2016 ➡️ 2024:
Highlights of my eight-year journey into the aviation industry ✈️

2016: Started selling my Peoria souvenirs at the Peoria International Airport on consignment.

2019: Moved to Chicago with the goal of doing more business with museums and airports because of my success in Peoria. Started working with the Field Museum and attended my first Chicago airport-specific event. A few larger airport retailers expressed interest in my work.

2020: Saw my postcards in O’Hare airport for the first time (via the Field Museum gift shop). Covid hit and had a devastating impact on the travel industry. Participated in ScaleUp with with the WBDC.

2021: Participated in GovCon-Airports with the WBDC and recorded my final pitch presentation. Started to get involved with the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) and joined the Emerging Leaders group as well as virtually attended their annual conference. Pitched via a recorded video at a virtual Chicago aviation event. Applied for and received my ACDBE and DBE certifications from the City of Chicago. Worked on a custom collection of candy-inspired stickers for an airport retailer.

2022: Received my first purchase order from Lick Candy stores. It took hours to label all of the products by hand (and I never received a reorder). Moderated the Emerging Leaders Cocktails & Conversations event at the AMAC annual conference with Shawnta Young. Met Chicago Department of Aviation’s Commissioner, Jaime Rhee, and was introduced to the CDA’s marketing department. Rode in a helicopter over Chicago at one of the AMAC after parties. I was featured as a Leaper in AMAC’s Legends & Leapers event alongside industry legend Michael Svagdis, Chief Executive Officer of SSP America. Attended meetings virtually and in-person to stay connected to various opportunities.

2023: Attended first official meeting at O’Hare Airport (although the project didn’t pan out).Graduated from the NextLevel Exchange mentor program after receiving so much support from my mentor, Randi. Continued to jump through the various hoops of getting myself set up as a vendor for multiple large retailers. Received my first order from Hoypoloi Gallery at O’Hare Airport. Navigated the challenges of learning to barcode my products (which wasn’t required for the Field Museum or Hoypoloi Gallery). Worked to maintain my relationships and stay involved with developing opportunities.

2024: Received my first samples of my stickers with barcodes successfully printed on the back. Saw my products in person at Hoypoloi Gallery and the Field Museum while traveling. Received my first order from the new Blvd & Branch store in Terminal 5 (which required working through creating a new set of barcodes) right around the start of our Midwest Wedding Tour. About six months later, I saw my products at Blvd & Branch while traveling.

Being part of the aviation space has been a long-time dream, and I’m proud to celebrate how far I’ve come. Breaking into this industry, especially as a small business, takes time—I’ve heard it often takes 3-5 years. I’m embracing the journey, documenting the small wins, and learning along the way.

Behind every milestone lies countless hours of hard work, much of which remains unseen. This timeline is my way of being transparent about the challenges and complexities of creative entrepreneurship, especially for those who aspire to similar paths.

While not always financially profitable, these efforts have led to incredible experiences and opportunities. I remain hopeful about what’s ahead, and it’s always exciting to say my products are in O’Hare Airport—the 4th busiest and 7th largest in the US!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chelsie Tamms is an award-winning lettering artist and designer based out of Chicago. She is the owner of Lettering Works, a branding studio that connects businesses to their audience through creativity and strategy. With over 10 years of practice of lettering and design, Chelsie is passionate about craft and intention. When she’s not designing, she can be found eating ice cream, traveling internationally, or starting a new passion project.

Chelsie had a spinal fusion surgery at age 14.