Conversations with Uri Coward

Today we’d like to introduce you to Uri Coward. 

Hi Uri, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
Hello, I would first like to Thank you for the feature & opportunity to tell my story about my small black business, sharing our products and services with those who didn’t know we existed – until now with the virtual level capacity of technology, and for highlighting my small and consistent “hidden gem” based business located in Ann Arbor, Michigan – Cut and Dry Creations LLC. 

My name is Uri Coward, my friends call me Uri. I first started with my business idea and research in 2018 to sell pre-printed & custom sublimation and vinyl t-shirts. Along with socks, dog tanks, apparel for the family/sporting apparel, headbands, notebooks, mugs, etc. It was my senior year as an undergraduate student at Eastern Michigan University & along my journey, I gracefully accepted induction and participation to collaborate with three honor societies. I was honored to serve for one year on board of one society. Shout out to all my Eta Sigma Gamma, National Society of Leadership and Success, and Honor Society members! I have to give credit where it is due because I have had an awesome journey to get to where I am today… I can tell you this journey has just begun (finally finishing community college & completing my time as a transfer to the University – I knew I could be even greater, and bigger role model for my four kids. 

Clearly, I simply hit a moment that working as a busy mom, avid-self adopted classroom mom for all my kids starting at birth, a Certified Medical Assistant, Substitute teacher, Administrative Assistant I, Secretary, Office cleaner, and now my here I am June 2020 about to receive my last degree as having completed my Health Administration degree. I forgot to add my baseline disclosure of my journey to total at least more than $60,000 in debt from school/trade school loans – soon as I finish my last final in my 2020 semester. I knew I didn’t want to struggle any farther, I wanted to use all my degrees and certifications I proudly have worked hard for and sought, & I had to make it work as a single mom of 4 growing kiddos since COVID 2019 made its entrance. So, I decided once I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree in Health Administration blazing through my wild wild west of trials and tribulations along the way, my research and goals ready – I decided I would birth, own, open and operate, legalize, and not turn back on my one of my lifelong dreams to become a black small business owner & entrepreneur! I would be the sole owner & manager of Cut and Dry Creations LLC located in Ann Arbor, Michigan since June 2020. 

I love to reflect and update myself on a daily basis about life and learning all types of new things. One of my mottos is “What did you learn today? If you don’t learn at least 1 new thing a day, you’re not doing something right or being open to what the day has to offer for you.” I am a very optimistic and positive woman. If you put positivity out in the open – negativity has nothing to feed off. With that being said, Cut and Dry Creations LLC aims to be unique, educational, trustworthy, loyal, and a quality-based business. 

Let me tell you, starting a business during COVID, having four kids going to class from home & on four different devices at once, finances low, food scarce, and I had contracted COVID the first year in November. I knew I had to keep praying and I established my business first being legal, set up an online business on Instagram to get virtual presence, & post photos and videos for customer outreach. I also wanted to watch more positive interesting things online. With paying for additional business classes/business expenses, substrate and vinyl materials/purchasing all packaging, and business taxes it can be/become a lot on a first-time black business owner. I didn’t have anyone to directly help me and show me how to run my business and about paying business taxes among other entrepreneur things either. However, with many sleepless nights – I am excited to be alive and in business as a small black & successful business surviving COVID. I can also tell you that some businesses that opened the same week as mine are not in business now. This opportunity allows abundance for my family & I and seeing my business mark its third year still open for business this upcoming June 2023 makes me more than ecstatic for my new journey. 

As of right now, Cut and Dry Creations LLC can be reached virtually on any of our platforms Instagram, Facebook, our Tik Tok is in the works currently – I will post to all platforms when it is live, and our website www.cutanddrycreationsllc.com. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Cut and Dry Creations LLC has had a few obstacles and challenges to maintain our business and brand. For example, no one told me that it is a completely different environment when someone goes from a consumer to an entrepreneur producer of products and business services for public use. It was second nature to walk into a store as a consumer see something, like it, and buy it – right? Well, that was back in the day! Nowadays, customers have more of a desire to be trendy, they want the “I saw it online” stuff, I want it now, how did they do that videos and some are looking for a good price for it all. I knew that I wanted to provide all the things I have mentioned, I didn’t realize that starting a business from scratch and to establish virtual presence & outreach would be so competitive, time-consuming, and expensive for my small home-based business as a one-woman showstopper. So, I had to utilize all the free tools and outlets at my disposal. I met people that shared my same business passions and I have met other business owners that assist you with how to maintain your small business. I purchased software programs, printers, a heat press, sublimation, and vinyl materials – So I could establish and maintain a client base without to close my business and the financial burden because I was a new business that opened during COVID. Another small challenge is always trying to know what everyone wants, seeks, or would like to see. So, if you do not see it on our platforms or website, please ask us. 

