What started as a home-based business that moved with Melissa Custer and her family during her husband’s career in the Army, is now a physical shop space in Hayes, off Route 17.

Custer has been running her business Sassy Sew Crafty for the past 11 years from her home, needing a job that could not only pick up and move with her, but gave her the availability she needed for her kids during her husband’s deployments.

Her business offers a wide variety of personalization services, including embroidery, sewing, signs and screen prints. “There are so many things that we do and I think that’s what makes it hard sometimes to be able to advertise because we do so many things,” she said.

“I’m really passionate about what I do,” offered Custer. “I love creating unique pieces for people—keepsake things or cheering on their favorite teams. It’s also great to have a family run business, since it really shows our children what to push for and how hard to work.”

Custer’s kids are always ready to help and even keep business cards in their backpacks, handing them out at football games. “My daughters, especially my 7-year-old, she’ll go down to the concession stand and she’ll come running back and she’s like: ‘Someone saw my shirt mom, I need a business card’.”

During the transition from running her business out of her home to opening a storefront, Custer credited her husband who recently retired for all of his help. “I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without him, he’s really kept me going—trying to open a business and continue to run a business is a whole lot.”

She also highlighted the community of people who have helped her through the entire process. “We have a lot of wonderful friends that are like our family … who have helped us through everything, through this whole process,” she explained.

All of the services Sassy Sew Crafty has to offer can be found on the business’s Facebook page, along with updates as the business moves towards the official grand opening.