Capitalizing on Opportunity
Photos by: John Burns
Melissa Bame, owner of JML Engraving, learned the business under the tutelage of her mother, who owned Westside Stamp & Awards.
After eight years with the company, Bame launched an independent, home-based engraving venture while planning events for Mother Earth magazine.
After the pandemic curtailed events, in September 2020 Bame capitalized on the opportunity to buy a bigger engraving business and become a full-time entrepreneur operating out of a retail store.
“I bought a Yeti dealer and wholesaler business that provided promotional items for different companies, and it was a great complement to the work I was already doing,” she said. “But the decision still involved a lot of deliberation and prayer.”
Referring to the serendipitous jump as a “growing experience,” Bame said working out of her home for 12 years hadn’t prepared her for running a retail store, navigating supply chain issues or learning to be a boss.
She sought advice from her ABWA professional organization colleagues and her lender, Silver Lake Bank, which helped her access a line of credit and Small Business Administration resources. Although Bame said she struggled with impostor syndrome at first, she has since gained confidence in her capabilities, boosted in part by surpassing the “huge” first-year goal she had set for herself.
“I realized I can do just about anything if I put my mind to it and if something doesn’t work out, I learn from it, move forward and plan better the next time,” she said. “My network has helped me be more strategic in my approach and afforded an opportunity for my husband to offer metal art signs in the shop. I’m always looking for new inventory to offer my customers.”
Bame’s inventory runs the gamut from crystal awards and laser-cut wooden tribute plaques to tumblers, trophies and more. Bame said an extensive inventory and in-house personalization allow her team to meet tight deadlines.
JML Engraving also works with contractors on labels for electrical panels in buildings.
“All these different types of pieces keep the revenue streaming,” she said. Bame said the most gratifying part of her expanding business is “touching customers” lives with gifts that commemorate career milestones and corporate and team awards or memorialize a loved one. “It brings me great joy and warms my heart to share in such special moments.”
One of the first things Bame did when she bought her business was engrave a sign with her company’s core values: friendliness, value and innovation.
“I strive to provide gifts that stand out and I put my stamp on whatever we produce and feel proud about the craftsmanship,” she said. “We like working with companies of all sizes that want to promote their businesses and reward their employees with something special.”
Her advice for anyone considering escalating an enterprise is to cultivate confidence, secure the services of an accountant, lender and attorney who can provide additional expertise and establish an informal advisory committee.
“Whenever I have a question or an idea, I rely on people in my network to help me determine how or whether to proceed,” she said. “Having people to lean on is really important to success.”
