Laser Focused May/June 2024

MAY|JUNE 2024

AUTOMATING FOR PROFIT AND PRODUCTIVITY THE THREE STAGES OF BUSINESS GROWTH FOR FILE SELLERS THE WILD RIDE OF VIRAL SUCCESS 5 STRATEGIES TO SPARK INTEREST WITH VIDEO CONTENT CUSTOM SIGNS, BIG PROFITS AWARDS ARE GREAT; MEDALS ARE MONEY!

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Will Lo

d ser Da a L y z - Cra

EDITOR’S NOTE This Issue's Advertisers

Aeon GS2 Awards H & H Creations Tampa Hogg Outfitters Houston Acrylic Lightburn Thunder Laser

Editor Robin Roberts Creative Director Victor Havens

Ever feel like everything’s already been done?

I get it. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking there’s nothing new under the sun. But let me tell you, there’s a whole universe of creativity out there waiting to be explored. You just need to widen your lens and dive a little deeper.

That’s where Laser Focused comes in. We’re not just another magazine; we’re your compass in the laser business community. Whether you’re into making intricate jewelry, fabulous files, eye-catching signs, or personalized gifts that leave a lasting impression, we’ve got you covered. Our content isn’t just about what’s trendy; it’s about helping you carve out your unique path in the laser crafting universe.

This issue brings you a treasure trove of inspiration and practical tips. From mastering the art of file sales to supercharging your social media presence with killer video content and Pinterest insights, we’re here to empower you every step of the way. Because, let’s face it, success in the laser world isn’t just about skill—it’s about strategy, too.

In other news, I’m declaring May the official ‘Share an Article’ Month! Yup, you heard that right. We’re making it easier than ever for you to spread the laser love. You may have noticed we started sending links to individual articles in our current issue. So why not hit forward and share the wealth with your laser bestie? After all, sharing is caring, right?

Let’s remember our amazing advertisers.

They’re the lifeblood of our magazine, making it possible for us to keep bringing you top-notch content issue after issue.

So, remember to show them some love the next time you’re in the market for laser supplies or equipment. Keep our File Maker Directory in mind as well when you are shopping for files! They know you are looking for the best, and they are ready to deliver.

Here’s to embracing the endless possibilities of lasering and blazing your own trail.

Copyright ©2024 Laser Focused Magazine

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May/June 2024

Cover Story

Crazy Laser Dad

6 IN THIS ISSUE

You most likely know Will as Crazy Laser Dad, the founder of “Will’s (Crazy Laser Dad) Laser Supply Community.” With nearly 44,000 members, it’s one of the most active communities in the laser space.

5 Tips & Tricks Strategies to Spark Interest 15 5with Video Content Connor Chadwick - Redwick Films

17 The Wild Ride of Viral Success Callie Goodwin - Sparks of Joy Co.

Columns Business - 10

Automating for Profit and Productivity Zach Dewhurst, DecoNetwork

Materials - 12

Awards are Great; Medals are Money!

Braden Todd, GS2 Awards

Design - 20

The Three Stages of Business Growth for File Sellers Liz Olson, Bela Collective

Metal - 22

Reflectivity in Laser Engraving

Matt Boddiford, Laser Everything

Marketing - 24

Using Pinterest to Market Your Business

Erica Armstrong, Pin Suite

May/June 2024

19 LightBurn Corner Tyler Raps - LightBurn

27 Etsy Spotlight

Jessica Trueblood - Shop Review Crew

29 Custom Signs, Big Profits Brian Goldberg - AG Custom Gifts

30 Industry News 31 Patreon Members Profile 32 Keys to the Kingdom 32 File Maker Directory Step by Step Project

34 Gift Card Holders: Sports Edition Brenna Powell - Crafting With Brenna

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a guest contributor and showcase Guest Become your expertise with Laser Focused readers.

Contributors Contact us HERE!

Adam Roberts

Connor Chadwick

Jessica Trueblood

Braden Todd

Shop Review Crew

Redwick Films

GS2 Award

Callie Goodwin

Brian Goldberg

Zach Dewhurst

Liz Olson

Matt Boddiford

Erica Armstrong

Sparks of Joy Co.

Bela Collective

AG Custom Gifts

Laser Everything

DecoNetwork

Pin Suite

Tyler Raps Lightburn

Brenna Powell

Crafting With Brenna

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May/June 2024

& 1

Painting stability: Make a loop of tape and put it on the underside of the pieces you are painting. This will hold them in place, and you can paint without having to chase them around on your surface!

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Optimize Material Usage: Strategically plan scraps by nesting pieces closely, creating shapes in empty spaces, welding contiguous shapes together where possible, and cutting as one piece. This simplifies your process and avoids the hassle of breaking down used sheets for leftovers.

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Wondering what to do with significant scraps?

You can sell your scraps as supplies on Etsy. Before I had a laser, I bought some from another seller with a laser (I bought inserts for dominos.) Earring shapes or even domino inserts for the resin dominos. I’ve seen sellers that do small designs, and then other creators buy them. ­— Leila West

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How to stop those burned edges on metallic acrylic: I cut my regular acrylic masked on both sides and raised off the bed about 1/8” with scraps. Dial in your settings really well and reduce your minimum power if you’re getting black/dark creases. Even 1mm/sec or 1% power adjustment can make a difference with acrylic. — Stephanie Murphy

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Glowforge going into a cooling period and stopping the cut? Why is this happening and what is a solution? It’s a safety feature. If your coolant gets above a certain temperature, it takes a break to cool it down, avoiding damage to the machine. It’s normal. Make sure the bottom right corner of the machine (underneath) doesn’t have anything blocking/clogging the air intake. — Jordan Asquith

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Making Mock-ups Easy: When sending a mock up over to someone, label each option (pictured). That way they aren’t asking for the top middle second from the bottom. It will clear up any confusion. ­— Kacey Beal

Have a Tip or Trick you want to share? Let us know! Click Here!

Here!

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May/June 2024 Laser Focused | www.LaserFocusedMagazine.com 5

KEEPING IT WILL

By Adam Roberts

Logging on to Crazy Laser Dad’s Laser Supply Community any given day, you’ll often see that a certain percentage of proceeds are going to charity. SIDS, HIV, cancer – these are just some of the causes that Will – the Crazy Laser Dad himself – chooses to donate to. Giving is deeply integrated into Will’s business, and Will says his own life and experiences drive that integration. “Growing up the way I did, we didn’t have a lot. But we were given a lot by other people, charities, churches, and communities. If I can use my platform, my community, my business to give back – it’s something that gives me joy.”

You most likely know Will as Crazy Laser Dad, the founder of “Will’s (Crazy Laser Dad) Laser Supply Community.” With nearly 44,000 members, it’s one of the most active communities in the laser space. You might also know Will as one of the co-founders of The Next Level Laser Conference, which is having its third event this summer in Tulsa. But Will’s story begins long before that – and if we want to get to know why Will works the way he works, we need to go all the way back to the beginning.

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May/June 2024

“Every day, you learned to fight.”

As the oldest of 3 brothers, Will experienced extreme poverty for the first 8 years of his life. Borderline homeless in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco, and with parents who were deeply afflicted by addiction, Will’s family relied on community, church, and government assistance to eat.

“We would be out doing whatever we wanted to. Our parents really didn’t care because addiction took over their life. They cared more about that than what they were doing in the household. We would go long periods without eating, we would shoplift at 8 years old to get candy – just to eat something.