I have had a few struggles too. One, being that opening a business as a small black business owner some people are unhelpful to your mission and vision because they don’t want you to succeed. I provided business services for a nonprofit agency and I was underpaid for work that I did for them. I explained to the manager and provided evidence that I should’ve received more payment based upon our agreement. The business owner said that I should’ve charged them accordingly and I was not paid for my services in a timely fashion upfront due to their negligence and how this agency handles business. From that experience, I make sure I provide detailed invoices and pricing, have my customers and clients agree before any final work is processed and paid in full, and other financial safety measures to protect my customers/clients, and my business equally. Besides, I couldn’t do much when I didn’t get full payment in full before I started work for them and it was my first big business account right after I opened my business in June 2020. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Our mission at Cut and Dry Creations LLC is sharing my trendy and upbeat technological experience, education, art visuals, and expertise in a positive-constructing approach. We provide hand-crafted, trendy, unique, and memorable products & services for all our consumer and professionals with quality, ingenuity, trust and innovation, commitment to quality, and creativity in a positive way. I know that most people do not love their jobs, what they do overall, the manager, their position title, or coworkers – I do! Being a small black business owner, I can make my own schedule, work remotely with electricity, require no strict dress code or uniform, sell products and services that I want to see and offer to the public, and I enjoy anything where I can utilize any and all of certifications, college degrees, affiliations, community support advocate time, networking, and meeting new people, etc. J 

In June 2020, I opened Cut and Dry Creations LLC so I could provide the same representations that I felt were missing to align with me and my family first and foremost being African American. I wanted to provide quality and custom products, services, and creations for my audience base of consumers and professionals. I want to show anyone that wants to learn how to take a blank canvas and make a piece of art with it, that will sell, and how to recycle the skills and keep your business profitable and operable. I’m also an overachiever by nature, hard worker, and I have to operate in my full compacities with utilizing all my previous job titles/education/skill because I want to make our time together simple, fun, knowledgeable, and pleasurable for all who interact with Cut and Dry Creations LLC. 

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Over the next 5-10 years, I would like to see Cut and Dry Creations LLC become a locally known and trusted small little “mom and pop” business that can withstand the test of times after COVID in Michigan and looking towards brighter days with hopefully; the worst of COVID behind us and getting back to some of our good ol days activities. I envision the business to have a storefront with a few employees where customers and clients can walk in and have a T-shirt designed/pressed onsite and picked up, a pair of socks customized for a client in California to give to their family member battling cancer or sending a just thinking about you gift of less than 24 hours’ notice for delivery, shin covers for athletes and schools, custom grave blanket covers for our loved one, or etched shot glass set for friends. On the other hand, our business clients may a need last-minute custom business cards, shaker signs for promotion, or updating their business page to a new refreshing look. These types of services and products that my business provides will be able to assist our customers and keep the process simple and positive. 

Collectively, I would like to have business start-up classes, craft classes & courses, offer classes/tutorials in-person at the local library and create by business book for individuals that were in the same position as me – but I will provide them with an overload of valuable information & Our mission at Cut and Dry Creations LLC is sharing my trendy and upbeat technological experience, education, art visuals, and expertise in a positive-constructing approach. We provide hand-crafted, trendy, unique, and memorable products & services for all our consumer and professional needs with quality, ingenuity, trust and innovation, commitment to quality, and creativity in a positive way with professional results. 

Pricing:

• Sublimation pricing starts at $35 additional charge for sizes XL-3xl
• Vinyl pricing starts at $25 for one printed side
• Kid T-Shirt pricing starts at $20 for one side print +$5.00 for back
• Salt and Sugar Scrubs pricing starts at $10-15 for 4oz jar
• Homemade Soaps pricing starting at $12-18

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cutanddrycreationsllc.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/cutanddrycreationsllc
• Facebook: Cut and Dry Creations LLC
• TikTok: Cut and Dry Creations LLC

Image Credits
Cut and Dry Creations LLC.