Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabby Cook.
Hi Gabby, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been drawn to doing creative things, so I knew I wanted to do something creative in my career. I work full-time as a graphic designer, and my husband works full-time in IT. We saw a small laser for sale nearby and thought it would be fun to have one to make things we could keep around the house and to make gifts for family and friends. My husband is good at figuring out how to run technical things, so he figured out the laser. He now runs the laser, and I design the files. We started getting asked if we sold the things we were making. We really enjoyed what we were doing, so in 2024, we decided to start selling our items and see what happened. We signed up for a few markets, and we did well enough to be able to keep going. A lot of our items include scripture. I told myself that if we were going to do this, I wanted to make things people could look at throughout the day that reminded them they aren’t doing life alone. I have dealt with anxiety my whole life, so I need things that I can look at that help give me peace. I thought someone else might need that as well. At some of the markets, we noticed that kids didn’t have very much to look at while their parents were browsing, so we purchased a 3D printer. We print fidget toys and animals, and the kids love looking through them. We have two kids of our own, and they enjoy helping us with the printers, and they have gotten really involved in the business. It’s been a really fun addition, and I am glad we were able to include it. We were able to grow our business a little bit more this year by adding an embroidery machine, which we have started using to make hats, and plan to expand to other items like shirts and accessories soon. We are thankful we have been able to expand in some areas where we see a need. There have been ups and downs, but overall, it has been a blessing that we are glad we took a chance on.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been more personal struggles than business struggles. A lot of them have been time-based. My husband and I still both work full-time and have two young kids, so it’s been hard to add the tasks of a small business to the mix. We want to make sure we are involved parents and that they feel like a priority. This sometimes means some projects get pushed depending on what’s going on. I also found out at the end of last year that I have a chronic condition that, when flared, causes pain and can affect my stamina. I had to put a pause on things to focus on my health by implementing some lifestyle changes and physical therapy. Stress and anxiety are major things that cause a flare, so I have had to really lean into God in the last few months to help me find peace in the chaos. I have been doing much better over the last few weeks, but it is something I take day by day and constantly adjust to try to keep at a manageable level.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Cook Creative?
We do laser cutting and engraving. We make hats, beanies, tumblers, cutting boards, journals, coasters, slate signs, framed engravings, door rounds, blankets, candles, ornaments, bookmarks, earrings, bracelets, etc. We just started doing embroidery and have embroidered hats. We plan to grow the embroidery to other items, such as shirts and accessories. We also have a 3D printer that we make fun animals, fidget toys, and a few decor items. The biggest thing that sets us apart is my background in graphic design, which allows us to offer highly personalized products. We want to make things that matter, which means creating our own designs. I pray about each piece before I design it and try to feel God’s guidance throughout the process. This also allows us to do custom projects that people bring to us, such as adding logos to items or engraving handwritten recipes or notes. My husband has also really fine-tuned the machines we use since the technical stuff like that just comes to him.
How do you think about luck?
Luck has allowed us to seize opportunities to grow our business as they present themselves. Right when we think we are ready to grow in an area, we are able to take advantage of opportunities that pop up. Like when we were ready to add another laser to our business, one popped up for sale in town, and we were able to jump on it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cookcreative.shop
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscookcreative
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itscookcreative