And it was a tough neighborhood. Every day you learned to fight, because every day someone was gonna try to steal your stuff.” Will describes that, as they got older, he and his younger brother realized that “they weren’t great parents at the time – in and out of jail, in and out of addiction.”

The events of a single night led to a tectonic shift in Will’s life. “My dad was going out one night to get food for the family – it was late night, and some people thought he had drugs on him, so they mugged him. They stabbed him 27 times – he was paralyzed from the neck down for 5 years as he tried to relearn how to function. That was the point where my parent’s relationship fell apart as well. We moved in with my grandparents.”

Will’s grandparents – one set Filipino, one set Chinese – were immigrants to the United States. “It was definitely a culture shock, going from my parents to my grandparents. My grandparents had that old-school, disciplinarian mentality. There was no communication – they say what goes. You break that, you get whooped – and it wasn’t a May/June 2024

spanking, it was a whooping.” Will describes a particularly painful punishment – his grandparents would put down newspaper and sprinkle rock salt over it. Then Will would be made to kneel on it in his shorts. “It would eat into your skin – I still have the scars from it on my legs. At the time, I resented my grandparents. ‘I thought, these people are child abusers.’ As I got older, I realized it’s just what they knew. It’s what they grew up with. And although I don’t like it – and I would never do the same as a parent – I knew how much strain we put on them, and that was their way of discipline. They could have just turned their backs on us completely, so in a sense, I’m thankful that at least I got some of that discipline from them.”

Will told us that even as he was “a headache until he moved out,” he at least did exceptionally well in school – until high school. He had been a straight-A student in the Gifted & Talented program through 8th grade. “My first semester in high school, I was a 3.7 student. And then I started hanging around with the wrong people, got into all this mess – my second semester I was at a 0.2 GPA. Yeah. It was a drop. And then it just became nightmarish.” Will dropped out at 16. When he tried to go back, he struggled to be placed into the right level (because of that 0.2 GPA). Despite taking the SAT on a whim and scoring a 1210 out of 1600, the school insisted he go into remedial classes. “I was like, nope, I’m done. A couple weeks later, I got my GED at 17. I enrolled in City College... [but] my ego was like, ‘I’m still smarter than these kids! This is boring.’ I read a lot, I absorbed a lot of information, but the school setting was not for me.”

Newly armed with a GED and a drive to succeed, Will did odd jobs – sunglasses kiosks, fast food, WILL Continued on P 8

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WILL Continued from P 7

and after forming a relationship with the manager at the Starbucks next door, he was eventually recruited to be a shift manager. Within 3 months, Will became the store manager. “I was the youngest store manager in our area. People did not like that either... I just busted my butt. I worked hard, and I built myself up. Eventually, I became the Northern California Training Manager, so I trained all the new employees, I trained managers. Then I jumped on and became a new store opener.” For 7 years, Will lived in hotels and rental cars as he went from place to place, hiring teams, training staff, and building out new Starbucks locations.

But after so long on the road, Will was burned out.

Cashing out the Starbucks stock he’d earned, he bought his first home and pursued a dream he’d had since childhood – culinary school.

At this point, you might be asking yourself: “When the heck does he get into lasers?” It turns out that Will’s culinary career would eventually lead him to buy his first laser.

Pastries, Tax Fraud, and Lasers After training for a year as a pastry chef, Will was hired to be the pastry chef for Ruth’s Chris Steak House. He worked there for two years, opened a few new locations for them, and traveled a bit to help with other pastry chefs. One day, one of his former fellow chefs from Ruth’s Chris invited Will to join a new venture. “They said, hey, we’d love you to come on as the executive pastry chef. You would develop the entire menu, it would be all yours – you can come up with your own desserts and have all the creativity.”

The new project started out fantastically. Will got to develop a menu and received rave reviews.

“They were opening new restaurants, [and] we were gonna take over the culinary world, in a sense. Then one paycheck bounces, and I’m like... hmm. That was weird.” Two more checks didn’t come through until one day when people came into the restaurant and arrested the owners on sight. “In the middle of the dinner rush! For tax 8

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evasion and tax fraud, for like $300 million bucks.

That was the end of that company.”

After all the dust settled, Will was determined to take his income into his own hands and opened a café. Open only for breakfast, lunch, and catering, he was able to be home every night for dinner with his family. But he realized the café was taking a lot of time, and eventually decided to focus on catering. It was then, as he was fed up fiddling with tiny decorations for chocolate truffles that he saw an ad for a Glowforge, and it was cutting chocolate. “I said, that could save me a ton of time if I could cut custom shapes on the laser with chocolate. I would make truffles that needed little décor on it, cupcake toppers, wedding cakes, all that stuff I was cutting by hand.”

Will ordered his first laser, that Glowforge, in 2019.

Like most people, he started practicing with acrylic and wood to perfect his technique. But when he went to cut his first chocolate project, people in the community pointed out to him that the laser was no longer food-safe! It went back on the shelf as Will went back to catering as usual—at least until 2020.

“When Covid came... I [was doing] corporate catering, weddings – everything just shut down completely. I had to pivot.” He saw people making money with lasers online, so he took the laser off the shelf, jumped in, and started making stuff with files he bought. “I realized really quickly May/June 2024

I didn’t enjoy 95% of what I was making... I didn’t enjoy painting, gluing, assembling... And I was really slow too. I would sell an item that made me $50 but took me 20 hours. So I’m like, ‘I could just go back to Starbucks and make more money.’”

Pivot!

So Will pivoted again – focused on engraving cutting boards as closing gifts for realtors. “I peaked at like 200 boards a month... 7 days a week I was trying to get cutting boards. I was at Home Goods, Ross, TJ Maxx, and Hobby Lobby. I would have a schedule. I would go to every store every day and get all the boards. But they never matched.”

The inconsistency of the boards themselves wasn’t a huge impediment for the realtors Will was marketing to. The most important thing for the realtors was time.

“They didn’t want to go out and put together baskets and cellophane and all that... I made the process very simple for them. As long as they were roughly the same size, [and] had a nice design on ‘em, they trusted my opinion on what would be a nice closing gift and just said, ‘get me the boards.’ I had a 24-hour turnaround. I leaned into what was most important to them: time.”

Learning & Growing Everybody who starts something new is a beginner. So how did Will get started, and what kinds of mentors did he have? Will told us that Facebook groups offered a lot of support – in particular, he is thankful for having met Mark from a lot of it was Big Blue Lasers, Josh Wenning trial and error. from Fresh Start Customs, and Dan Grossman. But beyond that, I’ve been an lot of it was trial and error. I’ve entrepreneur my “a been an entrepreneur my whole whole life, [so] I life, [so] I had some foundation, had some but it was a completely different foundation, but it market. I winged it. I made a lot of ” Fortunately, Will found was a completely mistakes. that there were some people in different market. the community “who had different businesses were great support as I winged it.

I made a lot of far as understanding the mindset of a small business owner and not mistakes. just a blank seller.”

As production grew, Will needed a simpler source for blanks. He started a group with 10 friends in March 2021 and placed an initial order for 500 boards. Now, that same group has 44,000 members, and its most recent order was for 50,000 boards.

Will started to produce blanks himself when he first upgraded from the Glowforge to the Mira 9.

