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Name: Mitzvah Designs

Type of business: Creates designs to personalize a variety of cloth items including kippot, towels, and pillows by painting or embroidering them.

Address: Lakewood

Telephone: (732) 942-7470

Number of employees: 2

Founded: 2001

Top officers: Founder and owner Miri Drebin, and partner Heshy Drebin

How would you describe your business?

"Ours is a home-based retail gift shop featuring personalized items hand painted or embroidered, including kippot, hand washing cups, kitchen towels, blankets, pillows, that has expanded to beach chairs, knapsacks, beach towels," said Heshy Drebin.

"The business began when my 11-year-old son had his 3rd birthday and my wife, Miri, said, ‘We have to buy him a special yarmulka.' Miri hand painted his kippot and when others saw it, Miri was asked where she got it. When Miri said she made it herself, she was asked if she would make a hand-painted yarmulka for their children. She did and grew into a business. Now the line of items Miri hand-decorates with her hand-painted or embroidered designs carried over to many items.

"We have made Purim sets, little bags filled with candy for shalach manot. We'll also make similar bags for a bar mitzvah. We make personalize makeup bags with the persons initial on it. We can supply special kippot for bar mitzvahs. Our products are also sold in local gift shops and in New York City and Detroit."

What makes your business special?

"Every design is 100-percent personalized."

What goals do you have for the business?

"To really keep on going and finding new items and ideas. For instance, a lot of people go away for Shabbat or yontif and they want a gift to take along. So we do towel packages, placemats, and they have the host's initial on it and its an inexpensive personalized gift."

How has your business changed?

"We started with hand-painting yarmulkas and other ritual items, but two years ago we bought an embroidery machine and now personalize a wide variety of items. The ideas are unlimited."

What was your most important deal?

"Purchasing the embroidery machine, making it possible to create new items such as our towel gift sets."

What changes do you expect in your business in the next 10 years?

"To have a Web site and to open a retail store or a show room in the next 10 years."

What is the most important thing you've learned in your business?

"The unlimited amount of things that can be made that can be personalized. You start with something that costs very little, and it makes it looks so much nicer. You can take an apron or a towel and by personalizing it make it a beautiful gift that doesn't cost that much."

What advice would you give to someone considering your line of work?

"The person has to have a lot of artistic feelings for it and business skills, too. But they must have the artistic skill."

Is there anything else you would rather be doing?

"I'm an accountant, but doing this is a lot of fun."