and liking to talk, having such amazing people in my life that I’ve always been able to open up to, and being a nurse and knowing how important being compassionate and friendly really is. I believe people connect with that over being fake and I’d rather be known for being authentic than perfectly curated.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
I ask this question often that if Tucked & Threaded didn’t exist, what would we all be wearing? I’ve been creating apparel for almost ten years so our customers have quite the collections of T+T, so I think they’d miss all the new creations and tees. But I really hope that they would miss the genuine connection we have built together. Our business gives us a reason to connect, meet up, email, text, and see each other in the shed and at events. Our customers aren’t just shoppers, they are friends! They may actually never let me retire!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://TuckedAndThreaded.com
- Instagram: @tuckedandthreaded
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tuckedandthreaded
Image Credits
Reflections by Rachel Photography
Kaitlyn Fuller Photography
