Laser Success Story: Ava's Bowtique

Travis:

We see a lot of your projects on Instagram and TikTok. And we're just fascinated, how much you actually do with the laser. How did you first hear about full spectrum laser?

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

So my papa is someone that does a lot of research. So when he decided to buy a laser, he researched all the laser companies, the big laser companies out there. And he found that Full Spectrum Laser was the best laser for him. And so when we decided to buy a laser, we already knew that we wanted a Full Spectrum Laser machine.

Travis:

So that's actually where you first heard about it. What does he do?

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

So he works full time at Delta. But he also helps a lot in this business.

Travis:

So he helps you with the laser itself or with projects?

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

In the beginning when we didn't have a laser, we would send him what we wanted him to do and then he would send it back to us to sell. But now we kind of both do it. So he does more of the bulk items, and we do like the custom stuff.

Travis:

How long have you been using the laser?

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

We got the laser in October, so we've been using the laser for about 6-9 months.

Travis:

Which laser do you actually currently have then? Which one did you purchase?

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

My papa got the PS20, but we decided we wanted a bigger laser, so we got the PS24.

Travis:

That's actually a really good one. That's one of my favorites. What kind of projects do you do on the laser?

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

So we do a bunch of different stuff, but my favorite is nursery projects, but we also do slate coasters, tumblers, and big wood signs are actually what we’re working on right now. And we’re working on a storefront sign up in Joshua Tree and it's like seven feet by three feet, I think. Yeah.

Travis:

So you're able to do something like that, are you using the passthrough doors?

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

Yes.

Travis:

And is that–the I guess you do have a nice sign in the corner of your screen that Bowtique sign. Is that your business name?

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

Yes, that’s the business name.

Travis:

That's awesome. Where do you sell your stuff?

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

So I sell it off Instagram and Etsy. Then I'm also in two stores up in Joshua Tree.

Travis:

What is your Instagram?

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

My Instagram is @shopavasbowtique.

Travis:

So, yeah, check out shop Ava's Boutique. And what is your Etsy channel?

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

That’s @shopavasbowtique also.

Travis:

Awesome! So check her out there. Her stuff is definitely worth checking out. How long did it take you to get started and start getting the stuff into those businesses and selling online?

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

So this whole thing kind of started as a homeschool project. I started selling leather earrings for $12, but I thought that if I sold it for $12, I would make $12. That's obviously not the case. And my dad was trying to teach me things like money going in and out and stuff, so I had to make spreadsheets and all that, but then I got a dye press printer for my birthday and I started making T-shirts and mugs and stuff like that, and then it just kind of grew from there.

Travis:

So you did this before you had the laser, too?

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

Yes. So it's probably been going on for about a year.

Travis:

What key factors made you decide to use the laser for your projects?

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

We just really wanted to expand and try it out. My papa got it and I really liked playing around with it and creating stuff on it. So we decided to give it a shot. My dad deployed and we decided that we were just going to go for it, and so we bought a laser.

Travis:

What's your favorite thing to get on there and work with?

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

Probably wood... Yeah, wood.

Travis:

So is it mostly signs or do you do any 3D objects?

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

Hmm. Mostly signs. Yeah, we do stack cutting sometimes. Florals are probably my favorite.

Travis:

So when you're working on these projects have you picked up any tricks or tips on the way that may have made your job a little bit easier?

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

So as soon as we got the laser, we took off the auto focus thingy because I felt like I had more control with it all. And also Britney gave us the focus ruler file. We lose them all the time because we put them in our pockets and then they get like so we cut like a million of those, which was really helpful.

Travis:

Yeah, definitely. Now, my desk is definitely covered with those as well.

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

Yeah. And then also be nice to customer support because you want to be nice to them so that they help when you need help and they're doing a killer job.

Travis:

You have the 90 watt tube in the  PS24, right? 

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

Yes. 

Travis:

Are there any tips that you have to help maybe others get started?

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

So you want to go with the biggest laser that you can afford because you'll eventually want to upgrade. So you want to think ahead. If you eventually want to do cups and eventually want to do bigger sizes [get the next biggest machine]. And also don't compare yourself to others because it’s a big laser world and everyone does different stuff. You need to be true to yourself, yknow?

Travis:

With your age, have you run into any issues starting your business?

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

It's a whole family thing. So my papa, who has the PS20, helps out a lot with the bulk items. And also my 96 year old grandpa puts together all of our wood earrings and ships them to us. And my four year old sister, Maddy, is our official package hugger, so she hugs all the packages before they go out.

Travis:

Very nice. So it sounds like you have a very decent support structure there.

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

Yes, I do. My whole family is very helpful. The business is actually under my mom's name, so.

Travis:

Is there anything that you would like to tell anybody about, like what you do, anything that you might want to know about your laser, about your projects, or any upcoming stuff that you're working on.

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

Um, well, we're really getting into bigger signs and for the stores up and Joshua Tree, the Roaming Travelers [shop] is going into a new storefront. So we're working on a bunch of stuff for them. And also we're working on more custom designs. 

Travis:

So do you design in the RE3 software or what software do you use?

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

We design in Silhouette Studio.

Travis:

Have you ever had any issues with importing any that into the software? I've never worked with that software before, so I don't know.

Ava (Ava's Bowtique):

I haven't really had any issue. It's been pretty easy for us.

Travis:

That's good. That means RE3 is working the way it should. Well we definitely look forward to seeing the best of the future stuff that you build. So, Ava is definitely worth checking out. Buy some of her products, and get inspired by what she's doing. Thanks for let's talk to you!