Melissa Rougier started her small, handcrafted business Viola-Rae in 2021 and offers personalized gifts, home decor, and promotional items for her customers after finding a love for a hobby she found had the potential to become a thriving business.
“My family bought me a laser to use for cutting and engraving leather goods as a hobby,” she explains. “After realizing how much I enjoy using the laser, I began to see the potential I had to turn my hobby into a business.”
With the support of her husband and family, Rougier says she went from her gifted laser to an upgraded, larger laser. “I decided to go all-in and give this business a try,” she says. “Thankfully, it’s continued to grow.”
The products from Viola-Rae can all be engraved, including wood, glass, and acrylic items. The shop also offers gifts sets for all kinds of occasions, monogrammed signs, cutting boards, coasters, ornaments, personalized drinkware, and promotional items for other businesses including drink ware, pens, notebooks, and name badges.
Rougier says that what makes her business unique is that she is local, and her products stay local. “We provide a personalized service to local communities,” she says. “Whether a business or individual wants a few or many items, we can provide that for them without the need to meet minimum order requirements.”
Customers are also able to work with Rougier directly to guarantee that they are getting exactly what they want both in design and the final product. “We don’t just provide a cookie cutter service,” she says. “We provide a custom, personalized item.”
Rougier says she’s excited to continue to grow her new business throughout 2022. She recently began offering wedding items like acrylic invitations, signs, and decorations. She also plans to update the website as well as add more seasonal decor items and vinyl and apparel options.
To learn more about Viola-Rae, visit https://www.viola-rae.com. You can also follow along on Facebook and Instagram or send an email to [email protected].
