Meet Bijal Fotedar | Business Owner and Creative Director

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

Hi Bijal, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I did not get the satisfaction I was looking for from my job as a software engineer at the start of my career. I was seeking fulfillment from side hustles and projects. Financial stability, although very important, was not enough for me. I am a maker, and it mattered to me that I am able to create physical things. I realized quickly that I would need to find a different career, but it took me a while to figure out what I truly loved.

I love technology and tools, and I want to use them to create things. I chose to start Laser Luxe Studios after a 6-year-long break from my career to be a stay-at-home mom. While at home, I took up DIY home improvement projects as a hobby. My laser journey started when I decided to make signs for my kids’ bedroom, and I fell in love with how fitting it was for me to use technology, imagination, and my ability to build. Once I understood how to control the laser machine, I experimented with different materials and products and started creating personalized products too.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I run a laser tech studio that makes custom signs and personalized products. I am a creative person who happens to see the beauty in technology and the potential in tools. I have worked in disciplines that include engineering, education, psychology, and branding. That is the experience I bring to the table when someone decides to work with me. I love lasers for their versatility – I can apply the same principle to create very different things.

When I made room signs for my kids, I enjoyed the process too much to stop at that. I made a few more as gifts for people. And from there started my very brief journey to sell kids room decor. After doing some market research and trial and error, I figured catering to other businesses can allow me to add more value and grow my business. I upgraded from my hobby laser machine to an industrial size laser machine. I lovingly call my laser engraver, Mr. Momo. Mr. Momo is 5 ft long, 4 ft wide, and 3 ft tall. It is an intimidating machine that requires a very different setup than my tiny user-friendly hobby machine. I set up Mr. Momo single-handedly, troubleshooting every little problem every step of the way – which is what got me comfortable and confident in using the machine.

Today I work with a wide range of materials and products that include wood, metal, acrylic, glass, rubber, foam, and stainless steel. I want to be a one-stop shop for my clients’ custom products and signs. I strive to make signs that get the attention my clients deserve and create personalized products that are an excellent fit for them and their businesses.

The biggest challenge, however, is to separate my love for building from running a business. I definitely started this business because I feel so passionately about creating things. But now it is just one part of the larger scheme of things. Finances and marketing take up my time and energy too. But I am continuously learning to manage my perspective, my energy, my time, and my business every day.Lessons learned:

• You may have to reach out to a potential customer 4 times before you get a response.
• If someone is not willing to pay the price you asked for, they probably don’t value your work and they might not be the right fit.
• Listen to your gut when taking risks

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.
I love Washington state for its natural beauty and its vegan-friendly food scene. For adventure in nature, I would definitely take them for a day trip to Mount Rainier and a potentially overnight stay in the Olympic National Parks region to explore Neah Bay, any of the haystack rock beaches, the Hoh rainforest, and Lake Crescent. I would love to take them to at least one of the San Juan Islands, most likely Friday Harbor.

For food, it has to be The Canlis, our favorite pizza place Tom Douglas’s Serious Pie, Farzi Cafe in Bellevue, Similan Thai in our neighborhood, and Meesha in Fremont. There are so many cute cafes around our neighborhood and in Seattle – we love Aroma Coffee in Fall City, Bellden Cafe in Bellevue, and Monorail Espresso in Downtown Seattle.

No trip to Seattle is complete without a visit to the Seattle Space Needle, Pike Place Market, Chihuly Glass Museum, and we personally love the Olympic Sculpture Park, the Spheres, and the Climate Pledge Arena, so we would not miss a chance to take them there.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The first person who comes to my mind is my husband, who has been my rock during this journey with not just his sound business counsel, but also his silent support. My kids and my family are my biggest fans and cheerleaders. I have absolutely hit a gold mine of support by working with the business owners I have connected with! Every business’s success depends on their clients, and they deserve a huge shoutout!

I have a cohort of women I draw inspiration and seek advice from in different ways. But to be honest, and as clichéd as it may sound, every single person in my life has taught me something, and I have to thank them for the person I am and the attitude I have towards business and life. I genuinely feel I have been lucky in a lot of ways, and I have a lot to be grateful for in my life.

Website: https://laserluxestudios.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/laserluxestudios

Other: https://linktr.ee/laserluxestudios

Image Credits
Katherine at Precious Love Photo