Lee and Joe Colbert Turn A Hobby Into A Growing Business

For Lee and Joe Colbert, owners of Oak Street Embroidery, opening their own silk screening and embroidery business wasn’t always in their plans.  As a matter of fact, Oak Street Embroidery was actually born out of a hobby and a love for creativity more than anything else.

Lee Colbert had always loved sewing and quilting.  She was passionate about her hobby and loved to create new and exciting items whenever she was able.  She shared that love with her husband, Joe, and, together, they became interested in screen-printing.

One day, approximately eleven years ago the two walked into a trade show and, as Lee joked, “And we walked out with a big machine.”

That day, Lee and Joe decided it was time to try commercial screen-printing and embroidery and Oak Street Embroidery was born.  The business is small and operated out of their home but the quality and selection that they provide is first rate.

“We do our best to provide anything that our customers want,” explained Joe.

The business began to grow but, when Lee and Joe’s son was born seven years ago, their attention quickly turned from embroidery to parenting. 

“He was out first priority,” explained Lee.  “The business took a back seat for a while.”

Today, however, Oak Street Embroidery is growing and coming up new ideas every day.  They still specialize is custom stitched baby blankets and thousands of screen print designs to choose from but they are always adding new and exciting products also.

Among the newest items are “Merry Christmas” wine bottle holders, ribbon web key chains and, a design they are especially proud of, custom embroidered dog collars. 

Being a hunter, Joe is rarely without his dog by his side.  It was, however, when his beloved lab began to go blind that he realized how easy it would be for the dog to become lost.  “I wanted to make it easy for someone to see my phone number without having to get a hold of the dog’s collar,” remembered Joe.  “That’s when I thought of embroidering a collar with large enough print to see from a distance.” 

Currently Lee and Joe are marketing these collars, along with “dog breed lovers” tee shirts at various Animal Rescue League events and make a donation for each one purchased.  “We like to be able to give back also,” mentioned Lee.

Unlike many larger businesses, Oak Street Embroidery gives every order special attention whether it for one item or one hundred. As Joe explained, “We take orders no matter how large or small they are.”

 You can visit Oak Street Embroidery online or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/#!/OakStreetEmb.  For more information you can also contact them by email at oakstreetemb@gmail.com or by phone at 978-658-2322.