Meet Jay Lauck

We recently connected with Jay Lauck and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jay, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

“Where do you get your work ethic from?”
“My work ethic was forged early, on construction sites alongside my dad, who was a professional floor installer. From a young age, I learned that work wasn’t just something you did – it was who you were.
I’d balance school and work, often limiting myself from hanging out with friends or going on trips because I believed that’s what life was about – showing up, putting in the effort, and getting the job done right. Watching my dad’s dedication to his craft, seeing how he took pride in every floor he installed, taught me that there’s honor in working with your hands and creating something that lasts.
That foundation carried directly into Engravings By Jay. Since starting the business in 2023, I’ve handled every single aspect personally – from initial customer consultation to final quality inspection. There are no employees, no contractors – just me and the same work ethic my dad instilled in me on those construction sites.When someone trusts me with their wedding keepsakes or corporate awards, I approach it with the same dedication I learned watching my dad. Every project gets my complete attention because I understand that ‘good enough’ was never good enough in our house. Whether it’s spending hours perfecting three identical engraved trophy bases or mastering new UV printing techniques, I know that excellence requires sacrifice and commitment.The difference now is that I’ve learned work ethic isn’t just about grinding – it’s about working with purpose. My dad taught me the value of hard work, but building Engravings By Jay has shown me how that work ethic can serve something bigger: helping people preserve their most important memories and celebrate their biggest moments.
That construction site mentality of ‘show up, do the work, do it right’ is still with me every single day. It’s just now that I’m building something that will last in people’s hearts, not just their homes or business

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m the founder of Engravings By Jay, a custom laser engraving and UV printing company based in Pryor, Oklahoma, that ships nationwide. What started as a business idea in 2023 has evolved into something much more meaningful – I help people preserve their most important memories and tell their stories through personalized, handcrafted keepsakes.
What makes this work special to me is the human connection behind every project.
I’m not just engraving wood, metal, glass, or leather – I’m capturing love stories through wedding keepsakes, celebrating achievements with corporate awards, and creating one-of-a-kind pieces that families will treasure for generations. My tagline is ‘Personalized Engravings That Tell Your Story,’ and that really captures the heart of what I do.
I handle every aspect of the business personally, from initial consultation to final quality inspection. Whether it’s creating complete wedding stationery packages with seating charts and guest books, designing custom whiskey sets for groomsmen, or tackling unique challenges like perfectly matching engraved trophy bases, I approach each project with the same dedication my father taught me on construction sites when I was young.
Looking ahead, I’m focused on scaling the business through automation and partnerships while maintaining the personal touch that sets us apart.But beyond the numbers, what drives me is knowing that every piece I create will be part of someone’s story – whether it’s a wedding guest book filled with signatures from loved ones or a corporate award celebrating years of dedication.We ship nationwide and love taking on creative challenges that other companies might shy away from.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Self-Reliance and Continuous Learning
The most impactful skill has been my ability to teach myself complex technologies. I’m completely self-trained in laser engraving and UV printing – there was no manual or mentor guiding me through the intricacies of different materials, power settings, or design optimization. This self-reliance, rooted in those early days working construction sites with my dad, has been crucial because when you’re a sole proprietorship, you ARE the research and development department, the quality control team, and the customer service rep all in one.

My advice: Document everything, even when you’re small. Write down your processes, track your time, note what works and what doesn’t. As you grow, these systems will be your lifeline. But never let efficiency replace authenticity – your customers can feel the difference between someone going through the motions and someone who genuinely cares about their project.

Bonus advice for early-stage entrepreneurs: Start before you feel ready. I launched Engravings By Jay in 2023 without having all the answers, and I’m still learning every day. The construction site mentality my dad taught me – show up, do the work, do it right – applies to entrepreneurship too. You don’t need perfect conditions; you need consistent action and the willingness to adapt as you learn.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Absolutely! I’m actively seeking strategic partnerships that can help more couples and businesses discover the power of personalized keepsakes and custom engravings.
Wedding Venue Partnerships
My primary focus right now is building relationships with wedding venues throughout the Tulsa metro area and beyond. I’m looking for venues that host 20+ weddings per year with consistent bookings and larger average wedding sizes. The ideal venue partner values quality vendors and wants to offer their couples something truly special – personalized stationery packages, guest books, and keepsakes that will be treasured for decades.referral commission structure for venue partners, and I’ve developed comprehensive onboarding processes including both digital and physical welcome packages to make the partnership seamless. What makes this collaboration valuable is that I handle everything personally – venues can confidently refer their couples knowing they’ll receive exceptional service and quality.Wedding Industry Professionals
I’m also interested in collaborating with wedding planners, photographers, and other wedding vendors who share my commitment to creating meaningful experiences. Cross-referrals work beautifully in our industry, and I love being part of a vendor team that truly cares about making each couple’s day special.Corporate Partners
For businesses looking to offer unique employee recognition programs or client appreciation gifts, I’m open to discussing bulk pricing partnerships and ongoing relationships. Custom awards, branded items, and corporate gifts are a growing part of what I do.
Creative Collaborations
I’m always excited about unique projects that push creative boundaries. Whether it’s an artist wanting to explore laser engraving as a medium, a designer with innovative ideas, or someone with a completely different perspective on personalization – I love collaborative creativity.contact us through the contact form at engravingbyjay.com. I’m based in Pryor, Oklahoma, but I ship nationwide and I’m always up for a conversation about how we might work together.
What I value most in partnerships is genuine care for the customer experience and a commitment to quality. If that sounds like you, let’s talk about how we can create something amazing together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.engravingbyjay.com/
• Other: https://linktr.ee/engravingsbyjay?utm_source=linktree_admin_share