Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Owdom-Weitz.
Megan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Well I always loved art class and making things with my hands. I ended up going to college for visual communications design (fancy term for graphic design) at Kent State and loved it. It was an amazing program and included lots of illustration classes along with really training your eye for design. I moved to Chicago thinking I would be designing annual reports for the rest of my life, and ended up at a small design firm. I liked it but in my free time I began making things with my hands — sewing, making sockdogs, and home decor projects. I started selling some of these items at local craft shows and the more I did the more I loved it and the people that I met. I took a screen printing class at Lillstreet Art Center in 2005 and the wheels starting turning. I absolutely loved screen printing and it was a way to combine my design skills with my love for hand crafting. This was what led me to where I am today. It has been a long journey, but many of my best-selling designs have been around since around 2007-2008, and I keep striving to create new, unique work each year. The customers keep coming back, especially in Chicago, and I have never looked back.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I don’t think any entrepreneur has ever had a smooth road, it just doesn’t go with the territory. That being said, the bumps have been learning experiences and did not scare me off. I have had years where I’ve really had to budget because money has been tight, and then orders so big that I need to find the money just to buy the t-shirts to print. I have learned so much and continue to every year. I have always been an extremely competitive person (to a fault sometimes) but I think this has helped me push through challenges and then feel great when I can make it through.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am first and foremost a designer and illustrator, and screen printing is just my chosen form of expression. The company would not exist without me and my designs — these are the base of every product. The company could exist if someone else screen printing all of our items, however I don’t think it would be the same. Creating the products from the design idea, to the actual printing of each item makes us different than just a “t-shirt shop” or “print shop”. These are my ideas and designs and then every aspect of the end product from the ink chosen, placement on the shirt, type of shirt, shirt color, etc. is all chosen by me. We are known for our “Midwest is Best” heart design and our “State of Mind” state abbreviation saying t-shirts. But I am most proud of lots of my quirkier animal designs such as the “suncat, uni & yeti, and more recently taco-cat and otters drinking beer. Oh, and the t-rex dreaming of bacon is kind of a classic.
What were you like growing up?
I was a tom boy, played every sport. I also loved art class and music class, got straight A’s, and was friends with everybody. I’m also kind of known for smiling ALL the time and my laugh, but I swear I’m not a goodie two shoes….In general, I’m not a fan of judging a book by its cover 🙂
Pricing:
- T-shirts: $28.00
- Baby Onesie: $18.00
- Kids T-shirt: $24.00
Contact Info:
- Address: Megan Lee Designs
250 N. State Street
Westerville, OH 43081 - Website: www.meganleedesigns.com
- Phone: 773-459-0380
- Email: info@meganleedesigns.com
- Instagram: meganleedesigns
- Facebook: facebook.com/meganleedesigns
- Twitter: @meganleedesigns
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/megan-lee-designs-westerville
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
