Today we’d like to introduce you to Pam Stomel.
Hi Pam, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Dymant Designs focuses on laser-created wood products and designs, with an emphasis on family-forward keepsakes made to be loved, gifted, and cherished for years.
Founded in 2011, Dymant Designs has always carried a name with meaning. Over the years, people have joked that I could have picked an easier name. They are right. I could have picked an easier one, but I could not have picked a better one.
Dymant Designs is named after my late grandfather, Sam Dymant. After World War II, he immigrated to America with his twin brother and only a few dollars between them. He worked three jobs to provide for his family, and some of my clearest memories are of him coming home after long days with his hands covered in grit. He would immediately scrub them clean with Goop, letting the stress of the day wash down the drain. To this day, the smell of that strange soap brings me back to him and to the values he taught us: hard work, dedication, creativity, and family.
The first Dymant Designs makerspace began in my grandfather’s old workshop. As a child, I spent hours there watching him build, repair, and create. I was fascinated by his ability to make something from seemingly nothing. He could build anything, from an elaborate dollhouse complete with shingles, electricity, and working doors to a simple flashlight he put together in no time. To me, it was magic. More importantly, it was the kind of magic he passed down to me: the belief that we should always keep creating.
In 2011, after long days in a corporate role that offered very little creative outlet, I began spending time with my grandmother. We would tinker, design, make projects, and talk for hours. I started selling my creations at local craft shows and farmers markets, which was helpful financially in my twenties, but even more meaningful emotionally. I loved creating, and I loved the time I got to spend with her even more.
As Dymant Designs grew, it needed a space better suited for the work we were doing, and the business eventually relocated to Wayne, New Jersey. But no matter where we are today, the values, roots, and foundation of where we began remain engraved into everything we create.
My grandmother passed this past November, and while the Dymant name began as a tribute to my late grandfather, it now carries her spirit as well. Dymant Designs is built from family, memory, hard work, and love, and every piece we create is connected to that legacy.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Nothing worth building comes without challenges. I still maintain a full-time career that I am deeply committed to, while also pouring that same passion and energy into Dymant Designs. Balancing both has been one of the biggest challenges.
Running a creative business requires so much more than simply making beautiful products. It means managing time carefully, staying organized, meeting deadlines, responding to customers, maintaining a website, posting on social media, photographing products, and constantly finding ways to grow. There are definitely moments when it feels like a lot to carry at once.
But even when it gets hectic, it is absolutely worth it. Dymant Designs has pushed me to become more disciplined, creative, resourceful, and resilient. The challenge is real, but so is the joy of building something meaningful.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Dymant Designs is a custom laser engraving and design studio specializing in meaningful, personalized gifts, decor, and keepsakes. We create everything from custom name puzzles, signs, cake toppers, ornaments, teacher gifts, event details, and sentimental pieces that help people celebrate the people and moments that matter most.
At our core, we are known for thoughtful design, clean craftsmanship, and personalization that feels intentional rather than generic. Every piece begins with the question: How will this make someone feel when they receive it? Whether it is a child seeing their name on a puzzle, a teacher receiving a handmade appreciation gift, or a family ordering something for a milestone celebration, we want our work to feel personal, warm, and lasting.
One of the things we are most proud of is that Dymant Designs has grown from a creative passion into a small business with real heart behind it. The name itself is meaningful, honoring family legacy, creativity, and the idea of making something that lasts. We are proud that our work has been part of birthdays, weddings, classrooms, holidays, new homes, and everyday moments of connection.
What sets us apart is the combination of design experience, craftsmanship, and genuine care. We do not simply engrave names onto products. We think about composition, scale, material, usability, and emotional impact. As an educator and creative business owner, I bring both an artist’s eye and a teacher’s attention to detail into the work. I care deeply about making pieces that are not only beautiful, but also practical, giftable, and memorable.
Dymant Designs is especially strong at creating products that feel custom, elevated, and approachable. We understand how meaningful a small personalized item can be, and we take pride in making gifts that people are excited to give and proud to keep.
How do you think about luck?
Luck has certainly played a role in the story of Dymant Designs, but I do not think of it as luck alone. For me, it has been more about the power of friendship, encouragement, and being open to an opportunity when it appeared.
Many years ago, a friend of mine who was already in the laser business was ready to upgrade his equipment. He saw something in me before I fully saw it in myself. He encouraged me to start my own laser engraving business, pushed me to take the leap, and supported me through the beginning stages. He also allowed me to purchase his machine at a price that made it possible for me to get started.
That opportunity changed the direction of my creative life. It gave me access to a tool that allowed me to turn ideas into real, physical products. From there, I kept learning, experimenting, designing, and building. What started as a generous opportunity from a friend became a business that has allowed me to create personalized pieces for families, teachers, celebrations, holidays, and meaningful milestones.
So while there may have been some good luck in the timing, I believe the bigger story is community. Dymant Designs exists because someone believed in me, shared their knowledge, and helped open a door. I am proud that I walked through it and kept going.
That experience still shapes how I think about my business today. At its heart, Dymant Designs is about connection: the people who support us, the stories behind the gifts, and the way one thoughtful gesture can become something much bigger.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dymantdesigns.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dymant_Designs
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DymantDesigns/
