Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Harley.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
When people see Allthingz Creative Printing & Graphics today, they see the printing, custom apparel, banners, signs, awards, promotional products and all of the creative things we produce.
What they may not see are the years behind it.
The long days. The late nights. The sacrifices. The learning. The changes. The challenges. The relationships. And most importantly, the people who have supported us along the way.
For more than 25 years, Allthingz Creative has been part of my life, and when I look back over this journey, I realize that we have created so much more than printed products.
We have created memories. We have created relationships. We have created family.
And I am incredibly grateful for every chapter of the story.
IT STARTED WITH A LOVE FOR CREATIVITY
Creativity has always been a part of who I am.
I love taking an idea—sometimes even an idea that is not completely developed—and figuring out how to turn it into something someone can actually see, touch, wear, display or treasure.
That is still one of my favorite parts of what I do.
A customer may come to me and say, “Kim, I have this idea…”
And sometimes that is all they have.
They don’t necessarily know what colors to use. They don’t know what the finished design should look like. They may not even know exactly what product they need.
But they know how they want it to feel.
That is where the creative process begins for me.
I listen.
I ask questions.
And then I begin figuring out how we can bring their vision to life.
That process has helped shape what would eventually become Allthingz Creative.
The name says so much about who we are because creativity does not have to fit neatly into one box.
If you can imagine it, my first thought is usually:
“Let’s see how we can make it happen.”
When I think about success today, I don’t measure it only by sales or how many orders we complete.
I think about the relationships.
I think about the customers who have been with us for years.
I think about the schools that trust us.
I think about the families who call and say, “Kim, I need your help.”
I think about all the celebrations where something created by Allthingz Creative was part of the moment.
And I think about the items we created that people have held onto for years because they represented someone or something special.
That is a legacy.
And I am proud of it and I am so very blessed!
More than 25 years have passed, but I don’t feel like Allthingz Creative’s story is finished.
Not even close.
There are still things I want to create.
There are still new ideas I want to explore.
There is still technology I want to learn.
There are still customers we haven’t met yet.
And there are still plenty of moments waiting for Allthingz Creative to become part of them.
My journey as an entrepreneur has taught me that success isn’t simply about how long you stay in business.
It’s about whether you still have a passion for what you’re doing.
It’s about how you treat people.
It’s about whether you are willing to grow.
And it’s about remembering the people who helped you get there.
So as I look back over more than three decades of Allthingz Creative, my heart is filled with gratitude.
To every customer who placed an order…
To every person who referred a friend…
To every school, church, organization and business that trusted us…
To everyone who supported this journey…
Thank you.
You didn’t simply support a small business.
You became part of our story.
And as long as there are ideas to imagine, moments to celebrate and memories to preserve…
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Owning a business can look exciting from the outside.
People see the finished products.
They see the equipment.
They see the creativity.
They see the celebrations.
What they don’t always see are the moments when equipment decides it doesn’t want to cooperate five minutes before an important deadline.
They don’t see the late nights finishing an order.
They don’t see the research, troubleshooting, financial decisions, inventory, customer calls or the hundreds of little things that have to happen behind the scenes.
Small-business ownership will teach you patience.
It will teach you resilience.
It will teach you how to solve problems you never expected to have.
And it will definitely teach you how to keep going.
There have been challenges over these 35-plus years, but every challenge has taught me something.
I’ve learned that you don’t have to know everything.
You just have to be willing to learn, adjust and keep moving forward.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Anyone who knows me knows that when a customer asks whether we can create something unusual, my mind immediately starts trying to figure it out.
Sometimes I probably should say, “No.”
Instead, I’m thinking:
What machine can do this?
What material do we need?
Can I design it another way?
Is there a better product?
How can we make this work?
That curiosity is part of me.
I like solving creative problems.
And sometimes the projects that begin with:
“Kim, I don’t know if you can do this, but…”
become some of the most interesting projects we create.
Without the customers who trusted us…
Without the people who recommended us…
Without the schools that continued to call…
Without the organizations that allowed us to be part of their events…
Without the families who came back again and again…
There would be no Allthingz Creative story.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Our relationship with the community has also become a very special part of this journey.
Over the years, we have had the opportunity to work with schools throughout Prince George’s County, creating everything from spirit wear and banners to awards, programs, promotional pieces and special-event materials.
We are proud to serve as a preferred vendor for Prince George’s County schools and, even more importantly to me, to be considered a community partner.
I love seeing students excited about something we created for their school.
I love creating pieces that celebrate their achievements.
I love helping schools transform an idea into something students, teachers and families can enjoy.
I LOVE Giving Back, I often donate my services and believe that my community partnership is a large part of our longevity.
Contact Info:
- Website: allthingzcreative.com & allthingzcreativestore.com
- Instagram: @allthingzcreative2005
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Allthingz2012/