“There were a lot of local people who were ordering ¼” Baltic Birch rounds... I thought, ‘I have a bigger laser now. The wood store’s down the block. I can cut circles for you. It’ll save you shipping, and May/June 2024

my price is just as competitive.’ When I first got my Mira 9, the first 3 months, all I did was cut one shape. A circle. From 12” to 23” for local makers. I think I cut 20,000 rounds for the community. That’s all I did. Paid off all my lasers, paid off the warehouse, all this stuff cutting one shape – because I filled a need that others weren’t filling.” (Wood prices increased dramatically enough in CA that he stopped doing it, but it was key for a while.)

Will also attributes some of his success to things he learned in the food service industry. When Will ran his café and catering business, connecting with customers was the best way to ensure they’d be back for more. “It’s a different medium, but every business boils down to two points: how you get your customers and how you keep your customers. If I’m constantly having to look for new customers, eventually, I’m gonna burn myself out. Focus on taking care of your customers – and worry less about your competitors – and your business will scale significantly faster.”

WILL Continued on P 30

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Business

Automating for Profit and Productivity

By: Zach Dewhurst, DecoNetwork

In today’s fast-paced market, efficiency is the key to staying competitive, especially for manufacturing sectors like laser engraving. Automating your laser engraving business can significantly enhance productivity, reduce human error, and ensure a seamless operational flow. This guide is designed to help you understand the ins and outs of automating your workflows, empowering you to take your laser engraving business to the next level.

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May/June 2024

Understanding Automation Software Automation in the laser engraving business involves using software and technology to manage and streamline tasks that traditionally require manual intervention. This can range from design creation and custom quotes to order processing and customer communication.

Why Automate?

The benefits of automating your laser engraving business are manifold: • Automation speeds up production times.

• Automated systems provide consistent results.

• Automation reduces labor costs and waste in the long run.

• Faster production and turnaround times lead to happier customers.

Key Areas To Automate With Software

To improve your laser engraving business, consider automating quotes, orders, artwork approvals, inventory, purchase orders, production workflows, and customer communications. These changes can make your operations much smoother.

Quotes & Orders

Automating the quoting and order process is a game-changer for laser engraving businesses. By implementing a system where customers can input their requirements online, receive instant quotes, and place orders directly, you not only streamline operations but also enhance the customer experience. This type of automation can handle various customizations, product selections, and pricing adjustments, ensuring accuracy and efficiency. It eliminates the backand-forth emails and calls, freeing your time to focus on production and business growth.

Artwork Approvals

The artwork approval process can often be a bottleneck in the production workflow. Automating this step with digital proofs and online approval systems accelerates the process significantly. Customers can view their designs, request changes, and give approvals through a platform integrated with your business, ensuring clarity and reducing the chances of errors. These systems keep a digital trail of communications and changes, making it easier to manage revisions and maintain customer satisfaction.

Inventory & Purchase Orders

Inventory management and purchase ordering are critical components that can benefit immensely from automation. By implementing a system that tracks inventory levels in real-time, you can automatically generate purchase orders when supplies fall below a predetermined threshold. This ensures you always have essential materials, keeping the production line moving smoothly. Moreover, it can predict inventory needs based on historical data, helping you to plan better and manage cash flow more effectively.

BUSINESS Continued on P 14

May/June 2024

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Materials

Awards are Great; Medals are Money!

By: Braden Todd, GS2 Awards If you don’t know by now, the Awards market is a great sector for sales and growth! A subsector for awards is in the endurance market. If you’re not in the endurance race market for awards, this is a huge market with many great opportunities.

What is the endurance race market? By this, we mean running, biking, and even swimming events. Think of your local 5k, 10k, and even half and full marathons but also all of the fun runs that occur around the holidays.

The endurance events will, at the very least, need 12 awards for the overall finishers. The interesting upsell opportunity surrounds making the finisher medals as well. While awards are great, a small event may only need 12 awards but every finisher needs a medal! That same small event will still have 500-800 runners who will expect and treasure a custom finisher medal.

Now, the interesting part: once you find and start contacting race directors for awards and medals, each race director generally has 3-5 events that occur every year! Race directors are a great option for building repeat business that has larger-than-normal product needs. A larger event can need 3,500+ finisher medals, and the largest event we have seen was just over 12,000 medals!

How to make a finisher medal The options are pretty endless and can be just laser cut/ engraved or even combined with UV printing to take them to another level! We like to combine materials and layer them to give depth and options not found elsewhere. We have also had some medals that needed to be very budget-friendly, so simply engraving the logo and “Finisher” on prefinished wood was a perfect solution.

If you want to design medals that are also works of art, combining metal backers with laser-cut wood and acrylic really makes a statement. You can even outsource ribbon printing or simply attach the medal to a blank ribbon with a clasp.

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Since the medals are all the same, once you have it designed you can mass produce them as a standardized product and become very efficient with cutting and assembly times. One of the best time-saving tips is to use 3M adhesive for the layers. This allows you to use jigs and quickly place the pieces with no dry time needed. We have primarily used the 467mp for this process and love that the adhesive is rated up to 400 degrees (the hot sun in the summertime can wreak havoc on other bonding options!).

Another great tip is to use prefinished wood for the backer. The prefinished wood will allow you to skip masking and literally save hundreds of hours unmasking and cleaning the cut and engraved pieces. As a bonus, using prefinished wood for the other layers works great, saves time on cleanup, and allows for great bonds with the 3M adhesive.

For assembly, making a jig can ensure meeting a deadline vs missing it! We like to have jigs for around 10 medals at a time. We start with the backer profile cutout and then add another layer over that to align and adhere to the next layer. You can build as many layers to the jig as needed and it will not only speed up the assembly process but allow any worker to easily jump in and assemble.

If you have any questions about making medals or all the options available, we would love to hear from you!

Braden Todd of GS2 Awards: While offering many materials, one of GS2’s specialties is prefinished sheets, and medals were one of the reasons we developed them. You can check them (and all of our products) out here: www.gs2awards.com.

May/June 2024

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BUSINESS Continued from P 11

Production Workflows

Streamlining production workflows through automation leads to a more efficient operation, minimizing downtime and maximizing output. By integrating design and order management systems with your business, you can coordinate jobs, adjust machine settings based on material and design specifics, and queue up projects for production.

This speeds up the process and minimizes human error, ensuring that each project meets your quality standards.

Customer Communications

Automating customer communications can significantly enhance the customer experience while reducing your workload. From automated order confirmations to status updates and shipping notifications, each step can be handled by a system tailored to keep your customers informed and engaged. This not only builds trust and loyalty but also frees up your time to focus on other aspects of your business, knowing that your customers are well taken care of.

The Five Steps For Software Implementation

To start with automation software, identify the tasks that take too long or often go wrong. Next, choose software that can handle these tasks for you. Although there’s an initial cost, it’ll save you time and reduce errors later, making your business work more effectively.

Step 1: Assess Your Needs Start by identifying the areas in your workflow that are most time-consuming or prone to errors. These are your prime candidates for automation.

Step 2: Research Your Options Look for automation software solutions tailored to your industry. It’s best to find a single solution that does everything so you don’t have to worry about making different software work together.

Step 3: Plan Your Investment Consider the upfront costs against the longterm benefits. In many cases, the efficiency and quality improvements quickly offset the initial investment.

Step 4: Train Your Team Ensure your team is well-trained on any new software or equipment. This might involve online courses, workshops, or an onboarding session from your software provider.

Step 5: Monitor And Adjust After implementing automation software, closely monitor the results and be ready to make adjustments. Continuous improvement is key to fully leveraging automation’s benefits.

