PiBurner Spotlight: Stephanie Murphy
Meet Stephanie Murphy, owner of The Country Porch Swing and admin of two laser and UV-printing Facebook groups!
Stephanie is a remarkable woman who has seamlessly transitioned from a successful career in the dental field to becoming a thriving entrepreneur, wife, and mother of two. With over 18 years of experience in the dental industry, including nine years as a skilled dental hygienist, Stephanie’s journey is a testament to her resilience, creativity, and passion for helping others. Stephanie’s professional journey began in the dental field, where she honed her expertise for nearly two decades. Her dedication and commitment as a dental hygienist for nine years not only showcased her technical proficiency but also revealed her innate ability to connect with people on a personal level.
Driven by her love for creating things, Stephanie decided to channel her passion into a new venture. Venturing into the entrepreneurial world, she started her own business, combining her craftiness with her invaluable experience in the dental field. This leap of faith not only highlighted her entrepreneurial spirit but also underscored her determination to explore new horizons. Stephanie’s versatility extends beyond her creative pursuits. Known for her handy and resourceful nature, she has always been the go-to person for friends and family seeking advice on a variety of topics. Whether it’s a DIY project or a business-related query, Stephanie is always ready to share her knowledge and lend a helping hand.
In her role as a wife and mother, Stephanie effortlessly balances her family responsibilities with the demands of entrepreneurship. Her ability to navigate the challenges of both worlds speaks volumes about her organizational skills and resilience. Stephanie’s story is an inspiration to those looking to embark on new chapters in their lives. Through her journey, she exemplifies the power of pursuing one’s passion, adapting to change, and supporting others along the way. As she continues to make waves in her business and personal life, Stephanie remains a beacon of motivation for aspiring entrepreneurs and individuals seeking to turn their hobbies into successful ventures.
I asked Stephanie to tell me a bit more about her personal life!
I was born in raised in Southwest Kansas, but currently live near Kansas City. I Have two children, my son is 16 and a sophomore in highschool and my daughter is 20 and is attending college. When I am not busy running my laser business you can find me fishing with my husband, reading, or just enjoying the great outdoors.
When asked how Stephanie’s laser adventure began, I got to hear so much more about her background and how she got started!
It all started with a vinyl cutter. Isn’t that how all laser journey’s begin? I think deep down I have always been a maker, even before I knew it. My grandfather was a wood worker and I tell this story a lot but I used to sit down with him from the age of 2 and he would let me hammer nails or clamp things with the wood clamps. My mom is a maker of just about everything. She has crafted, sewn, done woodworking, and pretty much dabbled in just about every craft you can imagine. My dad was the handiest person imaginable, he could fix anything and everything. I have no idea how he learned to do everything he could do because he taught himself before youtube or the internet was ever even a thing. I never really got to into woodworking or making until I was in my early 30’s. I started with hand painted signs as just a hobby, graduated to a vinyl cutter, people started to ask me to make them things and encouraged me to start an Etsy, and then somehow it turned into a laser business.
Stephanie currently runs her laser business full time. She is lucky enough to have a large unfinished basement that is her shop. Her equipment? She has an Aeon Mira 9 90 watt laser and just added a Mimaki 6042 UV Printer to pair with her laser!
I sell my products mostly online and occasionally do a craft fair locally, but I really don’t enjoy doing shows so I stick to online sales mostly.I have my own website, an Etsy shop, Tiktok Shop, and sell locally by word of mouth.I love online sales because I never have to leave my home and with the power of social media you can put your products in front of the whole world.The downside is, is there is a lot of competition online.So you have to really work hard to get noticed.I have dabbled with the idea of having a brick and mortar shop one day, or a warehouse but I also like the convenience of being able to work at my leisure.
Stephanie’s laser business exists because of her love to create all things and help others.
I work hard to create numerous types of products and despite what the “experts” will tell you, I really have no intention of finding a niche. I can’t see myself ever limiting myself because at that point I would be bored. What’s the point of doing this if I am not doing what I enjoy? What I enjoy is learning new techniques, making a variety of things, being creative, and then showing other people what they can do too!
So, how did Stephanie make the decision to join the PiBurn family and eventually become one of our amazing LensDigital Innovators?
The PiBurn has been an essential tool in my business for engraving tumblers. I can’t remember where I originally heard about it because I am in so many laser groups and communities on social media, but I know it was there somewhere. It’s so highly regarded as the top rotary in it’s class that I can’t imagine anyone not having heard of it.When I graduated from my Glowforge and was able to finally do tumblers I received a standard rotary with my laser.It worked ok for simple things like skinny tumblers but after using it one time on a tapered project and making a video about how I felt like I needed to upgrade but also felt like I should learn the standard rotary before investing in a PiBurn, everyone encouraged me to just get the PiBurn. So basically peer pressure pushed me to do it and it was the best decision I could have made.I can’t imagine running tumblers without it now.
What inspires Stephanie to keep going through all of the hectic things that business owners have to handle, while also finding a happy work/life balance?
My true inspiration in life and everything I do comes from my dad. He didn’t fear any challenge and if he did, he never showed it. I always thought of him as the guy who could do anything. When I struggle and I feel like I can’t do something I think about what he would tell me. He did things without giving a thought to what people thought of him and it was never a matter of “what if I fail” it was always “what’s next”. The rest of my inspiration comes from everyone around me. Some of my drive comes from the negativity and my “I’ll show them” attitude, and the rest of it comes from seeing so many other inspirational people doing amazing things and wanting to be a part of that.
The majority of Stephanie’s business is personalized gifts, but she doesn’t currently offer a lot of tumblers because she’s been SO busy with other projects and planning that she hasn’t had enough hours in the day!
It’s a real bummer though because I really love doing full wraps and engraving on all types of tumblers. Eventually I want to invest in a laser dedicated specifically to tumblers so that I don’t have to disconnect and reconnect my PiBurn. I also hope to get a PiBurn Grip in the future when I start increasing the number of tumblers I am doing. So many pieces of equipment on the wishlist, so many things I want to do, and so little time!
When I asked Stephanie what her biggest piece of advice is for makers who are just starting out on their business-owner journey and what they can expect, she had wonderful advice!
Learn everything you can and be patient. Hone your craft and your skill. This is not a business or hobby that you are going to come into knowing everything while also making a lot of money. It’s very hard to find the right products and do everything you need to do to make it successful but you can get there if you take the time and put the work in. I see a lot of new laser owners buying lasers and thinking it’s going to be a quick money maker, but not really understanding all of the blood, sweat, and tears that they are going to have to endure to get there. I also see them comparing themselves to people who have been in the business a long time and getting discouraged because they’re not at the same level. We are all on different paths and our situations are different. Take each challenge as a learning experience and don’t let failure stop you from pushing forward. Also, know that you WILL fail at something along the way and it’s ok. Lastly, just do the thing.It sounds cliche but over analyzing and waiting for the perfect situation can slow down progress so get moving.
Getting to learn more about our PiBurners and what led them to find LensDigital and trust in our products is one of my favorite parts of my role on the LensDigital team! It was fantastic getting to learn more about you, Stephanie!
Want to check out more of Stephanie’s products and connect with her on social media? Check out the links below for all of her contact info and don’t forget to give her a follow!
The Country Porch Swing Website: https://www.thecountryporchswing.com
The Country Porch Swing TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecountryporchswing
The Country Porch Swing Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecountryporchswing
The Country Porch Swing Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thecountryporchswing
The Country Porch Swing Facebook Laser Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2774069676058497/?mibextid=uJjRxr
Fire & Ink – UV Printing and Laser Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/348143927672171