Over the last 12 years I have enjoyed working the most for myself. Learning to work with customers and shop owners, building relationships with them over the years. I have been able to judge what people would purchase and be able to live off my sales for over the last 12 years. During the time since i started my business i have worked for many organizations, as well as donating products or large discounts so that they were able to profit from my items for their organization. Some of the organizations i have worked with over the years are Second Chance Rescue in Alpena, Ducks Unlimited, QDMA, Whitetails Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, VFWs, American Legions, and others. I was also a supplier in the National catalog for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever for four years before it was shut down due to the pandemic.
I started up my business after working a long career in the printing field. This included purchasing inventory as well as selling my product after they were created. I I do large craft shows as well as sell my items in some shops across Michigan. This includes taking care of all the paperwork for inventory, sales and taxes each year. I have two web pages that I have my items on as well as my own website. Must have good communication skills to be able to work with owners and customers and have that.
I started at the John Henry company while i was in my last year of high school. Working in the bow department for a little while then moving up to a press operator in the Multi department. I learned to run many different types of machines. From there i worked in the medical folder department where i learned to run many other machines and started training as a cutter. This is where i was injured on the job from lifting over 100 pounds of paper across a table. I was on work comp until I had three back surgeries to heal the injury. They let me go after twelve weeks because i was not able to go back in the allotted time. I also volunteered in other departments and did many overtime hours.