If you want to remember someone you love, creating a personalized treasure is the best way to do that. Pixie Printz helps people create that treasure by making personalized jewelry and charms imprinted with a fingerprint from someone you hope to remember.
For Carrie Stanley, it all started with her daughter. Her young daughter is sick, and she was looking for someone who could make fingerprint jewelry at reasonable prices. She eventually found a company that would do the job, but it was not local. Carrie saw an opportunity to expand this unique treasure into her own community and took it.
I recently asked Carrie a few questions about her business and the inspiration behind it.
Tell us a little about Pixie Printz.
Pixie Printz is a business that not only offers a one of a kind keepsake, but also gives you an unforgettable experience with your child. By creating your own fingerprint keepsake you have the opportunity to carry your child, loved one, or even your pet around with you. To some this piece tells a story of triumph (We had to feed my daughter so many m&m’s to get her to sit still long enough to get a few prints), and to others it carries a lifetime in it. For my family it will be one of the few things we will have, other than pictures and videos of our daughter when she dies. What this tiny piece of precious metal has given us, was something I wanted to pass on to as many people as possible, that is the driving force behind Imprintz of the Heart.
When did you begin your nonprofit, Imprintz of the Heart? What does it do?
I don’t think someone who is facing losing a person they love should have to worry about saving money for possibly years to afford one single piece of silver, so Imprintz is here to offer families facing that loss up to two charms free of charge. Imprintz of the Heart is the driving force behind Pixie Printz, without the regular business from everyday moms, dads, and grandparents Imprintz wouldn’t be funded. 10% of all of my profit goes to Imprintz, as well as the donations of those who purchase. Each person is offered the chance to round their total up to the next whole dollar to donate the difference. Every little bit counts. (both of these businesses are only about 8 weeks old, I am currently saving to have Imprintz made into an official 501c3 organization.)
In what locations are your products available?
Currently I am holding my appointments either at a home “playdate” where a group of moms get together and let the kids play and print, as well as in my home at my kitchen table. I am in the process of testing a way to get your own fingerprint charm done by mail without losing the personal touch required to get a fingerprint. Until that is proven safe and effective I am sticking pretty close to home through local farmers markets, craft shows, and private parties and appointments.
Do you have any goals you’d like to accomplish over the next year or so?
Eventually I would like to streamline this process and open a studio where people can bring their kids or loved ones to get printed,and hold their “playdates” rather than using their homes. I would also open this up to jewlers who work with PMC to come and work quietly, maybe away from their families in a place that offers all the tools necessary, and I can even fire their pieces for them. In addition to all of that it is my goal to tech other to begin their own Pixie Printz business so that Imprintz can continue to be funded through Pixie Printz, not just by myself but by others who want a little freedom with their work schedule, or just want to do something fun in their off time.
Any plans to add to your jewelry offerings in the near future?
Eventually I would like to streamline this process and open a studio where people can bring their kids or loved ones to get printed,and hold their “playdates” rather than using their homes. I would also open this up to jewelers who work with PMC to come and work quietly, maybe away from their families in a place that offers all the tools necessary, and I can even fire their pieces for them.
What are some lessons your business has taught you?
To me starting and running a business is a lot like parenting. You can get all the advice possible, take all the classes, read all the books and you are still faced with something unpredictable, full of challenges, and completely unique because we are all individuals who put ourselves into the businesses we run.
If you could go back, is there anything you would do differently?
I wouldn’t change anything about it because then I will not have learned as much, and it wouldn’t mean as much to me as it does now.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I have fought and will continue to fight to keep this up and running. The passion will always be there because the reason behind it will never change. I am losing a child to cancer, and so many people are losing children, have lost children or will lose children, and each and every one of them deserves to keep the most unique part of that child in something tangible.