The Key Takeaway

Adopting automation software can significantly elevate the efficiency and customer satisfaction in your laser engraving business. By integrating such a powerful tool, you’re equipped to streamline operations and set a new standard in the industry. Keep in mind that the path to automation is ongoing, and every advancement brings you closer to a more efficient and thriving business.

Zach Dewhurst is the business development manager at DecoNetwork and has helped over 300 custom decoration shops get started with the software. He has a strong passion when it comes to making custom decorated products and helping new and old businesses in the industry reach their goals. His company, DecoNetwork, offers software in this realm, providing an all-in-one solution for shop automation.

IS YOUR ADVERTISING

IT CAN BE. For more information email ads@laserfocusedmagazine.com

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5

Strategies to Spark Interest with Video Content

By: Connor Chadwick, Redwick Films

In today’s fast-paced digital world, capturing and maintaining audience attention is more challenging than ever. With the rise of social media platforms and streaming services, video content has become a powerful tool for captivating audiences. However, creating compelling video content that stands out amidst the noise requires strategic planning and creative approaches. Here are five strategies to spark interest with video:

Tell Captivating Stories:

The age-old adage, “Show, don’t tell,” rings true in the realm of video content. Instead of bombarding your audience with product features or promotional messages, focus on telling captivating stories that resonate with them on a personal level.

Whether through testimonials, customer success stories, or narrative-driven content, storytelling humanizes your brand and creates an emotional connection with viewers. Consider incorporating elements of drama, humor, or suspense to keep viewers engaged from start to finish. By telling a compelling narrative, you can turn passive viewers into active customers, driving deeper engagement with your brand and turning potential customers into paying ones.

May/June 2024

Embrace Interactive Experiences:

With the advent of interactive video technology, brands now have the opportunity to engage viewers in immersive experiences that go beyond traditional linear storytelling. Incorporating interactive elements such as clickable hotspots, quizzes, polls, and 360-degree video can transform passive viewers into active participants, allowing them to explore content at their own pace and tailor their viewing experience to their preferences.

Whether it’s interactive product demonstrations, virtual tours, or choose-your-own-adventure style narratives, interactive videos captivate audiences by empowering them to become co-creators of the content. By inviting viewers to engage with your brand actively, you not only spark their interest but also foster a sense of ownership and connection.

Leverage the Power of Live Streaming:

In an era of instant gratification, live streaming has emerged as a powerful tool for brands to connect with their audience in real time. Whether it’s hosting live Q&A sessions, behind-the-scenes tours, product launches, or exclusive events, live streamVIDEO Continued on P 28

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The Wild Ride of Viral Success By: Callie Goodwin, Sparks of Joy Co.

Three years into running my greeting card and personalized gift shop, Sparks of Joy Co., I encountered an experience that many small business owners dream of but seldom fully anticipate: a viral product launch. Our Stanley toppers, which we had introduced just a week prior, catapulted to internet fame through a TikTok video that attracted over 9 million views and generated $30,000 in sales in just 9 days. This story isn’t just about rapid success, however; it’s about the challenges and realities of managing such an unexpected surge.

It all started with a simple yet effective TikTok video that immediately grabbed attention by showcasing a relatable problem for Stanley tumbler owners and presenting our custom topper as the perfect solution. The timing was impeccable, coinciding with TikTok aggressively promoting its shop feature. The response was explosive, far beyond my expectations.

The surge in demand was thrilling but daunting. Initially, it was just me and a part-time assistant handling operations. Suddenly, we needed many more hands on deck. Family and friends formed a makeshift team of 15, rotating shifts in what became a full-blown production operation right out of my living room and kitchen. We scrambled to keep up, rushing orders from our acrylic suppliers and juggling the complexities of producing highly personalized items under tight deadlines mandated by TikTok. Despite our best efforts, the high volume led to some mishaps. A heatwave caused the adhesive on several toppers to melt, compromising the quality of about 100 orders. We had to quickly address these issues and remake the affected products. Thankfully, our customers were understanding, but the incident underscored the importance of having contingency plans for product quality, especially when scaling up operations so rapidly.

The layout of my home transformed overnight.

We pushed furniture aside to make room for packing stations and laser engraving operations, which ran nonstop. My dad became an impromptu laser technician, a role he’d never imagined assuming. This period was a stark lesson in scalability and adaptability, crucial traits for any small business caught in the whirlwind of viral success.

When the dust settled and we finally paused orders to catch up, the quiet that followed was almost as shocking as the initial viral burst.

The sales and traffic eventually tapered off, and while part of me missed the rush of those frantic days, I recognized the unsustainable nature of viral fame. The personal toll was also considerable—I juggled this with my day job, sleeping very little and running on SUCCESS Continued on P 26

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CORNER Optimization Settings The ability to control the order of lasering operations is critical for successful and efficient production. LightBurn’s Optimization Settings provide enormous control over the path your job will take, ensuring proper alignment of cuts and engravings and saving your laser from making wasted movements or cuts. Here are some of the most useful optimizations.

The Order By options control the sequence your job will run in — you can order a job by Layers, by custom Groups you’ve collected your graphics into, or even down to an individual Priority set to specific shapes. Layer order is controlled using the arrow keys in the Cuts/Layers window, objects can be Grouped with the grouping button or hotkey (CTRL/⌘ + G), and Cut Order Priority is set in the Shape Properties window.

Cut Inner Shapes First is another very handy optimization. Cutting an outer shape first could cause it to shift when it falls out of the piece you’re cutting it from, leading to a misalignment or loss of focus when the laser cuts an inner shape. When Cut Inner Shapes First is enabled, LightBurn will make sure that, when they’re on the same layer, shapes that lie within another shape are cut before the outer shapes.

Reduce travel moves calculates the path with the least movement between cuts and engraves, reducing travel time, while Reduce direction changes and Hide backlash help minimize defects or misaligned output caused by mechanical looseness.

Lastly, there’s Remove Overlapping Lines, which allows you to set a Distance threshold for lines in your design. Any lines that are that distance apart from one another or closer will be cut only once, keeping your laser from wasting time cutting lines that have already been cut, and resulting in faster job times.

Any optimizations you set to a specific project are saved to that LightBurn file, but if you decide on settings you’d like to make standard for all of your projects, you can click Set as Defaults in the bottom left corner of the Optimization Settings window, and they’ll be automatically applied to every new project.

You can use the Preview window to see how your chosen optimizations affect the path of your laser and which choices result in the greatest time savings. This allows you to easily experiment with the many other options available and optimize your workflow in more ways than one.

Tyler Raps is a Support Agent, Copywriter, and one-man shipping department at LightBurn Software.

For more information on the above tools, and many more, visit our documentation at https://docs.lightburnsoftware.com/index.html or email us at support@lightburnsoftware.com.

May/June 2024

Laser Focused | www.LaserFocusedMagazine.com

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Design

The Three Stages of Business Growth for File Sellers By: Liz Olson, Bela Collective After experiencing some initial success selling SVG files on Etsy, I was excited to keep growing but didn’t know who to turn to for advice on how to scale my shop. While there were a handful of courses for laser file design, I couldn’t find anything that taught the strategies needed for someone like me to grow from side hustle to full-time income with file sales. So after a few years of trial and error with my own store, I’d love to pull back the curtain and share what’s worked to help me cross the 6-figure mark–and maybe save you some headache in the process!

Before we get to the good stuff, just a quick disclaimer: there are many ways to scale your file business, and I don’t claim that my way is the best way. But it is a good way and one that doesn’t involve much social media or advertising (great news for my fellow introverts!).

