How Personalized Gifts Became My Full-Time Small Business

Shared by Selena, Founder of Selena Marie LLC

Hi! I’m Selena, owner of Selena Marie LLC. I specialize in custom apparel, branded merchandise, promotional products, wholesale, and personalized products. What started as a creative hobby has grown into a full-time business that allows me to work with other businesses, wholesale partners, and customers looking for meaningful, high-quality products.

I officially formed Selena Marie LLC in 2023, but my business journey started years earlier. What began as a way to make personalized gifts for my niece eventually grew into the business I run today.

Along the way, my small business has opened doors I never imagined, including the opportunity to share educational tutorials and behind-the-scenes videos on YouTube, where I help makers and fellow small business owners learn new skills, grow their businesses, and build with confidence. One of the most rewarding parts of this journey has been helping other makers and small business owners gain the confidence to start and grow businesses of their own.

Like many small businesses, mine started with a simple idea.

It all started when my niece was born. I found myself spending so much money ordering custom onesies and personalized gifts for her that I realized I could invest in the equipment and make them myself instead.

What started as a way to make gifts for my niece quickly turned into something much bigger. Friends and family began asking me to make custom gifts, shirts, and special-occasion items, and before long, I realized people were willing to pay for what I was creating.

As demand continued to grow, I expanded into creating branded merchandise for businesses and wholesale products. After years of growing my business, I officially formed Selena Marie LLC in 2023.

As my business grew, I quickly learned that passion alone wasn’t enough.

One of the biggest challenges early on was wearing every hat in the business. As a solo seller, I was the designer, customer service representative, photographer, production team, packer, and shipping department all at once.

When I first started shipping orders, I printed shipping labels on regular copy paper, cut every label by hand with scissors, and taped them onto each package. That system worked when I only had a few orders, but as my business grew, I quickly realized that it wasn’t sustainable.

I learned that working smarter was just as important as working harder. Over time, I invested in tools that improved my workflow and saved me time. Switching to a MUNBYN thermal label printer, organizing my workspace, and creating better systems allowed me to process orders more efficiently, provide a better customer experience, and focus more on growing my business instead of getting stuck on repetitive tasks.

Those early experiences gave me the confidence to keep investing in my business.

In the beginning, I wasn’t sure if my business would become anything more than a hobby. As I started sharing my work, strangers began placing orders, leaving kind reviews, and recommending me to others. Hearing customers tell me they loved the quality of my work, my attention to detail, and the professionalism of my business meant the world to me.

As businesses also began reaching out for branded merchandise and wholesale orders, I realized I wasn’t just creating products—I was building trust with my customers. Their continued support, repeat orders, and referrals gave me the confidence to continue investing in my business and eventually turn it into my full-time career.

As my business evolved, so did my branding.

The very first branding element I invested in was my logo. When I first started, I actually designed my own logo because it fit my budget and gave my business an identity. As my business grew, I invested in a professionally designed logo that better reflected the direction it was heading while staying true to my original brand.

From there, I incorporated my branding into business cards, custom packing tape, product tags, stickers, and shipping materials so every order felt consistent and professional.

As my business continued to grow and I began shipping more orders, I invested in my first MUNBYN label printer. It streamlined my shipping process, saved valuable time, and instantly gave every package a cleaner, more professional presentation.

Over time, I realized branding was about much more than just having a logo.

Branding has played a huge role in growing my business.

One of the biggest examples was investing in a custom pop-up tent with my logo across the front. At local markets, customers could immediately recognize my booth from across the event, making my business look more established and professional before they even walked over.

I also branded my thank-you bags, packaging, stickers, tags, and shipping materials so customers received a consistent experience every time they ordered. I truly believe those small details helped build trust, encouraged repeat customers, and made my business more memorable.

One of the best parts is that building a recognizable brand doesn’t have to happen all at once.

I focused on making small improvements over time instead of trying to do everything at once.

As my business grew, I invested in affordable branding touches like custom packing tape, logo stamps, thank-you stickers, and consistent packaging colors. I also started taking my own product photos instead of relying on mockups because I wanted customers to see exactly what they were purchasing.

None of those investments were extremely expensive on their own, but together they created a much stronger and more recognizable brand.

Today, the right tools help me save time while delivering a better customer experience.

I purchased my first MUNBYN printer in 2022, and it completely changed the way I shipped orders.

Being able to print professional shipping labels in seconds made my workflow much faster and more efficient as my business continued to grow.

Today I use the MUNBYN RW405B, which has taken my branding even further. One of my favorite features is the ability to print dual-color labels. I now create my own Fragile labels and other branding labels in-house instead of outsourcing them or worrying about running out.

I also use a MUNBYN shipping scale to accurately weigh my packages before purchasing postage. Having my printer and scale work together has made my shipping process faster, more organized, and much more efficient. Those small improvements save time on every order and help me deliver a more professional experience for my customers.

Looking back, there’s one piece of advice I’d give every small business owner.

Start building your brand sooner than you think you need to.

You don’t need a huge budget to create a professional business—you just need consistency. Invest in a logo, choose a color palette, and think about the experience your customers have from the moment they receive their package.

You can always improve your branding as your business grows, but establishing a recognizable identity early helps customers recognize, remember, and trust your business.

Every small business has a story worth sharing, and that’s why this campaign means so much to me.

Every small business has a unique story, and I love that MUNBYN is allowing entrepreneurs to share theirs.

The My First Highlight campaign celebrates the journey behind every business while giving participants the chance to win a MUNBYN printer and label kit. Whether you’re just starting your first side hustle or already growing your business, it’s a great opportunity to share your story, connect with other entrepreneurs, and discover tools that can help you build a stronger brand from the very beginning.

Looking back, it’s amazing to see how making custom onesies for my niece eventually grew into Selena Marie LLC. Every small improvement—from investing in branding to improving my shipping workflow—helped build the business I have today. I hope this campaign encourages someone else to take that first step and share their own My First Highlight.