Intro by Jen Street, Founder of Forged Flare

I was first introduced to CMB (Custom Made Better) back in the early days of Forged Flare, when we were just starting out. At the time, I was navigating the laser world, seeking materials and suppliers for our unique product line – Mother's Angels ornaments. These angels require specific acrylic sizes for the intricate "puzzle design" at their center, and I was struggling to find the right fit.

That's when I heard about the exceptional quality of CMB's products, and I decided to give them a try. When those materials arrived, I was absolutely thrilled with the results.

From that initial order, I've had the pleasure of getting to know Melody on a personal level, and she's become a dear friend in the business world. What warms my heart is that our product sales not only benefit our customers but also support the wonderful, family-run business that is CMB. It's a win-win for all of us!

Meet Melody

CMB was founded as a woman-owned and (now) family-operated business. What started as a side hustle for a SAHM (stay-at-home mom) has turned into a family-run business that we're so excited about! My husband worked a corporate job for years and it took so much time away from us as a family that as soon as the opportunity for him to quit opened up, we jumped in head first! I wouldn't trade it for the world! We love what we do and the community we serve! We genuinely believe in a family-first mentality and strive to provide our employees with that opportunity as well — we offer well and above-industry-average pay ranges, paid PTO, and a flexible work schedule when needed.

I initially started the business after a $25 Silhouette Cameo purchase to label all the things. That turned into a vinyl supply shop that I ran out of my house via porch pickup. As I dove headfirst into the craft world, my husband got me a Glowforge for my birthday in 2019 and I had the hardest time finding pretty acrylic to cut on it! A bit of research, luck, and risk and I had my first batch of acrylic to sell. I posted in a relatively small Glowforge group and sold out almost within the first day. Which led to continuing to pursue acrylic sales.

In 2021 we dropped vinyl sales and chose to focus on an all-acrylic supply space. Business has exploded, and we couldn't be more grateful.

One thing that keeps me going is our client base. Even on some of the hardest days of being a business owner, there's always a client-turned-friend who has made me remember that I'm not really building a business, I'm just building relationships and friendships. ❤️

Contact Info:

Website: www.custommadebetter.com
Instagram: @cmbacrylic
TikTok: @cmbacrylic
Acrylic Obsessed Facebook Group