A note from Ashley: Being a small business owner I love other small businesses. It makes me happy to support someone who is following their dream too. That love inspired me to start a new monthly blog series. I decided to call it Small Business Charm. I will feature different small businesses that I love or have found through social media. Social media has been a huge part of my life over the past 7 or 8 years and it has introduced me to some of my favorite people in the world but also some of my favorite small businesses. Without any further ado, I cannot wait to introduce you to our first small business.
Our Small Business feature comes from Charlotte, Michigan and it is the family behind Thompson’s Metals. I met Katelyn and Kylie the daughters and half of the crew behind the business in college. Katelyn and I were actually roommates for 2 years and Kylie was a regular guest in our apartment. The entire Thompson Family are kind, caring people and I am so excited to see where they go with it. I can attest that their art is beautiful because I have two of their pieces!
In Charlotte, Michigan the Thompson Family is making beautiful art. Mike and Susie along with their daughters Katelyn and Kylie turn metal into creative and colorful pieces for people across the country. Independence was the initial reason why the family started their business but from what I heard passion is the reason why they continue it. Katelyn said, “The sense of ownership is a very powerful and encompassing feeling that you can thrive on. Every time we make a piece a little of us is infused into it.”
Katelyn and Kylie’s extensive knowledge of computers combined with Mike’s experience in metalworking, had made this business a family affair and has given each of them a way to be involved. When asked what their favorite piece was, they all had a different answer. “Mom’s is a hummingbird in flight encircled by flowers and it is such a versatile piece you can paint it classically or have some fun and go a little crazy.
Dad’s is an old school horse drawn plow scene that includes a little boy chasing a dog chasing a rabbit. We took this piece to a show and a gentleman saw it from across the room and made a beeline for it. Our cousin had painted a couple pieces for us and this was one of the pieces she had skimped no detail on.
Kylie’s is a custom made bench that was created in memory of a special young lady. She exhibited livestock and we were able to take a photo of her and a steer she showed and use that as the backdrop supported by a pair of wings.
Mine is a custom welcome sign that we created for some very good family friends. It is a sailboat in a circle frame with a welded on crescent and palmetto tree for the state flag of South Carolina where they live. We also added a cut out of their last name to the sailboat and hung “welcome” from the bottom of the circle frame.”
For Kylie and Katelyn balancing time is a challenge they are always working on. Balancing full time jobs, education and other obligations makes for a busy world as it is, but they decided it just wasn’t enough and took on this small business as well. The passion they feel for metalworking has kept the balancing act fun and it shows.
Their social media presence has allowed them to send pieces across the country, from Texas to South Carolina to Maine there are happy Thompson Metals customers. They have used Facebook to share their products but also the process that it takes to make each piece of art. Katelyn said they love to engage people in what they love and are doing. When I asked Katelyn what her advice would be for anyone looking to start a small business she said to find something you really love. If you don’t love it, it will be hard to remind yourself why you love it at the end of a rough day. She also said to develop a business plan on a more practical note!
If you are interested in seeing what Thompson’s Metals is all about be sure to find them on Facebook.