Kreative Koala Design: How Colleen Stieb Turned a Spark of Curiosity Into a Thriving Custom Engraving Brand
Some businesses begin with a business plan. Others begin with a problem to solve. But Kreative Koala Design? It started with a spark. A little curiosity, a bit of bravery—and a whole lot of heart.
At the center of it all is Colleen Stieb, a woman whose journey into entrepreneurship didn’t come from a long-held dream of owning a business—but from a desire to create. To build something meaningful with her hands. Something beautiful. Something personal.
Today, Kreative Koala Design is a name people remember at shows across the Southeast. But its beginnings were anything but flashy.
From Kickstarter Curiosity to Christmas Show Success
Colleen’s journey started, of all places, on Kickstarter, where she came across a laser engraving machine called the Glowforge. She didn’t have a business in mind—just a pull toward creativity and the possibility of doing something new.
It was year four of tinkering when things shifted. A Mother’s Day promotion offering personalized items caught fire—75 orders in what felt like the blink of an eye. Then came a surprise opportunity: a vendor had to cancel their spot at a major Christmas show due to COVID, and Colleen stepped in.
That one event changed everything.
The orders poured in. The demand grew. And so did the equipment. One small laser became two. Then came a UV printer, a 3D printer, and the kind of controlled chaos that can only mean one thing: a business was born.
Building Something Bigger Than the Booth
Today, Kreative Koala Design travels to five major Christmas shows every year, drawing crowds of 20,000–30,000 people over three intense days. These shows are where Colleen thrives—interacting with customers, seeing her work come to life in real time, and watching the joy on people’s faces as they discover her products.
But it’s not just about the big weekends.
Colleen’s customers remember her because her products are deeply personal—like tumblers engraved with a child’s drawing, or interchangeable holiday door signs that become part of a family’s tradition.
And yet, the success of these shows comes with a challenge: the rest of the year is quiet by comparison.
The Challenge of Consistency—and Letting Go
After hitting nearly $47,000 in sales at one series of shows, Colleen realized something important: “I can’t do this alone.”
She’s currently running Kreative Koala Design from her home, with every spare corner filled with wood, tumblers, and tools. A close friend—a retired schoolteacher—helps when she can. But to truly grow, Colleen knows the next step is hiring. That step, however, comes with a very human fear: letting go.
“I just don’t want the quality to suffer,” she shared. “This is still my name on everything.”
That tension—between growth and control, between freedom and responsibility—is where many great businesses find themselves. And Colleen is navigating it with both humility and courage.
Looking Toward a New Season of Growth
For Colleen, the future of Kreative Koala Design is about finding balance. She wants her business to be more than a holiday hustle. She wants it to support her family year-round—to give her husband a chance to slow down, to give herself the space to enjoy what she’s built, and maybe even, one day, sell the business to someone who shares her love for it.
She’s not in a rush. But she’s thinking ahead.
And that’s where the next chapter begins: with building systems, refining processes, and turning Kreative Koala Design into something that can grow—with her, and beyond her.
From a Glowforge on Kickstarter to custom engraving work that brings thousands of people joy every year, Colleen Stieb’s story is proof that creativity isn’t just a hobby—it’s a calling. One that, when followed bravely, can build something extraordinary.
Whether she’s engraving a child’s doodle onto a tumbler or helping a family decorate their home with personalized keepsakes, Colleen does it all with care, quality, and a quiet fire that’s easy to admire.
Kreative Koala Design isn’t just a brand. It’s a reflection of the woman who built it—one thoughtful cut at a time.