Belltower embroidery and garment printing business growing

Stephanie Carroll started an embroidery business out of her home near Belltower in 2018 because she "felt like there was a need for one in Carter County," she told the Eagle on Tuesday. Since then, she has added a lot more services to her now growing business, Carroll Customs.

"It started with just one embroidery machine. Then we added another one and a year or two later added garment printing, vinyl and ink. Les [Kreitel] said my slogan should be 'just ask, we might,' Carroll said."

What started as a small, part-time business has indeed grown over the last few years as Carroll eventually outgrew the original space she had set up shop in. In 2021, she moved from one, small room into a much larger space. With the help of her husband Gabe, Carroll turned their existing garage into an impressive print/embroidery shop. The finished space is roughly 20 feet in length and 20 feet in width. It is filled with blank inventory (hats, hoodies, koozies, tee shirts, coats, sweatshirts), printers, a heat press, machines, shelves and tables. There are five or six printers scattered around the perimeter of the room, each with a slightly different but specific task.

Carroll said she had no previous experience in embroidery or printing but has learned a lot over the last five years.

"When I look at those first couple hats, I think to myself 'did I actually do that?'."

Since that time she has become one of the area's go-to people for not only embroidered hats, but all-things promotional.

"It's definitely full-time now, Gabe even has to help. He's out here in the mornings peeling vinyl at 6 a.m. while he drinks coffee."

When asked about his position in the company though, Gabe joked that he was "barely above custodian."

Carroll was working on multiple orders Tuesday afternoon. There were stacks upon stacks of hats already embroidered with a few blank ones still waiting to receive the same treatment, and piles of logos ready to be added onto garments.

Sometimes orders she receives are simply adding an existing logo to merchandise, but often Carroll has to design or manipulate the logo/artwork herself. If she can't get the design to look precisely how she or the customer wants, she works closely with a designer over the Internet who has periodically assisted her over the last few years. Taking extra steps to get small details right in the design is something Carroll said makes a big difference, even if most people might not notice.

Judging by the amount of orders Carroll was working on Tuesday though, perhaps many people do notice those details.

Stephanie Carroll of Carroll Customs can be reached at 406-672-0323 or Carrollembroidery@gmail.com .