As you cross their door frame you’ll note a soothing sound of people and machinery at work that fills the shop. When you look around you see beautiful products, silhouettes of the artists, and lots and lots of spools of colorful thread. The sight of all those colors will really catch your eye and make you pause for a moment to absorb all their beauty. But behind all those colors and all this gorgeous embroidery, there is the hard work of some very talented people. And despite all the hard work they put into their product, they will be the friendliest folks you’ll ever come across. They’ll be excited to show you around, present their work, and explain how they can help you put a sparkle on that special day you’re planning. Meet Debi, Rebecca, Kathy, Chrissy, Jenni, Kathy DA, Roxanne, Warren, Anitra, Dena, Ally, Kali, and Emma. Meet the RK’s Embroidery Boutique.
That’s right. Today, we’re sharing with you not another beautiful wedding but a group of people who devoted their lives to help make all those weddings so special. We all know that the beauty is in the details; it’s the little piece of embroidery on the custom robes you and your bridesmaids will wear on the morning off your wedding day; and it’s the beautifully crafted initials on the custom gift you share with your loved ones.
We had the pleasure to talk to Rebecca whose put her heart to into this little universe originally started by her parents. She’s a wonderful person full of joy and ideas that are ready to go on a piece of fabric. She was kind enough to share some of her secrets and advice with us and all the brides to be. Below are just a few pictures from the shop and the conversation we had with Rebecca. Enjoy!
Tell me a little about you and your business.
We are a family owned and operated custom embroidery company in Rochester, NY. Our shop is small enough to handle custom items like handkerchiefs and bridal party gifts but large enough to offer wholesale prices on wedding favors and rehearsal dinner gifts.
How did you get into your business? How long have you been doing it for?
My parents started the business in our living room in Penfield in September of 1983. My Aunt Estelle saw a machine running in a mall in Buffalo and loaned my parents money to purchase a machine and start a business here in Rochester. I was 18-months-old and I’m proud to have grown up working in the business and with my parents. My mom, Debi, needed some medical care 8 years ago and I stepped in for what we discussed would be 3-months, haha, and we’ve been reinventing, growing and diversifying what we do ever since. Our employees have been with us for as long as 21 years and we really are one big family of 12.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part is the creative aspect that comes with diversifying and growing a business and then seeing those ideas work out, connect with new customers and expand what we do. When you work as hard as it takes to make a small business successful, those successes, small or large, are so important to see.
Tell me a story of one of your favorite clients/projects.
One of my favorite projects we’ve ever done was for someone that works for an event planner/DJ service that we do their company embroidery for. In March she stopped in to drop something off for her boss and noticed some of the items we carry and ordered insulated lunch bags as hotel welcome bags for out of town guests that thought they were coming to town for an engagement party BUT they were getting married at the party. It was so exciting to be a part of such a special secret and happy surprise for someone that have gotten to know so well by being a part of this industry.
What is the average turnaround time for customized products?
We do our best to ship out all of our web orders within 4 business days. Wedding favors and larger end products take about 2 weeks.
What makes you different from others in your field?
We set ourselves apart by always encouraging brides to make something completely custom and special for their one of a kind day. There are so many options and it’s an incredible honor to be a part of any bride’s day.
Are there any wedding trends that you love or don’t love?
I am in love with the rustic wedding theme! For so long it felt like the cost of weddings were skyrocketing but the rustic wedding allows for brides and grooms of all financial levels to have incredibly beautiful wedding celebrations.
What tips can you give to upcoming brides?
The photographer is the most important expense to embrace. It’s the one thing I regret not spending MORE money on and if I were to do it over, that’s the only thing I would change about my own wedding. The other thing I can’t stress enough is, when it comes to the day of, let it all go and enjoy the day! Live in the moment and remember that every single person is there to celebrate you and your brand new marriage.
Where can brides-to-be find you online?
We can be found at www.rksboutique.com, Facebook at rksboutique, Instagram at rksembroideryboutique and Etsy at RKEmbroideryBoutique. You can also always email me (Rebecca) or Emma at bride (at) rksboutique.com.
Dear Rebecca, thank you for letting us share your and your family’s business story here. We enjoyed learning about what you do, and especially enjoyed getting to know you!
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