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Inspiration Lately Offers a Glimpse of Joy In Homemade Products
mother-daughter duo takes custom engraved goods market by storm
There is beauty to be found in everyday things, but it takes a special pair to immortalize that brilliance in a tasteful, handmade product.
Sara Antonson and Andrea Fleishauer are the mother-daughter team behind the custom laser-cutting business, Inspiration Lately, which offers a wide variety of products custom-made with their laser cutters. The business offers sterling silver earrings, leather products, mugs, and a host of custom items made from wood (maple, cherry, red oak, and walnut to be specific).
The goal behind the the business, Fleishauer said, is to spread positivity by preserving the beauty of everyday life, like they do with their recipe engraved cutting boards featuring the handwriting of loved ones dating as far back as 1905.
“We are all about being intentional with spreading joy, positivity, and inspiration,” Fleishauer said. “We try to help our customers find inspiration in everyday mundane things. When you can find the beauty in random things throughout your day, you become inspired more and more throughout the day to keep that inspiration going for those around you.”
The catalyst for starting the online business dates back to late 2019 when Antonson retired as the CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Greater Chippewa Valley after 13 years. Not knowing which direction her life would take next, Sara funneled her creativity, and newly found free time, into Inspiration Lately after hearing of a laser cutter for sale locally.
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When you can find the beauty in random things throughout your day, you become inspired more and more throughout the day to keep that inspiration going for those around you.
anDrea fleishauer
inspiration lately
Antonson collaborated with her daughter to provide a familial element to Inspiration Lately. Fleishauer had worked for the Eau Claire School District as a tech coordinator for a decade at the time, so a change of pace was in order for the pair.
“I don’t sit quietly very well,” Antonson said. “I’ve always been pretty active, so when the opportunity came about to put my creativity into my business, it felt very natural and it grew organically. We’ve always been really close, so this has also allowed my daughter and I to grow closer in a business sense, in addition to coming together personally.”
Growing the business through the pandemic, Inspiration Lately was off to the races by fulfilling hundreds of local, regional, and national orders. The pair makes most items to order, with a few of their most popular products being available in local shops such as the Mustard Seed Boutique, Down to Earth, String Theory Studios, and The Hive.
While the dynamic duo has made a name for themselves by offering a wide variety of custom products, Inspiration Lately is feeling inspired to pursue the wholesale market more actively in 2022. After supplying custom pins, key chains, and other products for weddings, special occasions, and other businesses, the duo had the revelation that narrowing down their product offerings to the pieces they’re most proud of made the most sense for them going forward.
“We’ve always had something like this in the back of our minds, knowing it was something we could pull off together,” Fleishauer said. “My mom and I have always been equally creative, so working together makes perfect sense.”
With two years of experience at their backs, the mother-daughter, power-duo behind Inspiration Lately seem primed to continue to stake their claim on the custom goods market. In fact, they’re doing so well that they shut down their Etsy store to focus on orders through their website.
Products from Inspiration Lately are available now on their website inspirationlately.com. For more information you can contact them at inspirationlately@gmail.com.
