Cambria County side hustle crafts unique gifts for any occasion
Beautiful, personalized gift boxes are the heart and soul of Boxed Up Expressions.
There are countless reasons to celebrate life… birthdays, graduations, new homes and weddings to name just a few. Cambria County entrepreneur Martina Springer has found a unique niche with Boxed Up Expressions, creating curated gift boxes that are bundled up beautifully for any occasion.
Springer works full time as an analyst for a medical billing company. She’s always enjoyed creating gift baskets filled with unique finds that she would bring to birthday parties or graduations. Over the years, people started to ask her to create baskets that they could give as gifts. Soon her hobby grew into a side hustle — and from that, Boxed Up Expressions was born.
Springer says, “Little things that I enjoy doing grew into this. Now I’m doing 1-2 boxes a week.”
Springer says that creating these boxes makes her a part of something bigger than herself and it makes the recipient feel special. “Classic Elements in Johnstown sells my boxes. The very first box they sold was my “You’ve got this” box, and the man said he was buying it for his wife, who was starting chemo that day. It made me cry! I was so honored that I got to be part of that gift, to cheer her as she fought cancer.”
So, what do you get when you shop for a gift box? Springer says, “It’s me. I’m the mailer, orderer, customer service representative– I’m all of it. I’m the company. I designed the website, I answer all the emails, put together the orders. I set it apart because it’s a very personal experience.”
This spring, Springer was ready to turn her hobby into a legal business entity, and Startup Alleghenies coach Blake Fleegle was there to help her make the leap. She says that Fleegle is her lucky charm. “The week I met with him, my business just took off!”
“He’s a wealth of knowledge — it feels like I’m surrounded by an expert team.”
Fleegle says, “Martina is a great example of how Startup Alleghenies can jump-start your side-hustle.”
“Coaching is easy when you have clients who are willing to do the work, and Martina is exactly that client. Always willing to put in the work to make her business a success.”
Reflecting on Fleegle and her experience with Startup Alleghenies, Springer laughs and says it took her a year to reach out for help and she would tell others not to wait, not to sit and struggle but use the resources that are available to help you succeed.
She said that she has advice for other entrepreneurs with a side hustle: “If you have a passion for something, go for it! Life is too short to wait.”
Check out Boxed Up Expressions for gifts for every occasion, hand-selected by Springer. The collection features seasonal boxes like “Hello Fall”, celebration boxes like “The Birthday Box” and everyday pick-me-ups like “Strong and Courageous.”
Startup Alleghenies helps startup and emerging small businesses succeed by providing free coaching to entrepreneurs in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset counties. To access personal, one-on-one support from a coach in your county, including guidance, resources, tools and networking opportunities, sign up at startupalleghenies.com.
