Meet Zahra Zaidi | Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zahra Zaidi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zahra, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
After graduating from Cal State Fullerton in 2015, I started working with my parents in our family business. At the time, we primarily manufactured custom rubber stamps, seals and signs for other companies using a laser engraver. Occasionally, we used the laser engraver to create other custom products like trophies, awards, and personalized gifts but the B2B market was almost non-existent for those products. Over the years, my dad and I created unique designs to present specially-made gifts to family and friends, which primarily categorized as religious home decor.

This idea led me to start designing and creating personalized gifts for my own friends, and eventually created my own Etsy shop. I experimented on different materials and used my own processes to design and create custom products for weddings, birthdays, graduation gifts, housewarming gifts – basically the events that my friends were already planning or getting ready to plan. Concurrently, I was also populating my Etsy shop with new products. I received encouraging feedback from my friends and numerous positive reviews online that kept going. I took what I learned from the time my dad and I created Islamic home decor designs together to create a Ramadan collection of home decor. My Etsy shop grew exponentially in the following Ramadan (around April 2021). Somewhere along the way I realized my passion for design and have been creating ever since.

What should our readers know about your business?
Z Engravings isn’t just about making custom products. It’s a reflection of resilience in the face of doubts and fears. We’re driven by a belief that every action and interaction should radiate with honesty, empathy, and a genuine desire to make a difference. We didn’t necessarily know we’d get to this point when we started, yet here we are surrounded by a wonderful and passionate group, where each and every team member adds their unique touch to this business. Finn leads in empathy by providing excellent and thoughtful customer service to every single customer. Lizette is amazing, reliable, and works with extraordinary efficiency. Melody has been instrumental in our growth by proactively suggesting great ideas to enhance production efficiency. Zoe is very creative, works with incredible attention to detail, and has been key in keeping our social media engagement active. Christine brings great cheerful energy to the team that keeps everyone positive and motivated. Meg diligently grasped everything there is to know about production and has been a great collaborative fit to our team. Mary brings a strong work ethic and carries out her responsibilities with sincerity. We are so grateful to have such an amazing team that works with dedication and believes in our vision. Their commitment during the challenging times was a testament to our shared passion.

As the business grew, it was the small victories that served as a reminder of progress. The joy of witnessing a positive review, repeat customers, a new machine investment, and expansion of our product line felt so rewarding. Occasionally, when we were hired to cater to celebrity events, it felt like we struck gold. It’s been quite the journey, but definitely not an easy one. It required personal sacrifices, perseverance, and emotional resilience to get to where we are today. Countless hours of work, which included nights and weekends, and accomplishing small goals felt rewarding enough to keep contributing to the never ending to-do list. Between all the uncertainties, sacrifices and challenges, one thing is for certain: I absolutely love what I do and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else. If you love what you do, it really shows in your company and in your brand. The entrepreneur’s life is so rewarding, yet so challenging at the same time.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to trust my team and to trust myself. There were times when it felt like I was in a maze, trying to find my way through endless to-do lists. That is when the support of my team and the unspoken belief of those who stood by me came in and I found my way out. Making mistakes in any business is inevitable. Learning to manage through those mistakes was an emotional journey. There were sleepless nights and moments of frustration, but every stumble became a lesson. I learned that making mistakes wasn’t an endpoint but rather a stepping stone to growth. It taught me patience and the importance of perseverance.

We want the world to know that Z Engravings has relied upon graceful resilience throughout the years of growth. We hope that the values and dedication behind the custom products we create will strengthen relationships by thoughtful event design and gift-giving practices. Our goals are far beyond just running a profitable business, our story is a testament to strength, learning from mistakes, and evolving through challenges. Along the way, my team and I have become great event designers catering to weddings, baby showers, iftar parties, and more. We would be excited about the idea of working with other talented designers in SoCal as we aim for the next big business milestone!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Growing up in LA, I’ve learned to love the outdoors. At one point, I had a list going to try and do all the waterfall hikes in Socal! That list of course didn’t get completed but I do have some great recommendations for the ones I have been on. Some of my favorite hikes are Eaton Canyon, The Grotto, Escondido Falls and any spot in Palos Verdes! Besides hiking, I’m definitely a coffee person. My absolute favorite in LA is Alfred coffee, although I wouldn’t mind stumbling upon any coffee shop since there are so many great ones out there! Although a bit touristy, I absolutely love visiting the Griffith observatory. For me, it feels like I just stepped into another world. I’ve seen everything inside the observatory so many times but still I love going back. Another place I absolutely love and adore is Manhattan Beach Pier. To my surprise, a lot of people didn’t really know about this beach, but for me it’s nostalgic. My family and I used to live in this area back in the day so it brings back so many memories. Going there and going to Salt & Straw for dessert; two places I will never say no to!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My success goes without a doubt to my family, especially to my dad, Syed. I learned essential and foundational business principles at a young age while watching my parents run and grow our family business. I especially learned the production process, customer service, and most importantly how to improvise and make decisions on the spot. We went through 2 business acquisitions together where I truly learned the importance of how necessary it is to be able to wear multiple hats as the business owner. We worked together for a little over 5 years until he had a sudden stroke in September 2020. The shocking reality of his condition after the stroke was devastating as our relationship had grown very close over the years leading up to it. The following several months were the most difficult time of my life where I channeled my newfound energy by working on Z Engravings. I used my dad’s presence as a guiding light and his belief in my success has been an immense source of motivation. This success is as much his as it is mine.

Since then, the rest of my family have been extremely supportive of my business goals. I truly wouldn’t be where I am without the love and belief that my mom, Fozia, showered me with. She has supported me and gave me the strength to push forward during times of doubt. She is there to help me in any way possible and always the first one to see any new items I create. My brother, Zain, has helped scale the business at various stages of growth and has lent his business acumen to help me at times when I needed it. My biggest support thus far has been my sister, Fizza. Besides her unwavering support, she is incredibly creative and her design ideas have helped me develop my own creative process. Her encouragement during the tough times kept me going when I felt like giving up. Running a business with family has its own challenges, but it gives us an honest and reliable sounding board for each other. Together, through countless hours of meetings, we have brought Z Engravings to where it is today.

Website: www.zengravings.com

Instagram: @zengravings

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zahrazaidi/

Twitter: @zengravings

Facebook: @zengravings

Other: Tiktok: @zengravings

Image Credits
@darlingsanddreamers.co