Hobby blossomed into embroidery business

Name of Business: Oak Tree Embroidery and Awards

Type of business: embroidery

Owners: Jan Calahan

Founded: Opened as a home business in 2000; moved to a store front business in 2004; moved to new location February 2009

Address: 2049 Main St., Oakley

Phone number: 925-625-8733

Hours: Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and evenings by appointment

Number of employees: two

Products and services: Oak Tree Embroidery is a full-service contract embroidery business with a full array of wearables to choose from. It offers design and setup of logos, production of embroidery on garments, as well as the art digitizing needed to transfer art to embroidery. Embroidery services are available for personal, professional, office, corporate, school and team use. Embroidery can be added to just about anything, including uniforms, hats, blankets and memorabilia.

Other services include custom trophies and plaques, promotional items and the popular custom rhinestones or "bling" items.

How did you get into the business: Calahan started her business because she enjoyed sewing and had a home embroidery machine. She attended a fair and saw a large custom embroidery machine and "fell in love."

"From there on it grew," Calahan said.

She began working with local sporting teams and decided to move her business to downtown Oakley for more exposure. Recently she moved into the Cypress Square shopping center near Raley's and added the trophies and plaque engraving to the business.

"It was just a natural transition — a service my customers use on a regular basis — and why not just do it all in one location," she said.

Best part about the business: "Smiles on the faces of the people when they see the finished product," Calahan said.

She also said that it gives her pleasure to work in Oakley where she can work with the kids and the sports teams in her community.

Worst part about the business: "Whenever you have you have a small business it is hard to have enough hours in the day and family time suffers," she said.

Key to success: "Quality and personalized service has to be the bottom line," Calahan said. "People buy from people. Customers need to know that you think they are important."
She also said that it is important to keep up with current trends, which is why she spends so much time attending trade shows and reading material that relates to her industry.

Biggest misperception about the business: "We don't do arbor work," she said. "We get a lot of calls from people who see our name and assume we know how to cut trees. We don't."
Although they can send items out for alterations they do not provide it as an in-house service.

Future plans: Calahan said she hopes to expand more into the gifts, bridal and baby markets. She also is working on expanding the promotional products she offers and promoting the trophy services she offers.
— Roni Gehlke