ARP — Nearly a decade ago, Justin Brown was making custom decals in his living room.
The 36-year-old said he had no business experience at the time and was simply doing it as a hobby.
But since then, that hobby has turned into a thriving business called Cutting Edge Designs, which makes custom clothing and signs. The business, on West Longview Street, makes T-shirts, banners, vehicles, magnets, hat decals, business cards, and window and door logos, among other things.
Brown said the business has grown each year. He added his first shop in 2004, a second in 2006 and a third in 2007.
Today, he estimated that Cutting Edge Designs produces 90 orders per week and has products in about 70 stores.
He said the business has started trying to sell to bigger companies in order to stay profitable, and two of its major accounts are Cavender's and Stackin Bills. However, he said they still take care of smaller orders.
"I'll do two hats for you (or) 50 business cards," he said. "That allows us, I believe, to be on a more friendly basis."
Baseball items are particularly popular, Brown said, adding that they will make 1,500 uniforms in the spring.
Overall, he said, his business has seen a 70 percent increase in sales from 2012 to 2013.
Now, it is waiting on a new screen-printing machine that will print 10 shirts at a time and up to 60 dozen shirts in an hour, Brown said.
"We're a small business that's really done well," he said.
To cater to its success, Cutting Edge Designs has also grown when it comes to employees. The business has 11 employees, five of which were hired in the last couple months.
One of the employees, Arianne McPike, 25, said of the business, "It's awesome. The people are great."
"We're like a family — very close," she said.
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Cutting Edge Designs
Custom Signs & Clothing
401 W Longview St., Arp
903-859-EDGE
Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
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