Meet Keri Mateus

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Keri Mateus. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Keri below.

Hi Keri, 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?

At Aunties Creations LLC, our drive didn’t just happen—it was built from the ground up. We learned the value of hard work from our parents, who showed us by example that nothing worth having comes without effort. From an early age, we were out there hustling—delivering newspapers before sunrise, babysitting for neighbors, and saying “yes” to any opportunity to earn a dollar. We all had our first jobs by the age of 14, and we’ve been putting in the work ever since.

That same determination is what fueled us to build Aunties Creations from scratch. No big investors, no shortcuts—just a vision, a whole lot of late nights, and the belief that with teamwork and grit, we could make something special. Every order we create, every design we bring to life, is backed by that same work ethic we’ve carried with us since childhood. And that’s what makes this business—and the community we serve—so important to us.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

At Aunties Creations LLC, we’re more than just an apparel decorator—we’re a team of “aunties” who pour heart, hustle, and a deep sense of community into every order we take on. We customize apparel for schools, sports teams, businesses, nonprofits, and anyone looking to bring their vision to life. From embroidery to heat press, every stitch and print is done with care, attention to detail, and a genuine love for what we do.

What makes our work so exciting is knowing that what we create becomes a part of people’s stories—team shirts worn to championships, uniforms that make employees feel proud, or fundraiser gear that helps an organization reach its goals. We’re not just decorating apparel; we’re helping people celebrate milestones, strengthen their communities, and represent what matters to them.

Our journey has been truly grassroots—we built this business from scratch, starting in a home office and now operating out of our own commercial space in Bridgewater, MA. No big backers, just a lot of hard work, late nights, and a shared vision.

Right now, we’re focused on expanding our reach and capabilities. That means offering more apparel decoration methods, partnering with local organizations for give-back programs, and creating online “mini-shops” so customers can easily order custom gear for their teams or causes. We also love saying yes to unique projects, so if someone comes to us with a creative challenge, we’ll find a way to make it happen.

At the heart of it all, Aunties Creations is about connection—connecting people with quality apparel that represents them and their values, while also giving back to the community we’re proud to call home.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, three qualities have been the most impactful in building Aunties Creations LLC:

Relationship-Building – Our business is built on trust and community. Many of our best customers came from word-of-mouth and repeat relationships. Advice: Treat every interaction like it matters—because it does. Be reliable, keep your word, and check in with people even when you’re not selling them something.

Work Ethic & Perseverance – We grew up working from a young age, and that hustle mentality has never left us. Building a business from scratch takes grit—you have to be willing to put in the hours, keep going when it’s hard, and find solutions when challenges pop up. Advice: Start small, but be consistent. Even tiny daily efforts compound over time.

Adaptability – The apparel industry changes constantly—new printing methods, design trends, supply chain surprises. We learned to pivot quickly, try new tools, and say “yes” to learning something unfamiliar. Advice: Don’t get too attached to doing things “one way.” The faster you adapt, the more opportunities you’ll catch.

At the end of the day, the skills matter, but so does the heart behind them. If you care deeply about what you’re creating and the people you’re serving, that will show in your work—and it will take you further than you think.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

The most impactful thing our parents did for us was teach us, by example, the value of hard work and integrity. They didn’t just tell us to work hard—they showed us what it looked like. We watched them put in long hours, keep their word, and treat people with respect, no matter the situation. They encouraged us to be independent early on, which is why we were out delivering newspapers, babysitting, and taking on odd jobs before most kids our age even thought about working.

That foundation didn’t just prepare us for our first jobs—it gave us the resilience and determination to build Aunties Creations from scratch. Every late night, every challenge, every big leap we’ve taken comes back to those lessons our parents instilled in us: show up, work hard, and do it with integrity.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Eleventh Photography

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