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I’m also going to be open about my sales numbers because three-years-ago-Liz would have loved to know what was possible, and I’m all for more industry transparency. So let’s dive into what I see as the three stages of business growth for SVG file sellers:

Stage 1: LAUNCH, $0-$30K

Yay, you did it! Your file store is live on Etsy, and now it’s time to focus on two things that go handin-hand: creating lots of files and getting eyes on your store. To help with this, I encourage new shop owners to list 30 files as quickly as possible (and don’t forget to create bundle listings!)

The key in this stage is to identify your ideal customer (ICA) and make sure your products align with what they want to buy. If you can create a strong visual cohesion between your storefront, listings, and photography, you will be set up for so much file-selling success! And then, guess what: Etsy will do the advertising for you! In my first year selling SVGs I made $37K while creating 200 new listings and averaging about 15 hours of design work per week.

Stage 3: DISCOVER, $75K to $150K It’s time to embrace your expert role and make your first hire(s)– solopreneurs can only get so far!

I have a VA who helps with admin, several artists I license designs from, and a paid support team to help run my course community. Because of my existing email list and website, I have the means to explore other avenues for recurring revenue (like education and memberships).

This is the exact article I wish I could have stumbled across three years ago.

Stage 2: NAVIGATE, $30K-$75K

At this point, you probably have 100-200+ files in your shop, and your signature style has begun to emerge. It’s time to hone in on 1-3 product niches so that you’ll be the shop your customer thinks of when they want to find that particular product.

When you find a type of product that sells well and is one you enjoy designing, make SO many versions of that thing!

While you continue to list new files regularly, this stage is also about laying a strong foundation for your future growth. It’s time to start an email list (it’s never too early to do this!), create a website, consider offering a file membership, and begin dreaming about what you might want to beMay/June 2024

come known as an expert in (aka what community problem do you want to solve). In year two my Etsy sales were $64K, and in year three, they grew to $77K, all while designing about 10-15 hours per week.

While much of my last two quarters have been focused on course creation, I’m still designing behind the scenes and don’t ever want to give that up (I could design all day, every day!). Between file sales and education, my numbers for this year are on track to hit $125K+.

So my laser friends, if I could leave you with one piece of file-related advice, it would be this: there is room for you. Etsy is not oversaturated with SVG files. With the rise in popularity of lasers, our customer base has expanded so much that I would argue it’s actually an ideal time to grow your business with file sales. And when you truly believe that your style and perspective matter just as much as the designer next to you, competition gives way to collaboration and we’re able to scale our file shops together as a community.

Liz Olson is the owner of Bela Collective and creator of the Strategies to Scale with SVG Sales course.

You can get her PDF Roadmap to Scale with SVG Sales.

You can reach out to her at hello@belacollective.com or visit the website BelaCollective.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/bela.collective Etsy: belacollective.etsy.com

Laser Focused | www.LaserFocusedMagazine.com

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Metal

REFLEC

IN LASER E

By: Matt Boddiford, Laser Everything

Reflectivity in laser engraving refers to the ability of a material to reflect laser energy rather than absorb it. In the context of laser engraving with a fiber laser, reflectivity plays a crucial role in determining the efficiency and quality of the engraving process. Metals like copper, brass, and precious metals, which may be polished and coated, are particularly challenging to laser engrave due to their high reflectivity and thermal conductivity properties. Here we’ll explain what those are, why they matter to you, and how you can still mark effectively with your lasers.

There are many metals that can come in a variety of finishes, but the ones that have the highest reflectivity are usually polished or precious metals, which means they have a strong tendency to reflect laser light rather than absorb it. Basically, when a fiber laser beam interacts with a reflective surface, a significant portion of the laser energy is reflected away from the material, reducing the amount of energy available for engraving. This reduced energy absorption when lasering leads to less efficient material removal and can result in inconsistent engraving depths and poor engraving quality. This is one of the main reasons people have difficulty engraving coins and jewelry made from the metals mentioned. The answer might seem as simple as just hitting it with more power, but marking and ablating are two different things.

One can seriously detract from the piece, while the other adds value or the desired aesthetic.

Another very important and often overlooked component of engraving reflective metals is their thermal conductivity which literally means their ability to conduct heat. Copper and brass also have high thermal conductivity, meaning they can quickly dissipate heat away from the engraving zone. The heat generated at the interaction point between the laser beam and the material, instead of remaining focused at the point of ablation, is spread rapidly throughout the material, reducing the localized temperature increase, which is necessary for effective engraving. This is why it takes so much power and frequency to effectively deep engrave these materials. Insufficient heat accumulation can result in incomplete material vaporization, shallow engraving depths, and blurred or unclear engraving patterns. Understanding those two effects of the fiber laser on the metal pieces you’re engraving is very important!

What are some ways you can combat the reflective metals with your machines is the question we need to answer. Below is a list of common items you should consider when purchasing a laser or choosing a lens.

For depth, you will need smaller workspace lenses, a 70mm or a 110mm, to allow you the power you have to be more accurately dispersed over a smaller area dot size.

For depth and removal of thicker amounts of materials, adjust the power to a higher power 22

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CTIVITY

ENGRAVING

with a lower frequency range to overpower the reflectivity. Remember, this will cause more burring and thermal conductivity marks.

We recommend using our Brass Black Deep setting from our parameter library.

To counteract burring while doing depth engraves like STL or Greyscale reliefs, make sure to throw in some cleaning passes with lower power and higher frequency to clean up and clean out the engraving as you engrave for a more finished quality. (A)

A

B C

On PVD-coated and electroplated material, using our z-mark black and steel white settings in focus with a 110mm or smaller lens, we were able to find a nice balance between crisp lettering and well-balanced aesthetic by ablating and annealing the stainless steel core of these highly reflective pieces.

Playing with your focal distance to see what different effects 1mm 5mm can make while engraving can also have some remarkable effects as the heat from the defocused laser creates heat treatments, similar to a mopa marking metals for color. (B) Use an air assist device to mitigate burring, lower thermal conductivity, and clear out the engrave of debris that can work its way into corners as you engrave. (C) To sum it up, reflectivity and thermal conductivity are significant challenges when laser engraving metals like copper, brass, and polished and coated metals with a fiber laser. You can develop your own settings, or you could start with our free laser parameter library, which can be found at lasereverything.net in our free setting parameter library.

Videos to watch these kinds of processes be explained in detail; they can be seen at www.youtube.com/@lasereverything.

Matt Boddiford is a member of the Laser Everything team and frequent contributor to Laser Focused. You can join the Laser Everything community and help support their channel by becoming a member of the Laser Master Academy at masters.lasereverything.net

May/June 2024

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Marketing

Using Pinterest to Market Your Business By: Erica Armstrong, Pin Suite

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Did you know that you can use Pinterest to market your business?

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, businesses are constantly seeking new ways to stand out and connect with their target audience. Among the multitude of platforms available, Pinterest is a powerful tool that should not be overlooked by any online business aiming to expand its reach and drive meaningful engagement.

Pinterest features a blend of visual discovery and social sharing and offers a distinct advantage that can elevate your marketing efforts to new heights.

What’s the Purpose of Pinterest?

The main objective of Pinterest marketing is to drive traffic, increase brand visibility, and, ultimately, drive conversions. Businesses can achieve this by creating eye-catching pins that capture the attention of users as they scroll through their Pinterest feed or search results for a product or inspiration. Each pin includes a link back to the business’s website, allowing users to learn more about the product or service and take action, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter.

Pinterest, at its core, is a search engine. Unlike social media platforms, where content may quickly get lost in a sea of updates, Pinterest content has a longer lifespan, thanks to its search and discovery features. By strategically optimizing your pins with relevant keywords and engaging pin images, you can attract users who are actively seeking products like yours.

Why you should be using Pinterest to market your business Pinterest users are growing as the platform becomes more popular. There are now 498 million monthly users, and even more growth is anticipated. Pinterest isn’t just a woman’s world. The platform is also growing in popularity with male users. More men are coming to Pinterest for DIY projects and inspiration for home décor. Pinterest has something for everyone!

Pinterest isn’t just a platform for showcasing your products—it’s also a powerful traffic driver. Each pin you create can include a link back to your website, allowing users to transition from discovery to action seamlessly. By strategically adding calls-toaction and compelling visuals into your pins, you can entice users to click through to your website, where they can learn more about your offerings and make a purchase. Pinterest has added “Shop the Look” and “Buyable Pins” features that can enable users to purchase products directly from the platform, increasing conversions and driving sales for your business.

Pinterest holds an entirely new target audience for you! I know that it is easy to think that a platform is saturated and your products will never be found, but this isn’t the case with Pinterest! When you use the correct keywords and follow best practices, your pins can be found by your ideal customer for years to come. Plus, while the platform is growing, it still has a significantly lower number of users than Facebook and Instagram.

More than just Products Now that I have shared what Pinterest is and some perks for using it, you’re probably wondering what you can pin on Pinterest other than products and blog posts. You can use Pinterest to market a variety of things on Pinterest. You can create pins for: • Products (physical or digital) • Blog posts • Opt-ins for your email list • YouTube videos • Podcasts • Amazon Affiliates Pinterest marketing involves optimizing pins for search using relevant keywords to ensure they are discovered by users who are actively searching for related content. Businesses can utilize Pinterest’s targeting options, such as promoted pins and audience targeting, to reach specific demographics, interests, or behaviors and maximize the effectiveness of their campaigns.

PINTEREST Continued on P 26

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SUCCESS Continued from P 17

PINTEREST Continued from P 25

adrenaline. The experience left me wary of seeking another viral hit, preferring instead a steady and sustainable growth path for Sparks of Joy Co.

A Great Platform for Organic Marketing Your pins can perform well without having to place ads on your pins. However, if you do want to run ads, the cost of an ad is cheaper than those on Facebook and reportedly has a higher ROI. Pinterest is great for organic marketing and great for any business that is just starting.

The journey through viral fame taught me invaluable lessons about the need for preparedness, the importance of scalable business operations, and the reality that consistent, manageable growth is far preferable to unpredictable, albeit exciting, viral spikes. As I continue to steer my business forward, my focus is clear: to build a resilient operation that can thrive on steady success and maintain the personal joy that sparked my venture in the first place.

Since Pinterest is a search engine, your pins can be found for years to come. This makes Pinterest a great long-term marketing platform. For a platform that used to be widely known for just recipes and crafts, Pinterest is vastly becoming known for showcasing products as well as inspiring anyone searching the platform. When you use keywords around not only your product but who your ideal customer is and/or why they need your product, you are doing exactly what Pinterest was intended for, solving a problem for someone!

Overall, Pinterest marketing offers businesses a powerful platform to showcase their offerings, connect with their target audience, and drive meaningful engagement and conversions through visually compelling content and strategic promotion strategies.

In the next Laser Focused, we will explore the basics of creating an account that will increase your brand’s visibility and drive traffic to your site for years to come.

Erica Armstrong is the Founder of Pin Suite. You can reach out to her at erica@erica-armstrong.com or visit the website at erica-armstrong.com

This tale, I hope, serves as both a caution and an inspiration for fellow small business owners in the laser community and beyond. It emphasizes that while the allure of viral marketing is strong, the foundation of a stable, lovingly crafted business is what truly sustains us.

Callie Goodwin is the Owner of Sparks of Joy Co. You can find her at @sparksofjoyco on TikTok/Instagram or visit the website at Sparksofjoyco.com.

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IS YOUR ADVERTISING IT CAN BE. May/June 2024

ETSY Spolight

Gift/Occasion Phrases for Titles and Tags

By Jessica Trueblood, Shop Review Crew

Do you use gift/occasion phrases in your Etsy titles and Tags?

Why do I recommend gift phrases as a part of (30%) your Etsy title?

1. Etsy recommends it in the handbook (see suggestions below)!

2. Buyers shop for gifts on Etsy, a lot! And since we want to match with buyers search queries, use them!

3. Once you say what the item is, its a great way to fill the title space without repeating yourself!

4. With Etsy’s recent announcement about Gift Mode (more to come in the coming editions!), its more important that ever to use these phrases.

Typically, I recommend three kinds of phrases in your Etsy titles: What is it, Who is it for, and When is it for/for what purpose.

Recommendations from the Etsy Seller’s Handbook: Who it’s for: Think of who the ideal gift recipient might be. (gifts for boyfriend, gifts for newlyweds, gifts for new moms, teacher gift) Shopping occasions: Use phrases a shopper would use when looking for a gift for a certain occasion (first anniversary, christening, stocking stuffers, bachelorette party) *Occasion attributes should be used to describe listings that are made for the occasion. Adding occasion based tags (like Christmas) to your listings to help reach shoppers looking for items that might be appropriate for an occasion but aren’t designed specifically for it.

Jessica Trueblood is an Etsy coach and strategist.

She is the owner of Shop Review Crew, founder of the Etsy Underachievers group on Facebook, which provides free resources to Etsy sellers. She teaches using only Etsy best practices to ensure her students get the best information possible!

She lives in Colorado with her husband, son and her Glowforge, Maxine. You can connect with her at www.shopreviewcrew.com May/June 2024

What about digital items? Would they be gifts as well?

Sometimes, yes! Think about your customer for the digital file. What would they do with the item? You could use a phrase like “DIY gift for mom” for example. Don’t get hung up on the word “gift” though, think about when someone would use it and for what purpose.

Ex. Svg files for laser cutters, digital clipart for sublimation (these have the “for _____” ) in them!

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VIDEO Continued from P 15

ing offers a unique opportunity to engage viewers in authentic, unscripted interactions. By fostering a sense of immediacy and intimacy, live videos create a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) that drives viewers to tune in and participate in the moment. Moreover, platforms like Facebook Live, Instagram Live, and Twitch offer built-in features such as live chat and real-time reactions, enabling brands to interact with their audience directly and cultivate a sense of community. By harnessing the power of live streaming, brands can humanize their digital presence and forge meaningful connections with their audience.

Optimize for Short Attention Spans:

In today’s digital landscape, attention spans are shorter than ever, with some studies suggesting that the average viewer’s attention span lasts just a few seconds. To capture and retain viewer interest, it’s crucial to optimize your video content for short attention spans by delivering value upfront and keeping it concise. Consider leveraging attention-grabbing visuals, catchy music, and snappy editing techniques to hook viewers within the first few seconds and maintain their engagement throughout. Additionally, consider repurposing longer-form content into bite-sized snippets tai-

lored for consumption on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Facebook shorts.

By delivering easily digestible and visually stimulating content, you can cut through the clutter and capture the fleeting attention of today’s digital audience.

Harness the Power of User-Generated Content:

In an era of social media influencers and user-generated content, brands can leverage the power of their own community to create authentic and engaging video content. Encourage your audience to share their experiences, testimonials, and creative interpretations of your brand through user-generated videos. Whether through branded hashtags, contests, or community challenges, involving your audience in the content creation process fosters a sense of belonging and generates valuable social proof and credibility. Additionally, user-generated content offers a fresh perspective and diverse range of voices, enriching your brand narrative and resonating with a wider audience.

By harnessing the creativity and passion of your community, you can create a virtuous cycle of engagement that keeps viewers coming back for more.

Sparking interest with video content requires a combination of creativity, authenticity, and strategic thinking. By embracing the five points listed, your brand can cut through the noise and captivate audiences meaningfully. By staying ahead of the curve and experimenting with new formats and technologies, your brand can elevate its video content to new heights and forge deeper connections with its audience.

Connor Chadwick is a creative with a passion for storytelling through video. For more information, contact him at redwickfilms.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedwickFilms Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redwickfilms Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/connor-chadwick-068039286

Laser Focused Hosts:

Creating Video For Your Social Media May 8th at 1pm Central time.

Register at bit.ly/LFHostsVideo 28 Laser Focused | www.LaserFocusedMagazine.com

May/June 2024

Custom Signs, Big Profits By: Brian Goldberg, AG Custom Gifts

My wife Brianna and I started our Laser Engraving Business a little over five years ago with a K40D, which we quickly outgrew and transitioned to an Epilog EXT36. Now our Workhorse is a Trotec 80 Watt Speedy 400 with the Design Vision Camera System. We are busy parents to our three beautiful children, and with our business growing, we are transitioning to running our personalization business full-time.

The “Sign” is the first thing people see when they see a business, a special occasion, or an attraction. Everywhere you look, there are signs of all shapes and sizes made of different materials. From wood to acrylic to plastic, you have many options when constructing your sign.

It’s important to utilize the right material for the machine that you are using. Our wood signs are all cut from locally sourced ¼ inch Birch wood that we have cut down into sheets that fit into our laser bed. From there, we cut the designs/letters and other shapes needed to construct our orders. If thicker material is needed, then we can utilize other tools that we have in our shop, but the ¼ inch works for almost all the orders that we get.

Who are my clients? They can be absolutely anyone.

I encourage everyone to seek out and work with party planners and event coordinators in your area. I also suggest you join many local Facebook groups that focus on any type of event. Once you get started, you May/June 2024

will have a steady flow of orders that come in regularly from folks having events where they need signs for their clients.

What types of signs? The majority of our requested signs are name signs, usually either one- or two-word signs. We also do special occasions, from Quinceaneras and baptisms to retirements with logos; in reality, the possibilities are endless.

Design tools: We design in Corel Draw and utilize the Weld/Combine/Convert to Curves and other features in the software when designing our signs for our clients.

What if someone is doing the same thing? We live in a town where there are folks who have lasers, but we don’t use that word to compete! Collaboration is key! If we aren’t available, having someone to refer clients to is always good. It’s also good to build that professional relationship with another fellow engraver because, most importantly, it’s about taking care of the client.

Brian and Briana Goldberg own AG Custom Gifts in Hollister, California, and we enjoy sharing my sign-making business strategies with you, our fellow laserpreneurs. Laser Focused has so many like-minded individuals like Brianna and myself, and we are always here to help anyone with questions about signs or the how-to, etc. We are here for you! If you’re inclined to follow us, we are also on IG at @ agcustomgifts, and we would love to follow your success as well.

You can view their website at: https://agcustomgifts.com.

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WILL Continued from P 9

Will’s online shop currently has around 350 SKUs. And although he’s playing with the idea of narrowing down the kinds of products he sells, he’s had to learn to work smarter, not harder. “I used to really hang my hat on ‘nobody will outwork me’ – you know,” he says. “I [used to be] here 16 hours a day, I worked my butt off – and I realized it doesn’t matter. If you have a very productive 5 hours, you’re gonna get a lot more done. It’s not how many hours you put in, but what you put into those hours.”

One thing that helped him focus on having fewer, more productive hours was moving to a warehouse. While his business started in the garage, it quickly took over the entire garage and swathes of the house. “I had boxes and shipping supplies everywhere,” he said. “Thankfully, a good friend of mine – Casey Cruise from Smoky Hills Designs – called me. He’s like, ‘Will. Get a warehouse where you’re close – but not too close – where you can shut the doors and be done for the day.’” Will ended up getting a 3500 sqft warehouse in May 2022 and expanded again in 2023 to 7000sqft. “When I’m at the warehouse, I can focus on my work, and when I’m done with my work, I can close the doors and focus on my family.”

Work-Life Balance Will has five kids, all younger than 12. Back in the day, after putting the kids to bed, he spent his evening—and most of the night—boxing blanks.

“9 pm—3 am. Those were my hours for my business until I moved to the warehouse.”

While work-family balance is a challenge for many makers, Will flipped the script by helping his kids start their own little business selling laser-engraved items to their classmates. 25% of profits go to a charity of their choice, 25% into savings, 25% back into the business, and the last 25% for them to spend. While this helps the kids feel included, it also serves another purpose – teaching his children the value of a dollar. “I will be the first to admit,” Will says, “I am definitely guilty of spoiling them because I didn’t have that when I was a kid.

I’m glad they don’t feel the same pains that I did, but I had the realization that I was handicapping them in some ways.” Will hopes that by earning their spending money, they will think carefully about how they choose to spend it.

WILL Continued on P 33

Cerulean Tides Announces Move to Pompano Beach, FL Exciting News! As some of you may have noticed, big changes are happening at Cerulean Tides. Our new location is dedicated to providing fellow creatives even easier access to our growing product lineup! Plus, members can now take advantage of our laser-cutting and full color UV-printing services. Stay colorful my friends – Bigger things are ahead of us! Www.CeruleanTides.com

H&H Creations Tampa Announces Move to Georgia H & H Creations Tampa has moved from Tampa to Jasper, GA, and is fully operational. At this time, local pick-up is not available. We look forward to continuing to offer you high-quality products with fast shipping.

You can still find us at order at https://hhcreationstampa.com/

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May/June 2024

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31

Keys to the Laser Focused Kingdom!

Big news alert! We’re thrilled to announce that we’ll be rolling out something extremely helpful for you: an index of all Laser Focused content from the beginning. Yep, you read that right. Every article, project, and nugget of wisdom we’ve ever shared will be neatly organized and just a click away.

You might wonder, “Why do I need an index?”

Well, let me paint you a picture.

Imagine you’re working on a new project and need some inspiration. Instead of aimlessly scrolling through old issues or trying to remember which issue that amazing technique was in, you can simply consult the index. Want to brush up on your acrylic techniques? Search the index.

Need some fresh ideas for your next wood project? Search the index. It’s like having a treasure map of the entire Laser Focused universe.

But it gets even better. Let’s say you’re new to the laser crafting scene and you’re eager to soak

up as much knowledge as possible. The index becomes your roadmap to mastering the craft.

You can start at the beginning and work your way through each issue, picking up valuable tips and tricks along the way. It’s like having a mentor guiding you through your laser crafting journey, empowering you to learn at your own pace and in your own way.

And here’s the best part: the index isn’t just a static document. We’ll update it regularly to include new content as it’s released. So whenever you need a dose of inspiration or a quick refresher, the index will be there, ready and waiting.

So whether you’re a seasoned pro or just dipping your toes into the world of laser crafting, the Laser Focused index is your ultimate companion. Get ready to unlock a world of creativity and take your crafting to new heights. You’ll find it here. https://bit.ly/LaserFocusedIndex

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Ornaments, 3D Illusion, Custom Design Work.

All files tested on Glowforge and Lightburn, 5 Star Reviews Laser Focused | www.LaserFocusedMagazine.com

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May/June 2024

WILL Continued from P 30

The Next Level Laser Conference Chances are you’re already aware of the next big project from Will & partner-in-crime Mark Collier (from Big Blue Lasers): The Next Level Laser Conference. You might not know that the first one got off to a rocky start. In August 2022, Will and Mark put on the very first conference. Though “none of us had any conference experience,” Will was excited to meet so many members from the community, share ideas, and get inspired. Unfortunately, fate had other plans.

“That night before, I went up to the hotel room, and I was like, ‘I don’t feel good.’” Unfortunately, this was during the pandemic, when cases in California were on the rise again. When hotel management learned Will wasn’t feeling well, “they called the room and said I needed to take a COVID test before I could leave the room. They sent up someone with the test – I tested positive. They had a representative from the hotel – security – who stood outside my door.

I was not allowed to leave the room. If I wanted to leave, they would take me down the back stairs to leave the hotel – and not come back. So I got quarantined to the room for the entire conference... It was definitely a mental challenge.”

The second attempt in Spring 2023 went a bit more smoothly, despite competing with Taylor Swift fans for hotels in the Dallas area – attendance was doubled, vendors were present, and they shook up the format. But “we realized that there were some things we wanted to change, things we wanted to make better. So that’s why we’ve waited until summer 2024 for the next one in Tulsa.”

“Think TED Talks – for the Laser Community!”

The Next Level Laser Conference in Tulsa this summer is going to have a “completely different format.

We are not doing any breakouts – so we’re going to have 600 people in the general session room, and we’re going to rotate the speakers through. We’re [also] setting up booths with experts in all the design programs from Lightburn to Inkscape, Silhouette, Procreate, Illustrator, and platforms like Etsy, so you can meet with experts and get your questions answered. We’ve also added some business aspects.

Taxes, setting up the proper LLCs, which licenses May/June 2024

you should be getting – some of the things we as hobbyists might have skipped.”

There will also be space for 60 10’x10’ vendor booths.

Among the confirmed vendors are laser companies, UV printing companies, material, jewelry, and filter box vendors, and more. Will hopes “to expose the community to as many tools & resources as we can to help grow their business.”

The Next Level Laser Conference is June 28-30 in Tulsa, OK. If you haven’t already gotten tickets to attend, we highly recommend you grab some now!

This year’s conference is shaping up to be the best one yet.

Best Advice As always, we like to ask two questions at the end of each interview: What are the best pieces of business and life advice you’ve received?

The best business advice: “Don’t change your price to meet your customer; change your customer to meet your price.” You might think that if you lower your prices, you’ll sell more. But sometimes this results in selling hundreds of an item but having such a small margin that you don’t have much to show for all your work. Will says that you could have sold to half that number of customers and made a bigger margin. “A lot of times we’re not confident enough in our work to say ‘my price is this, and this is what I’m worth.’ We tend to downplay our skillset and what our time is worth.”

Additionally, Will believes that customers who place larger, higher-value orders might be easier to work with than customers who place smaller orders. “A lot of times, it’s the lower-end customers who have higher expectations. That $50 customer – maybe they only have $100 in the bank. That’s 50% of what they have, and they’re gonna want it perfect. That $5000 customer? It might be less than 1% of what they have in the bank, and they’re like, ‘just make it nice,’ you know?”

The best life advice was from Will’s dad (who, in recovering from addiction, went on to work as the director of rehab centers): “Just be true to yourself.

Be who you are. You’re gonna find your circle. Be a people sorter, not a people convincer.”

Laser Focused | www.LaserFocusedMagazine.com

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project Gift Card Holder Sports Edition

By Brenna Powell www.etsy.com/shop/craftingwithbrenna

34 Laser Focused | www.LaserFocusedMagazine.com

May/June 2024

Gift Card Holders

By Brenna Powell , www.etsy.com/shop/craftingwithbrenna

Materials • 1 Sheet of Chipboard, Cardboard, or Laser-safe wood • High-temperature Hot Glue • Paint of Your Choice • Makeup Sponges • Gift Card • My Free Cut File https://laserfocusedmagazine. com/links-for-mj24

Not to be dramatic, but these laser-crafted gift card holders are EVERYTHING when it comes to gift giving. They make your generic gift card more personalized and unique. And the best part? They’re super inexpensive to make. You can make it out of cardboard, chipboard, or even laser-safe wood.

Through this project, you’ll learn how to use cardboard/chipboard in your laser, how to make a personalized gift card holder, and paint hacks to make painting even easier.

I should warn you, though, that while using cardboard and chipboard is laser-safe, you have to be VERY careful not to catch your laser on fire.

While cutting cardboard or chipboard, you need to have 100% supervision as it cuts, a fire extinguisher by your side, and a test of your settings before cutting because of the HIGH fire risks.

With this free tutorial, you’ll also receive access to this premium cut file for free! You’ll get basketball, baseball/softball, volleyball, and soccer options. Here’s what you’ll need to make one of these gift card holders.

May/June 2024

Laser Focused | www.LaserFocusedMagazine.com

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Step 1: Test

Test your cut settings for whatever material you are using. Then, use this file to cut out the pieces you’ll need for this project.

Step 2: Cutting

After cutting with your laser, you’ll have 7 pieces that you’ll need to glue into place. See the picture for all the labeled pieces.

Step 3:

After cutting, take piece 1 and apply a good amount of glue on the back, then adhere it to piece 2. When you’re done, you should have something that looks like the picture in the top left corner. Then, set it aside.

Step 4:

Find pieces 4 and 5. They should be identical. Line them up so they match each other exactly. Then, add glue to the back of piece 4 and adhere it to piece 5.

Step 5:

Next, take the piece you made in step 3, and lay it on the big circle (piece 3) with the tops of the circles matching. DO NOT GLUE IT. Then, add the piece you made in step 4 to the bottom of the circle with hot glue. Be careful only to glue this one piece. You want the part from step 3 to slide.

When you’re done, the whole thing should be level/even all the way around except in the middle, where the gift card will be placed. You should have something that looks like the picture on the bottom left.

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Laser Focused | www.LaserFocusedMagazine.com

May/June 2024

Step 6:

Now, you’ll want to add pieces 6 and 7 to the circle! Start by gluing around only the edges of the circle. Do not get any glue on the part that slides out! Then, glue piece 7 only to the very edge of the sliding piece!

After that, you’re ready to paint!

Step 7:

For this project, I absolutely LOVED using a small makeup sponge for painting. I was able to paint the entire basketball orange without getting any in the grooves of the ball. That made it so I didn’t have to go back with black paint afterward!

Overall, I’m really happy with the results.

Finished!

And voila! You’ve got the perfect gift card holder that’ll turn an ordinary present into something that’s personalized and loved! Not to mention, if you’re handy with vinyl or paint, you can add a year or even a saying (e.g. best bball player, MVP, #1 Coach, etc.). The options are endless! You can check out my Etsy store for more gift card holders and laser files like this one www.etsy.com/shop/craftingwithbrenna!

p roje c t s

Do You Have A Project You Would Like Featured in Laser Focused Magazine?

Send us an email at project@LaserFocusedMagazine.com with your project idea!

May/June 2024

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